Increases FY 2025 Grants-in-Aid appropriation to DCA for "NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program" by $5 million.

This bill increases funding for New Jersey's NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program by $5 million, raising its total FY 2025 appropriation to $10.5 million. It directly provides utility payment assistance to homeowners and tenants facing financial hardship who struggle to pay utility bills. The program requires that applicants cannot receive similar aid from private insurance or other public programs, and the Department of Community Affairs commissioner must establish clear guidelines to distribute funds quickly. The commissioner may work with nonprofits or public agencies to administer the assistance, using funds specifically allocated from the Universal Service Fund.