This bill changes how municipalities calculate impervious surfaces for parks in the Highlands preservation area. It specifies that all municipal parks within a single town should be treated as one property (not individually) when measuring impervious surface percentage against the 3% limit. The calculation excludes Highlands open waters and solar panels from the impervious surface count. This directly affects municipal park development projects in the Highlands region, making compliance with the 3% limit easier by allowing combined park area calculations.
This bill (A 1238) changes New Jersey's farmland assessment rules to include forested lands and woodlands used for producing USDA-designated specialty crops, such as maple syrup. It directly affects landowners growing these specialty crops on forested property by exempting them from the standard requirement to submit a woodland management plan. The key provision allows these lands to qualify for agricultural assessment status without the usual management plan, provided the crops are officially designated as specialty crops by the USDA. Landowners must still submit annual applications documenting the specialty crop production and USDA designation to maintain the assessment benefit.
This New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 99) urges the U.S. Congress and President to increase domestic energy production and reduce regulatory barriers to oil and gas development. It specifically references high gasoline prices (over $4/gallon), the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on global energy markets, and the need to reduce reliance on imports from Russia, the Middle East, and Venezuela. The resolution cites a 2022 letter from 25 governors requesting actions like removing federal land development bans, streamlining permitting, and reapproving the Keystone XL Pipeline. It does not create new laws but formally requests federal action to enhance energy independence and lower consumer energy costs.
This bill (A 776) allows grocery stores to provide single-use paper carryout bags for a fee to customers ordering groceries for delivery, removing a previous restriction. It also requires stores and food service businesses to repurpose cardboard delivery boxes for reuse (e.g., for future grocery deliveries) whenever feasible. The law directly affects grocery stores, food retailers, and delivery services operating in New Jersey. Key mechanisms include permitting paper bags solely for delivery orders and mandating cardboard box reuse to reduce waste, without altering existing bans on single-use plastic bags for in-store purchases.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from removing or requiring the removal of specific cabins in Lower Alloways Creek Township's tidal wetlands. These cabins must serve as public shelters for anyone needing temporary lodging, such as travelers or hikers. The state gains legal immunity for injuries or property damage at these cabins, but exemptions apply if cabins were built illegally, on land the state owned before construction, or built by the state itself. The policy directly affects cabin users and DEP enforcement actions in this specific location.
This bill prohibits New Jersey state agencies from requiring municipalities in the Highlands planning area to revise their local master plans to match the regional master plan as a condition for approvals like permits, grants, or loans. It also bans agencies from considering whether a municipality follows the regional plan when making decisions about funding, permits, or assistance. State departments listed include environmental protection, transportation, community affairs, and affordable housing agencies. The law takes immediate effect and directly affects municipalities in the Highlands region by reducing state oversight of their local land-use planning.
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.
SCR 86 is a legislative resolution declaring that New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rules adopted in December 2023 - which would implement California’s "Advanced Clean Cars II" (ACC II) program - are inconsistent with the state’s 2003 law. The resolution states that the 2003 law only authorized the DEP to adopt rules for California’s older LEV II program, not the newer ACC II program, and that the DEP failed to provide required legislative notice before adopting the rules. The resolution gives the DEP 30 days to amend or withdraw the rules, or the Legislature could later pass another resolution to invalidate them. This affects the DEP’s authority to enforce ACC II requirements on automakers and directly impacts vehicle manufacturers selling in New Jersey.
This is a symbolic resolution (AR 28) passed by the New Jersey Assembly, not a binding law. It urges the federal government to approve construction of oil and natural gas pipelines within the U.S., specifically referencing pipelines that were previously shut down or denied approval (like the Keystone XL Pipeline). The resolution states it seeks to advance U.S. energy independence, lower fuel costs, and reduce reliance on foreign energy sources from regions like Russia and Venezuela. It has no legal effect and does not change any existing pipeline approvals or regulations.
Bill A 546 repeals New Jersey’s prohibition on certain businesses selling single-use products (like plastic straws or utensils), directly affecting restaurants, retailers, and food service establishments that previously faced restrictions. It also amends the Clean Communities Program Fund to adjust how state funds support litter cleanup and education initiatives, including distributing money to municipalities and counties based on housing units or road mileage. The bill removes sections 1-9 of P.L.2020, c.117, which established the single-use product ban, and takes effect immediately. This change shifts policy from restricting single-use items to enabling their sale without legal barriers.
