This bill creates the "New Jersey Grid Modernization Task Force" within the Governor's Office to develop a comprehensive plan for updating the state's electric grid. The task force, made up of state agency leaders, utility representatives, industry experts, and public members, will address grid upgrades needed due to rising electric vehicle adoption, residential solar installations, and electric heating systems. It must submit its master plan - including recommendations for maintaining funding for the Transportation Trust Fund - to the Governor and Legislature within one year, after which the task force will expire. The plan aims to prepare the grid for future energy demands while examining how electric vehicle growth affects transportation funding.
This bill removes a requirement that counties and municipalities set aside at least 5% of bond funds as a down payment before adopting bond ordinances for capital projects. It directly affects local governments seeking to issue bonds for infrastructure, parks, or other capital improvements. The key change eliminates the need for local units to appropriate or secure this down payment from existing budgets, emergency funds, or prior contributions. This frees up immediate funding flexibility for local governments, allowing them to redirect resources toward other priorities without the 5% down payment hurdle.
New Jersey's bill A2531 requires vehicle manufacturers to provide owners with real-time, free access to their vehicle's recorded data - including speed, location, crash information, and performance metrics - through a standard interface. Owners or their representatives can retrieve this data without fees, decryption requirements, or needing manufacturer-provided devices, in a machine-readable format. The law excludes audio/video data and maintains existing exceptions for law enforcement (with warrants), repairs, emergency services, and safety research. This directly affects vehicle owners, manufacturers, and repair facilities by standardizing data access while preserving specific legal and safety use cases.
This bill establishes a pilot program allowing solar energy projects on state and local government-owned roadside rights-of-way (land adjacent to roads, 30-100 feet from the road centerline) in New Jersey. Projects must not exceed 10 megawatts individually, with a total program cap of 200 megawatts, and must avoid disrupting traffic, safety, or road maintenance. The Board of Public Utilities, with input from the Transportation Commissioner, will review applications based on criteria like safety monitoring, environmental impact, and project size, requiring permits before construction. The pilot runs for 36 months, with possible two 12-month extensions (max 50 megawatts increase per extension) to evaluate outcomes.
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 creates New Jersey's "Enhanced Transit Village Program" to encourage higher-density, mixed-use development near public transit hubs. It directly affects municipalities already designated as "transit villages" (those with existing transit infrastructure), requiring them to update zoning to meet specific density standards: at least 50 residential units per acre within 1/4 mile of transit, and 25 units per acre beyond that radius. The program provides technical assistance and financial support for municipalities to improve walkability, bike infrastructure, housing variety, and transit connections, while coordinating between the Office of Planning Advocacy (for land use) and the Department of Transportation (for infrastructure). The Office of Planning Advocacy will administer the program, including reviewing applications and approving village plans, with implementation pending legislative approval. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
This New Jersey bill requires all constables to complete approved training within six months of appointment. Existing constables appointed before the bill's effective date must complete the training within one year. The training covers motor vehicle offenses, traffic duties, spectator control, and professional development, as outlined in the amended statute. The Police Training Commission oversees approved training schools and ensures compliance with these requirements.
This bill (A 2132) requires operators of New Jersey's Access Link paratransit service to announce every scheduled stop on their route, either verbally or via a recording system. It directly affects Access Link drivers and the New Jersey Transit Corporation, which operates this ADA-compliant paratransit service for riders with disabilities. Currently, only fixed-route transit systems (like buses on set schedules) must announce stops, but Access Link - being a non-fixed-route service - was previously exempt. The bill extends the stop-announcement requirement to all Access Link vehicles to improve accessibility and rider awareness. It takes effect two months after enactment.
This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General (with input from the Transportation Commissioner) to create a mandatory training program for all law enforcement officers on safely interacting with autonomous vehicles during traffic stops and emergencies. It mandates that current officers complete the training by December 31, 2020, and new officers must complete it before receiving permanent appointment. The training curriculum, defined to cover vehicles operating without human control, must be reviewed every five years. The goal is to prepare police for when autonomous vehicles become legally permitted on public roads, even though they are currently prohibited in New Jersey.
This bill amends "Antwan's Law" (P.L.2019, c.5) to change where fines for speeding violations in specific Burlington City zones on Route 130 go. Currently, fines for these violations are tripled but split between the municipality (for general use/municipal court) and the county (for road maintenance). The bill changes this so all fines collected for violating these speed limits must be paid directly into the local municipality's treasury for law enforcement purposes. It directly affects drivers who exceed the reduced speed limits in the designated areas of Burlington City.
