This bill, S 636, exempts certified solar energy systems from municipal building fees and state government charges related to installation or alteration. It updates an existing 1985 law by replacing its reference to an expired property tax exemption with New Jersey’s current 2008 renewable energy tax exemption statute (N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.113a et seq.). The bill directly affects homeowners and businesses installing solar systems already certified as eligible for property tax exemptions under current law. By removing outdated legal references, it reactivates a fee exemption that previously expired due to the outdated citation, making solar installation more affordable without creating new policy.
This bill establishes the "Enhanced Transit Village Program" to support municipalities in developing walkable, mixed-use communities centered around public transit hubs. It targets distressed municipalities (score 50+ on revitalization index) already designated as "transit villages" by the Department of Transportation. Key provisions include requiring 50+ housing units per acre within 1/4 mile of transit and 25+ units per acre beyond that, alongside technical assistance for zoning changes, infrastructure upgrades, and promoting pedestrian/bike access. The program, administered by the Office of Planning Advocacy (Department of State) and DOT, is funded with $25 million in state appropriations.
S 1201 establishes a state-administered program to provide low-cost financing for green infrastructure equipment, such as solar panels or energy-efficient upgrades, directly benefiting New Jersey's electric and gas utility customers - especially those who cannot afford large upfront costs. The program allows customers to pay for installations through small, recurring fees added to their monthly utility bills instead of making a large initial payment. Funds from these repayments will be recycled to finance additional installations, aiming to make clean energy more accessible while supporting the state's renewable energy goals. This program targets underserved customers and coordinates with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the Board of Public Utilities to manage financing.
This bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create rules allowing low- and moderate-income residential customers to self-attest to their income for community solar program participation, instead of providing traditional income documentation. It directly affects households qualifying as low- or moderate-income who wish to join community solar programs established under 2018 law (P.L.2018, c.17). The key provision replaces current income verification requirements with a self-attestation method, to be defined by the BPU in new regulations. This change aims to simplify access to community solar benefits for qualifying residents.
S 392, the "Palisades Cliffs Protection Act," limits new building heights in areas east of the Palisades cliffs in Hudson and Bergen counties, directly affecting developers planning construction between the cliffs and the Hudson River. The bill requires all new buildings or structures to be at least 10 feet shorter than the cliff wall's lowest point west of the site or the elevation of Palisade Avenue, whichever is lower. This applies to all new proposals, excluding projects that already have all required government approvals before the law takes effect. The measure aims to maintain the natural topography and visual character of the Palisades area by restricting vertical development near the cliffs.
This bill allows grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail sellers to voluntarily donate expired food or food waste (like items past their sell-by date or spoiled leftovers) to farmers for use as animal feed. Farmers must sign a liability waiver acknowledging the risks of using expired food and releasing the business from legal responsibility. The bill also directs the Farm Liaison to help coordinate donations between retailers and farmers by developing networks and sharing information about available food. It directly affects retail businesses and farmers by creating a legal pathway for food waste donation while limiting business liability. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
S 623 bans the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers with two-stroke engines after two years and restricts four-stroke models in residential areas after four years, allowing limited non-residential use only during March 15-May 15 and October 15-December 15. It exempts gas blowers used for pest management applications and imposes penalties: $500-$1,000 for businesses and $25 for individuals for violations. The bill also creates a 50% tax credit (up to 50% of purchase cost, including batteries) for homeowners and businesses replacing gas blowers with electric models, valid for five years after the bill’s effective date. This directly affects residents, property managers, and landscaping businesses operating in New Jersey.
This bill (S 610) prevents New Jersey municipalities from restricting rooftop or ground-mounted solar panel installations on residential properties under specific conditions. It prohibits zoning rules for systems that extend 12 inches or less beyond roof edges (roof-mounted) or have 10 or fewer panels more than 50 feet from property lines (ground-mounted). The bill also limits municipal fees for approving solar or small wind energy systems to only the actual cost of review and approval, banning extra charges. It directly affects residential property owners seeking solar installations and municipal governments managing local zoning and permitting.
This bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create rules allowing wastewater utilities to charge customers a specific "wastewater system improvement charge." The charge would cover costs for rehabilitating, improving, or replacing aging wastewater infrastructure, such as pipes and treatment facilities. It directly affects wastewater utilities (like municipal sewer systems) and their customers who pay for wastewater services. The rules would mirror existing regulations already in place for water utilities (N.J.A.C.14:9-10.1 et seq.), enabling similar cost recovery for wastewater infrastructure needs. The goal is to accelerate repairs to deteriorating systems by providing a clear funding mechanism.
This bill, S 625, streamlines zoning approvals for small electric battery storage equipment in New Jersey. It directly affects homeowners (allowing residential installations as a permitted accessory use without special permits) and businesses (exempting commercial/industrial installations from site plan reviews or variances). Key provisions require municipalities to approve qualifying applications within 20 days if complete, mandate compliance with existing safety codes, and direct the state to publish a model ordinance for installation standards. The bill removes local barriers to battery storage deployment while maintaining safety requirements and allowing municipalities to adopt reasonable, non-review-based standards.
