New Jersey Bills

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 4882: "New Jersey Natural Gas Modernization Act."

This bill, titled the New Jersey Natural Gas Modernization Act, aims to update and improve existing natural gas power plants in the state to enhance energy reliability and lower costs for residents. It directly affects utility companies and the natural gas-fired generating facilities that currently operate within New Jersey. The legislation establishes a streamlined permitting process to allow for upgrades and efficiency improvements at these plants without weakening environmental protections. By modernizing older infrastructure, the bill seeks to reduce emissions, stabilize electricity prices, and ensure a steady power supply during times of high demand or renewable shortages.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5145: Establishes "Municipal Community Center Grant Program."

This bill creates the Municipal Community Center Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to provide funding for municipalities to build new community centers. The program prioritizes grants for towns that currently lack these facilities or have too few relative to their population, with funds restricted strictly to construction projects. To support the initiative, the Department of Community Affairs must annually request a minimum of $10 million in state funding while also seeking additional resources from federal, local, and private sources. The Division of Housing and Community Resources will administer the program, handling application procedures, setting award criteria, and monitoring how the money is used.

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5143: Restricts purchase of single-family homes by certain institutional investors.

This bill restricts certain institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes in New Jersey that are listed for sale on the market. It defines "institutional investors" as large corporations, partnerships, or trusts, while explicitly exempting small investors who own 20 or fewer homes, family trusts, and nonprofits focused on affordable housing. The law aims to prevent large investment firms from buying up residential properties, thereby keeping homes available for individual buyers and local families.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5133: Establishes grant program to support costs of presentations on risks of nicotine and vaping in public schools; appropriates $500,000.

This bill creates a grant program for New Jersey public schools to fund educational presentations about the health risks and addictive nature of nicotine pouches and vaping devices. The Department of Education will manage the initiative by reviewing applications from schools and distributing up to $500,000 to hire qualified experts who specialize in adolescent health or behavioral science. To ensure broad reach, the program aims to select schools from various regions and community types across the state, including urban, suburban, and rural areas. The legislation appropriates the necessary funds from the General State Fund to support these educational efforts immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 28, 2026

S 4297: Revises certain restrictions concerning hemp, intoxicating hemp beverages, and medical cannabis.

This bill updates New Jersey's laws to strictly regulate the sale of hemp products and intoxicating hemp beverages. It prohibits the selling or distribution of viable cannabis seeds with high THC levels, synthetic cannabinoids, and hemp-derived products containing more than 0.3 percent THC or 0.4 milligrams of THC per container. The legislation also bans the online sale of any hemp-derived cannabinoid products and forbids dispensing intoxicating hemp beverages from vending machines. While these restrictions apply to most sales, the law includes a temporary exception allowing authorized hemp producers to transport certain intermediate products for processing until November 13, 2026. Violations of these rules are subject to criminal penalties for marijuana offenses and additional civil fines ranging from $100 to $10,000 depending on the severity and frequency of the infraction.

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5134: Eliminates front registration plate and requires issuance of single rear registration plate.

This New Jersey bill requires vehicle owners to display only a single rear registration plate, removing the legal requirement to show a plate on the front of the vehicle. It directly affects all drivers in the state by changing how they must display their license plates and will require those who currently have two plates to return one to the Motor Vehicle Commission. The law also includes a public awareness campaign to inform drivers about the new rules and clarifies that obscured plate information will still be enforceable if it can reasonably be identified.

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5132: Requires municipality with over 4,000 residents to provide public with list of certain community service organizations.

This bill requires municipalities in New Jersey with more than 4,000 residents to create and maintain a public list of local community service organizations. The affected towns must publish this list of voluntary service groups and their contact information for free on their official websites or through an eligible online news outlet. To ensure the information remains current, the law mandates that these lists be updated at least once every year, though towns are not held liable if an organization listed is no longer operating. Additionally, the bill establishes a funding mechanism where the state reimburses municipalities for the actual costs they incur to comply with these new reporting requirements.

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5127: Establishes child care stabilization and operation grant program in DHS.

This bill creates a new grant program within the Department of Human Services to provide financial support to licensed child care centers and family day care homes in New Jersey. The program aims to help providers cover operating expenses and workforce needs, particularly those facing challenges such as facility closures, high numbers of low-income families, or revenue losses from the state's preschool expansion. To receive funding, providers must apply and meet specific criteria, with priority given to facilities in child care deserts, areas with many low-income families, and those impacted by recent policy changes. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to hold the money appropriated for these grants, ensuring resources are available to stabilize the child care industry.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5130: "Vehicle Choice Protection Act"; prohibits State agencies from adopting rules, regulations, or policies that restrict or prohibit sale, registration, or use of new internal combustion vehicles in State.

The Vehicle Choice Protection Act prevents New Jersey state agencies from creating any rules or policies that ban or limit the sale, registration, or use of new internal combustion engine vehicles. This legislation defines internal combustion vehicles as those powered by gasoline, diesel, or other hydrocarbon fuels and explicitly forbids government bodies from restricting consumer access to these cars. By blocking future regulations that would phase out these vehicles, the bill ensures that drivers can continue to purchase and operate traditional cars without state interference. The law takes effect immediately upon introduction, securing the ability to buy and use new non-electric vehicles across the state.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5129: Requires certain school districts to offer Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program.

This bill requires school districts in New Jersey that include preschool through fifth-grade students to offer the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. The program teaches children four simple rules to follow if they encounter a firearm: stop, do not touch, leave the area, and tell an adult. It mandates that instruction must not involve real firearms or make value judgments about guns, focusing solely on safety protocols endorsed by law enforcement agencies.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5147: Expands conditions for areas in need of redevelopment to include sites designated by municipality for affordable housing under certain circumstances.

This bill allows New Jersey municipalities to designate specific sites as areas in need of redevelopment if those sites are officially planned for affordable housing in the town's housing element and fair share plan. To qualify, the site must be designated for inclusionary development that includes both market-rate and affordable housing, or exclusively affordable housing, and the plan must have been approved by a court to meet the municipality's legal housing obligations. The change expands the existing redevelopment law to enable these housing-focused areas to access redevelopment powers, such as tax exemptions and abatements, under the same conditions as other blighted or underutilized zones. Local governments would use this provision to address housing shortages by legally classifying planned affordable housing projects as redevelopment areas.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5131: Requires nonpublic secondary schools, independent institutions of higher education, and State to make payment to school districts for educational costs of students residing in tax-exempt housing upon adoption of resolution by municipal governing body.

This bill requires nonpublic secondary schools, independent colleges, and the State of New Jersey to pay public school districts for the education costs of students living on their tax-exempt property. The payment obligation begins only after a local school district's governing body passes a resolution requesting it. Once activated, the bill mandates that these institutions calculate and send an annual payment by November 1, based on the per-pupil tax levy amount for each student residing in their facilities. This change aims to ensure that public school districts receive funding for students who live on private or state-owned land that is exempt from local property taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Bill results