Environment in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 12, 2026

A 4033: Expands definition of "qualifying land" to include certain deeds of easement excluding certain portions of farm from preservation.

This bill amends New Jersey's rural microenterprise permit law by expanding the definition of "qualifying land" to include properties covered by certain types of easement deeds. It specifically excludes portions of farms from preservation requirements when these easements are in place. The change allows farmers with such easements to apply for special permits for small-scale rural businesses (like bed-and-breakfasts or equipment repair) on their land, subject to limits like a one-acre area cap and no interference with farming. This directly affects farmers holding specific easements who seek to operate permitted microenterprises without triggering full farmland preservation rules on excluded portions.

Topics ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Tags Agriculture

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 16, 2026

A 3383: Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.

New Jersey's bill A 3383, the "Architectural Paint Stewardship Act," requires paint producers (manufacturers selling interior/exterior architectural paint in 5-gallon containers or smaller) to create or join a paint stewardship program. The program must collect, reuse, recycle, or responsibly dispose of leftover paint from consumers (post-consumer paint), eliminating costs for local governments. Key mechanisms include producers funding the program through a fee added to paint prices, establishing statewide collection sites (ensuring 90% of residents are within 15 miles of a site), and prioritizing reuse/recycling per federal waste management guidelines. This directly affects paint producers and retailers, shifting disposal responsibility from municipalities to the industry.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3756: Prohibits certain uses of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene.

This bill prohibits all commercial uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) and bans consumer and commercial uses of perchloroethylene (PCE), while requiring facilities using PCE to implement worker exposure protections. It directs New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt rules mirroring federal EPA regulations (effective December 2024) that address health risks linked to these chemicals, including cancer and organ damage. The rules will apply to industries using PCE in dry cleaning, adhesives, and brake cleaners, and TCE in industrial degreasers and cleaning products. Federal preemption under the Toxic Substances Control Act exempts certain uses. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2032: Establishes "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" to support repurposing, remanufacturing, and recycling of electric vehicle batteries; dedicates amounts based on certain sales of electric vehicles.

This bill creates a dedicated "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" in New Jersey's General Fund, funded by $500 for every retail sale of an electric vehicle in the state during the prior fiscal year. The fund supports environmentally safe repurposing (using used batteries for stationary storage like home energy systems), remanufacturing (restoring batteries to original condition), and recycling of electric vehicle batteries. It directly affects electric vehicle owners through the sales-based funding mechanism and battery management companies implementing these processes. The bill requires the Division of Taxation to track EV sales to calculate annual fund contributions, with the fund's money exclusively used for these battery management activities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics State Budget Electric Vehicles Energy Storage Recycling

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1863: Requires State entities engaging in projects resulting in deforestation of any size to submit plan to DEP for no net loss of forested areas.

This New Jersey bill requires state entities (like state agencies and departments) to submit a reforestation plan to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for any tree removal project, eliminating the previous half-acre size limit. The plan must ensure "no net loss" of forested area by planting trees according to a specific Tree Replacement Factor (TRF), which calculates the required number based on the area cleared and tree size (e.g., 204 trees per acre for mature trees). Planting must follow a strict priority order: first on-site, then within the municipality, then within five miles, and finally off-site if needed, with requirements for native species, proper spacing, and diversity to reduce disease risk. If on-site reforestation isn't feasible, the state entity must pay into a fund managed by the DEP for reforestation.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Forestry

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1054: Establishes "Energy Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships Program"; amends law concerning NJ Infrastructure Bank; and authorizes certain energy contracts under "Public School Contracts Law" and "Local Public Contracts Law" up to 25 years.

This bill (A 1054) creates a new "Energy Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships Program" to help public entities like schools, hospitals, and emergency facilities upgrade energy infrastructure through long-term partnerships with private companies. It directly affects these critical facilities by allowing them to enter 25-year energy contracts under existing public procurement laws, instead of shorter terms. Key mechanisms include extending contract durations for renewable energy projects (like solar and battery storage), requiring partnerships to improve grid resilience and reduce emissions, and leveraging private capital to avoid taxpayer costs. The program aims to modernize aging systems, support New Jersey’s decarbonization goals, and enhance reliability for essential services.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Energy Resilience Energy Storage Solar Climate Change

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1042: Requires owners or operators of public community water systems to perform certain tests for Legionella bacteria.

This bill requires owners or operators of public community water systems in New Jersey to regularly test drinking water for Legionella bacteria. Specifically, they must test a random sample of at least 0.1% of service lines every three months and a random sample of at least 1% of water system facilities (like storage tanks and treatment plants) each month. If Legionella levels exceed the standard set by the Department of Environmental Protection, the system must immediately notify affected customers and complete remediation within six months. All testing must follow DEP-approved best practices and be conducted by accredited labs, with results reported to the department.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

AR 41: Urges President of U.S. and Congress to investigate environmental and labor risks of lithium-ion battery mining fields.

New Jersey's Assembly Resolution AR 41 is a non-binding request urging the U.S. President and Congress to investigate environmental and labor risks linked to lithium mining. It specifically highlights concerns about water scarcity and carbon emissions from mining in Australia, Chile, and Argentina, as well as child labor in cobalt mining (used in lithium batteries) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The resolution notes that the U.S. imports most of its lithium from Argentina and Chile and lithium-ion batteries from China, where these issues are prevalent. It does not create new laws but asks federal authorities to examine these impacts before the U.S. continues relying on these global supply chains.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Climate Change

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3097: Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex.

This bill requires the State Capitol Joint Management Commission to create and implement an environmental sustainability plan for the New Jersey State House Complex. The plan must include specific measures like improving energy efficiency (using Energy Star products and alternative energy), water conservation, adopting green building standards, using sustainable food services (like locally sourced foods and compostable utensils), and reducing carbon emissions. The Commission must update the plan every four years, issue annual public progress reports online, and track performance metrics. This requirement directly affects all operations and management of the State House Complex, including maintenance, renovations, and contracting decisions.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Climate Change Conservation

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2357: Creates Office of Sustainability.

This bill creates the Office of Sustainability within New Jersey's Department of the Treasury. The office, led by a governor-appointed director, directly affects all state agencies and buildings by requiring them to implement environmental sustainability measures. Key provisions include developing energy efficiency initiatives, conducting mandatory energy audits every three years, and coordinating the procurement of eco-friendly products like renewable energy and recycled materials. The office must reduce carbon footprints, conserve water, and align with recognized green building standards across all state-owned facilities.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy

All environment bills