This bill (A4067) creates a state grant program within New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to support food recovery organizations, such as food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens. It provides grants of up to $50,000 per organization to purchase essential equipment like commercial refrigerators, freezers, delivery trucks, and storage units, as well as cover up to 10% of operational costs like staff salaries and administrative expenses. The program prioritizes using federal or non-state funds before state money and requires organizations to apply through a department-developed process. This directly helps nonprofits that redistribute surplus food to people facing food insecurity.
New Jersey's Assembly Bill A3125 bans the sale of menstrual products containing regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals linked to health concerns. It directly affects manufacturers selling products like tampons, pads, cups, or underwear in New Jersey, prohibiting both intentionally added PFAS and PFAS above trace levels. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a testing system using approved labs, with results available for inspection by the Department of Health. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under state law, with penalties up to $20,000 per offense, and takes effect two years after enactment.
New Jersey bill A1165 prohibits state and local government agencies from purchasing single-use plastic beverage containers (like sealed plastic bottles or cans) for their operations. The law applies to all government entities with procurement authority, including departments, schools, and municipalities, but allows exceptions for existing contracts or if alternatives would cause economic hardship. Agencies must review and update their purchasing rules within one year to comply. The bill does not affect public consumption of such containers or require changes to private businesses.
This bill (A 2344) requires major solid waste incinerator facilities in New Jersey to install baghouse filters - fabric-based systems that capture particulate pollution - when making specific modifications or expansions to their operations. It applies only to facilities classified as "major" under air pollution laws that lack baghouse filters or equivalent systems, and does not cover existing facilities already using such filters. Key triggers include expanding facility footprint, adding new buildings, or increasing annual waste combustion by over 10% compared to the previous five years. The requirement would be enforced through permit conditions under the Air Pollution Control Act, taking effect immediately upon passage.
This bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program enabling gas public utilities to invest in renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure and procure RNG. It directly affects gas utilities (like gas companies) and their ratepayers (customers who pay gas bills). Key provisions require the BPU to establish a ratemaking mechanism allowing utilities to recover all prudently incurred costs - such as capital investments in RNG infrastructure, operating expenses, and RNG procurement costs - from customers through regular rate adjustments. The BPU must approve both the program and cost recovery mechanism, ensuring rates reflect actual costs while protecting ratepayers.
This bill modifies New Jersey's process for defining flood hazard areas. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection to update flood maps to align with federal FEMA standards, mandating that state flood hazard zones must be at least as protective as FEMA's 100-year floodplain maps and no more than one foot above FEMA's designated elevation. The bill also delays implementation of the proposed NJPACT flood rules until after June 1, 2038, unless the Legislature passes a specific resolution authorizing them. These changes directly affect property owners, developers, and local governments needing permits in flood-prone areas, as they govern where construction can occur and what safety standards apply.
This bill provides tax credits for businesses purchasing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for commercial use. Businesses can claim up to 25% of the vehicle cost (capped at $15,000) in 2023, decreasing to 8% ($5,000 cap) by 2025. To qualify, businesses must obtain certification from the Environmental Protection Commissioner confirming the vehicle meets specifications and is used exclusively for business operations. The credits apply against both New Jersey's corporation business tax and gross income tax.
This bill (A3516) clarifies and updates requirements for two key elements in New Jersey municipalities' master plans: the land use plan and housing plan. It mandates that land use plans include a climate change hazard vulnerability assessment analyzing threats like flooding and sea-level rise, plus strategies for storm resiliency and environmental sustainability. The housing plan element must now evaluate existing housing stock (including affordable units), project future housing needs over 10 years, and analyze demographic trends. These requirements directly affect all New Jersey municipalities required to maintain master plans, ensuring they address climate risks and housing affordability in their planning processes.
This bill exempts sales and use taxes for fuel cell devices, systems, and related tangible personal property in New Jersey. It directly affects businesses and consumers purchasing fuel cells that generate power through non-combustive electrochemical processes (converting fuel and oxidant into electricity). The key mechanism creates a new tax exemption for sales of fuel cell-powered systems designed to provide heating, cooling, or electrical power, and extends existing exemptions for fuel cell-related natural gas use. The exemption applies to all sales, use, or billing periods starting four months after enactment, aligning with New Jersey’s existing tax code for energy-efficient technologies.
This bill exempts the retail sale of tangible personal property made from 100% post-recycled waste or recycled materials (such as recycled bricks, asphalt, and crushed concrete) from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It defines "post-recycled waste" as materials salvaged from general waste and processed into raw materials, and "recycled materials" as products made from post-consumer waste. The exemption applies directly to retailers selling these specific recycled products, reducing their sales tax burden. The bill takes effect two months after enactment for all qualifying sales.
