S 302 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes notice requirements for certain water utilities.

This bill requires water utilities in New Jersey that use smart meters to send residential customers monthly notifications about their water usage. Notifications must include the cost (in dollars) and volume (in gallons) of water used during the billing cycle, up to two days before the notice is sent. Customers can also opt to set spending thresholds for alerts or receive comparisons of their current usage to prior cycles. Utilities must provide initial sign-up instructions and obtain prior consent for text message notifications, and bills must display previous/current charges and differences. The law applies to all water public utilities, local authorities, and municipal utilities serving residential smart meter customers.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jun 8, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill moved from introduction to first reprint after Senate Economic Growth Committee reported it with amendments on June 8, 2026. The substantive changes narrow and clarify the definitions of 'smart meter' and 'smart meter customer' to distinguish between water public utilities and local authorities or municipal utilities. A new co-sponsor (Senator McKnight) was added, and the explanatory statement section was removed.

Scope change

The scope was clarified to more precisely distinguish between water public utilities and local authorities or municipal utilities as separate categories of regulated entities, rather than grouping them all under the generic term 'public utility.'

DEFINITION

The definition of 'smart meter' in one context was narrowed from 'a public utility' to 'a water public utility' by inserting the word 'water,' limiting that definition specifically to water utilities.

A second definition of 'smart meter' was changed from applying to 'a public utility' to applying to 'a local authority or municipal utility,' separating the regulatory scope for different types of water providers.

The definition of 'smart meter customer' was changed from a residential customer of 'a water public utility' to a residential customer of 'a local authority or municipal utility,' aligning it with the revised smart meter definition for those entities.

TECHNICAL

Senator Angela V. McKnight (District 31, Hudson) was added as a co-sponsor of the bill.

The explanatory statement section summarizing the bill's provisions was removed from the reprint version, which is a standard procedural change when a bill advances through committee.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 8, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors