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.
This bill allows New Jersey homeowners to deduct up to $45,000 annually from their gross income for removing specific contaminants from their primary residence. It covers lead-based paint, asbestos, lead pipes, and water treatment for sodium/chloride contamination (caused by road salt) in private wells. Homeowners must pay certified contractors for these removals, and the deduction applies regardless of income. The bill expires December 31, 2027, and retroactively covers eligible expenses since 2018.
This bill establishes the "New Jersey Greenwood Lake Fund" to dedicate $500,000 annually from New Jersey vessel registration and renewal fees toward protecting and maintaining Greenwood Lake. The fund, administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, will support projects exclusively on the New Jersey side of the lake, including water quality, recreation, and conservation efforts. It ensures these funds can be used without requiring matching contributions from New York State, even when joint projects are needed. The lake provides drinking water for 3.5 million residents and is a major recreational area for boating and outdoor activities.
This bill appropriates $1 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for capital improvements at Allaire State Park in Monmouth County. The DEP must develop a capital improvement plan within 90 days of the bill's enactment and report on progress within one year. The funds will support physical upgrades to the park's infrastructure, including trails, facilities, and natural resource management. This direct funding affects park operations and maintenance, benefiting visitors, educational programs, and the historic Allaire Village site.
This bill requires recycling centers that process glass, plastic, cardboard, or paper to annually report specific data to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by December 31. Centers must provide information on the availability, location, and cost of markets for recycled materials, as well as details about contamination in the recycling stream. The DEP must keep any information deemed a trade secret or competitive business method confidential upon request from the recycling center. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to prioritize green stormwater infrastructure - such as permeable pavement, rain gardens, and vegetated swales - in the design, construction, and repair of state highways funded by the Special Transportation Fund. It directly affects DOT projects on public highways, mandating they use methods that reduce stormwater runoff by treating it through soil or vegetation instead of traditional drainage. The DOT must establish a program to implement this prioritization "to the extent practicable," as determined by the Commissioner. The bill takes immediate effect and defines green infrastructure broadly to include practices that store, reuse, or treat stormwater naturally.
S 3280 repeals New Jersey's current law that prohibits the sale or distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws. If enacted, it would allow retailers, restaurants, and other businesses to sell these items again, directly affecting both businesses that previously had to comply with the ban and consumers who use these products. The repeal removes existing restrictions without creating new requirements or funding mechanisms. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
This bill (S 3256) removes a ban on grocery stores providing single-use paper or plastic carryout bags specifically for delivery, pick-up, or curbside pickup orders. It directly affects grocery stores (defined as self-service retail establishments over 2,500 sq. ft. selling food for off-site consumption) when handling these order types. The key mechanism is amending the existing law to add a new exemption in the definition of "carryout bag," explicitly allowing these bags for delivery/pickup orders while maintaining bans for other in-store purchases. The change follows findings that single-use paper bags use similar resources to plastic, and aims to align with New Jersey's broader plastic reduction goals.
This bill appropriates $17 million from the General Fund to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for fiscal year 2023. It establishes a grant program to assist qualified entities - including lake commissions (like Greenwood Lake and Lake Hopatcong), local governments, and nonprofits - focusing on lake management for recreation and conservation. Grants prioritize projects improving water quality, preventing harmful algal blooms, increasing public access, and controlling pollution that affects lake use. The DEP must develop application criteria and administer the program, with funds limited to eligible lake management activities.
