This bill requires school projects built by New Jersey's School Development Authority (SDA) for 31 designated school districts to include solar energy systems, such as solar panels, as part of new construction. The requirement applies only to projects advanced after the bill's effective date and financed using bonds issued under existing law (P.L.2000, c.72). It does not affect existing projects or those not funded through these specific bonds. The SDA may update its building standards to implement this solar requirement.
This bill amends the list of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding under New Jersey's FY2026 environmental infrastructure program. It updates which projects qualify for funding from existing state revolving funds (like the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds) and ensures unused balances from prior programs are reallocated to support clean water and drinking water projects. The bill directly affects the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which administers these funds for eligible municipal and public infrastructure projects. Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as the funding updates were already approved under P.L.2025, c.182.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create best practices for managing medical waste, focusing on public health and environmental protection. It directly affects hospitals (licensed under state law) and medical offices (non-licensed facilities providing medical services), mandating each to develop a written waste management plan based on those best practices. The plan must include clear guidelines for personal protective equipment use, visible waste sorting methods with signage, and instructions for properly identifying and sorting waste at its source. Additionally, facilities must train relevant employees on implementing these plans. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.
This bill requires large food waste generators (like restaurants, hospitals, supermarkets, and farms producing 52+ tons annually) to separate organic waste at the source and recycle it at authorized facilities within 25 miles. If no nearby facility exists or recycling costs exceed disposal costs by 10%, generators may dispose of waste or apply for a waiver. Violations carry civil penalties of $250-$1,000 per offense, with ongoing violations treated as separate offenses. The law amends existing waste management rules to expand recycling obligations for commercial food waste producers.
This bill provides a $250 annual state income tax credit to homeowners within 1,000 feet of Barnegat Bay who replace grass lawns with stone, crushed shells, or similar non-maintenance landscaping. It directly affects property owners in that zone, including those who already made the switch before the bill's effective date. The credit aims to reduce chemical runoff (like fertilizers and pesticides) from lawns into the bay by incentivizing low-maintenance alternatives. The policy change is a direct tax incentive, not a regulatory mandate, for eligible homeowners to adopt environmentally friendly landscaping.
This New Jersey bill prohibits most food service businesses (like restaurants, food trucks, and cafeterias) from automatically giving customers single-use utensils or condiments (like ketchup packets). Instead, businesses must provide these items only if a customer specifically requests them. Larger dine-in establishments (with 50+ seats) must offer reusable utensils for on-site use and require customers to return them after meals. Exemptions include schools (for 5 years), healthcare facilities during outbreaks, and food courts (for 2 years). Violations incur fines starting at $2,500 for repeat offenses.
This bill (A-764) would have amended the list of environmental infrastructure projects eligible for loans from New Jersey's Infrastructure Bank for fiscal year 2026. It would have directly affected local governments and public water utilities seeking funding to finance projects like wastewater treatment, stormwater management, or drinking water system upgrades. The key mechanism involved updating which specific projects qualified for the bank's financing under existing law, ensuring funds targeted approved environmental infrastructure needs. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was superseded by the approved law P.L.2025, c.183.
This New Jersey bill (A 177) removes farmland from the legal definitions of "redevelopment area" and "rehabilitation area" under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law. It directly affects farmers and agricultural landowners by preventing their property from being designated for redevelopment projects that might displace farming operations. The bill amends Section 3 of P.L.1992, c.79 to exclude farmland from these categories, ensuring agricultural use isn't subject to redevelopment processes. This is a definitional change with no new programs or funding, solely protecting farmland from being reclassified under existing redevelopment law.
This bill requires public community water systems (like municipal water utilities) to test water quality quarterly for secondary drinking water standards, including sampling from at least 10% of customer taps. It mandates that water system operators submit test results to the state environmental agency, local municipalities, and customers annually and quarterly. If tests exceed standards, operators must create a compliance plan within 30 days to fix issues within 30 days (or sooner if needed for health risks), followed by a maintenance plan to prevent future violations. These rules aim to ensure ongoing water quality for communities served by public water systems.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to install and maintain standardized highway exit signs directing drivers to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. It specifically applies to drivers using EVs on Interstates and limited-access highways, as defined in the law. The signs must follow federal and state design standards outlined in the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices." The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
