This bill allocates $7.5 million annually from existing constitutionally dedicated CBT revenue to create a new "Preserve New Jersey Highlands Preservation Fund." The funds will be used by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to acquire land in the Highlands Region for recreation, conservation, farmland preservation, and as a state match for federal conservation grants. Specifically, $5 million comes from the Green Acres Fund and $2.5 million from the Farmland Preservation Fund. The bill establishes clear spending rules, requiring project-specific appropriations and annual reporting on land preserved and federal funds leveraged.
This bill exempts community gardens using on-site composting systems from certain environmental permits required under New Jersey's Solid Waste Management Act, Recycling Act, Air Pollution Control Act, and Water Pollution Control Act. It applies to gardens that accept no more than 200 gallons of source-separated food waste weekly (with larger properties allowed 200 gallons per 5,000 square feet) and use all generated compost exclusively on-site or distribute it per DEP rules for Class C recyclables. The exemption covers permits related to waste management, air, and water pollution, directly benefiting community gardens by reducing regulatory burden for small-scale composting.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to prioritize principal forgiveness for environmental infrastructure loans to municipalities in coastal areas. It directly affects coastal municipalities needing funding for projects like wastewater treatment and water supply systems. The key mechanism establishes that these coastal communities will receive preferential treatment in the existing Interim Environmental Financing Program for eligible projects listed on the DEP's priority list. The change modifies how loan forgiveness is allocated within current financing programs, without creating new funding sources.
This bill requires New Jersey's electric public utilities (like PSE&G and Jersey Central Power) to create and submit detailed grid modernization plans within one year of the law's effective date. The plans must include specific projects to modernize the electricity distribution system, such as integrating energy storage, improving storm resilience, supporting renewable energy connections, and aligning with state greenhouse gas goals. The Board of Public Utilities reviews and approves these plans within 240 days, and utilities must implement approved plans within 90 days. To offset potential rate increases for customers, the bill establishes a new "Grid Modernization Ratepayer Relief Fund" to provide grants, prioritizing projects funded by federal infrastructure acts.
This bill (A 3084) directs New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to study whether to ban paraquat dichloride, a toxic herbicide used commercially and by consumers. The study must evaluate its environmental and health impacts, review how other states regulate it, and recommend whether a ban should apply to all uses. The DEP must submit a report within two years, making findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. This bill does not ban paraquat immediately but initiates a formal review of its safety and potential restrictions for all New Jersey residents and agricultural users.
This bill creates a $10 million grant program within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to help municipalities fix outdated sanitary landfills that closed improperly before June 1, 1987. Municipalities owning such landfills can apply for grants to cover costs for infrastructure upgrades like methane gas vents, leachate monitoring systems, and proper capping to meet DEP closure standards. Applicants must prove their landfill was improperly closed and detail how upgrades will reduce pollution and health risks, with grants only covering costs not already funded by federal sources. The DEP must prioritize projects with the greatest environmental benefits, and applications require specific project plans and cost breakdowns.
This bill requires the New Jersey Executive Branch to reduce its state vehicle fleet by 10% annually over five fiscal years, with flexibility to reduce by 8% if needed to maintain efficient services. It exempts vehicles used by the Division of State Police, Division of Gaming Enforcement, and for emergency, construction, or maintenance purposes. A panel (including the State Treasurer and department heads) must create a reduction plan, review all new vehicle requests, and submit quarterly reports to the Budget Oversight Committee. Annual funding for vehicle accounts must align with the reduction plan, and proceeds from vehicle sales fund state debt or capital projects.
Bill A 1465 revises New Jersey's Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) to expand which municipalities require Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permits for certain large developments. It adds cities of the fourth class ranked in the top two percent of the state's 2020 Municipal Revitalization Index to the existing groups (qualifying municipalities and cities with over 30,000 residents) that must follow CAFRA's threshold rules. For these cities, DEP permits are now required for residential projects with 75+ units, commercial projects with 150+ parking spaces, or industrial/public developments located beyond 500 feet from the water's edge. This change extends existing permitting standards to new municipalities without altering the specific thresholds for development size.
This bill expands eligibility for New Jersey's Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) to include commercial farms, allowing farm owners to apply for and receive energy efficiency incentives they were previously excluded from. It requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to collaborate with the Department of Agriculture to establish a program helping farm owners conduct energy audits to identify efficiency improvements. The BPU must also publish all available farm-specific incentives and audit program details on its website. This directly affects commercial farm owners by providing access to existing state energy funding for upgrades to their buildings and equipment.
This bill (A4049) creates a $3 million annual grant program administered by New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to help local governments (cities, counties, and towns) control harmful invasive species. The program provides grants covering up to 50% of project costs for specific activities like inspections, early detection, eradication services, surveys, and treatment contracts targeting species threatening ecosystems or infrastructure. Local governments must apply with a management plan detailing how they’ll address infestations, and the Division of Plant Industry will prioritize funding for areas with severe damage, widespread infestations, or high biodiversity risk. The bill also requires the department to publish a public clearinghouse of invasive species information and best practices.
