This bill appropriates $34 million from constitutionally protected business tax revenues to fund farmland preservation grants. It provides counties with planning incentive grants covering up to 80% of the cost to acquire development easements on farmland, directly affecting eligible counties like Burlington, Gloucester, and Somerset. The funds are distributed through the State Agriculture Development Committee to support local efforts in preserving agricultural land. The grant amounts vary by county, with some receiving up to $8.5 million total. This policy change enables counties to protect farmland through permanent easements without requiring new tax revenue.
This bill establishes the New Jersey Native Seed Commission within the Department of Agriculture to develop a plan increasing native seed production and use. The commission, made up of state agency heads and stakeholders (including seed suppliers, land managers, and conservation groups), will focus on boosting native seed availability for public projects like roadside landscaping, habitat restoration, and state land management. It must submit a final report with specific recommendations within one year of forming, aiming to make native seeds commercially available at reasonable prices. The commission expires 30 days after submitting its report.
New Jersey's Assembly Resolution AR 14 formally opposes New York City's congestion pricing plan, which would charge drivers $9 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street starting January 5, 2025, with tolls rising to $12 by 2028 and $15 by 2031. The resolution states that New Jersey residents would be directly affected by these tolls without having any input or decision-making power over the plan. It expresses opposition to the policy and directs copies to New York officials, the Federal Highway Administration, and New Jersey lawmakers.
This bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a two-year grant program using funds from the societal benefits charge. It provides grants to individuals, businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions to develop innovative technologies for pilot projects at publicly-owned drinking water and wastewater systems. These projects must implement new technology (not routine upgrades) to improve water quality, flow, purification, conservation, energy efficiency, or infrastructure - specifically prioritizing renewable energy solutions like in-pipe hydropower. The BPU must evaluate proposals, coordinate with systems, and report annually on funded projects and their statewide potential. The program expires 25 months after enactment.
This bill establishes a pilot program allowing solar energy projects on state and local government-owned roadside rights-of-way (land adjacent to roads, 30-100 feet from the road centerline) in New Jersey. Projects must not exceed 10 megawatts individually, with a total program cap of 200 megawatts, and must avoid disrupting traffic, safety, or road maintenance. The Board of Public Utilities, with input from the Transportation Commissioner, will review applications based on criteria like safety monitoring, environmental impact, and project size, requiring permits before construction. The pilot runs for 36 months, with possible two 12-month extensions (max 50 megawatts increase per extension) to evaluate outcomes.
This bill prohibits businesses and banks from using receipt paper containing bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical added during manufacturing to improve paper characteristics. It directly affects retailers, financial institutions, and any entity that provides transaction records like receipts or credit card slips. Violators face civil penalties of $250-$500 per offense, with daily fines for ongoing violations, enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection or courts. The law takes effect 18 months after enactment, aiming to reduce consumer exposure to BPA through everyday transaction documents.
AR 81 is an Assembly Resolution (not a binding law) urging New Jersey public schools to implement "share tables" in cafeterias. These tables allow students to place unopened, unconsumed food for others to take or donate to food pantries, directly targeting school food waste and food insecurity. The resolution cites USDA data showing 21% of school lunch calories are wasted and notes 9% of New Jersey residents (including 10% of children) face food insecurity. It recommends schools adopt this low-cost, simple initiative to reduce waste, lower disposal costs, and increase food availability for pantries. The resolution has no enforcement power and will be shared with school districts via the Commissioner of Education.
This bill (A 1751) establishes the "New Jersey Invasive Species Task Force" within the Department of Agriculture. The task force, composed of state agency leaders (Agriculture, Environmental Protection, Health, Forestry, and Rutgers) plus four public members appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, will study invasive species control, develop prevention and restoration plans, and maintain a public list of invasive species updated every three years. It must hold quarterly public meetings statewide and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing species impacts, spread patterns, and policy recommendations. The task force aims to coordinate state efforts to protect native ecosystems from harmful non-native plants, animals, and microorganisms.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's Green Acres program from using state funds to purchase, install, or replace artificial turf fields. It directly affects municipalities, school districts, and state agencies that rely on Green Acres funding for recreational facilities. The bill cites health and environmental concerns, including harmful chemicals, microplastics, and PFAS "forever chemicals" in artificial turf, as reasons to redirect funding toward natural grass fields maintained with organic practices. The policy change requires entities using Green Acres funds to prioritize safer, natural grass alternatives instead. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
This bill requires New Jersey municipalities to exclude environmentally sensitive and flood-prone land from being counted as available for affordable housing construction. It specifically excludes land regulated by agencies like the Highlands Water Protection Council, flood hazard areas under the Flood Hazard Area Control Act, and wetlands protected by the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act. The law changes current policy by removing the requirement that development must be "prohibited" on such land - now regulated land automatically qualifies for exclusion. This affects municipalities obligated to provide affordable housing under New Jersey's Fair Housing Act, preventing them from using these lands to meet their housing quotas.
