S 4308 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Requires Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA and applicable State agencies and nonprofits to establish a consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs.

This bill requires New Jersey's Division of Housing and Community Resources (in the Department of Community Affairs) to create a single, user-friendly online application for all state utility assistance programs. It directly affects residential customers who need help paying utility bills or making energy efficiency upgrades, replacing multiple separate applications with one streamlined form. The Division must collaborate with state agencies and designated nonprofits to develop this consolidated application and integrate temporary programs as they arise. The bill directs the Department to adopt necessary rules under existing administrative procedures to implement this change.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics: Energy Efficiency

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced May 12, 2025 Last action Dec 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Reprint 12/11/25 1R · 3 edits

MINOR

The First Reprint narrows the scope of programs subject to the consolidated application requirement and softens the obligation on state agencies. Programs already included in the division's existing consolidated application portal are now excluded from the memorandum of understanding requirement, and the duty to assist changed from 'developing' to 'updating, if applicable.' These changes reduce the burden on agencies whose programs are already integrated into the existing system.

SCOPE

Section 1(b) now only requires MOUs with agencies administering programs that are NOT currently included in the division's existing consolidated application portal. Programs already in the portal are excluded from the requirement.

REQUIREMENT

The obligation for state agencies and nonprofit organizations changed from 'assist the department in developing the consolidated application' to 'assist the department in updating the consolidated application, if applicable.' This softens the duty from an active development role to a conditional update role.

TECHNICAL

Section 1(c) replaced a placeholder reference to the pending bill number with a direct reference to 'this act,' which is standard once the bill has been reported out of committee.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading

upper

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor