Asm. Jim Kennedy

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Resiliency and Environmental System Investment Charge Program" (RESIC) that allows New Jersey water and wastewater utilities to recover costs for certain environmental and resiliency investments through a surcharge on customer bills. Utilities must get approval from the Board of Public Utilities for specific projects that enhance system resiliency, environmental compliance, or public health, with costs limited to non-revenue producing infrastructure. The surcharge would appear as a separate line item on customer bills, with total recovery capped at 5% of the utility's annual revenue. Utilities must file detailed reports with the Board semi-annually to track project costs and recovery amounts, and the program applies to both investor-owned and certain municipal utilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale, purchase, use, and application of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to health risks including neurological and developmental issues, throughout New Jersey. It directly affects agricultural producers, commercial pest control businesses, and other users who currently rely on this chemical under its existing restricted-use designation. The bill amends state law to explicitly ban chlorpyrifos, overriding current allowances for certified applicators. The prohibition will take effect seven months after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale in New Jersey of cleaning products containing triclosan that are used for sanitizing or hand/body cleansing. It directly affects retailers and manufacturers selling these products to consumers, with an exception for items specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for consumer use. The law imposes a $1,000 civil penalty per violation, with each day of continued violation counting as a separate offense. It takes effect one year after enactment and aligns with the FDA’s 2016 finding that triclosan may disrupt hormones and contribute to antibiotic resistance, though it expands the ban beyond the FDA’s limited scope.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires packaging product producers in New Jersey (including manufacturers, brand owners, sellers, and importers) to develop and implement stewardship plans for managing packaging waste. The plans must include specific targets like 75% post-consumer content in single-use packaging by 2027, making all single-use packaging recyclable or compostable by 2030, and reducing single-use plastic packaging by 25% by 2030. Producers must cover all costs for collection, transportation, reuse, and recycling of packaging waste through their stewardship plans, which must be approved by the Department of Environmental Protection. The bill prohibits producers from selling packaging products without an approved plan, with penalties including fines and sales restrictions for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities (like gas, electric, or telecom companies) to repave road sections they excavate if that road was repaved within the last five years. Specifically, they must repave from the excavation site to the road's curbs or street corners, or up to 150 feet in each direction if corners are farther away. The law applies to all public roads, streets, or highways and takes effect immediately. It directly affects utilities performing road work and aims to prevent uneven pavement after excavation projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Zero Energy Construction Act," requires all new residential and commercial buildings in New Jersey to be constructed as "zero energy ready" starting January 1, 2025. It directly affects developers of new buildings and prospective owners who are purchasing new properties. Developers must offer zero energy construction options during sales negotiations, disclose associated costs, and provide information about energy savings, environmental benefits, and available incentives. The state will compile and make available online information about zero energy buildings and their benefits, while also revising building codes to implement these requirements. The bill does not mandate that buildings must be fully zero energy, only that they be designed to be capable of achieving this status with renewable energy systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires national restaurant chains with 20+ locations to display a warning icon and statement for menu items containing 2,300mg or more of sodium (defined as "high sodium content"). The warning must appear next to the item on menus/menu boards and include a standardized statement about sodium limits at checkout points. Restaurants failing to comply face fines of $50-$100 for first offenses and $250-$500 for repeat violations. The law applies only to chain restaurants (not independent eateries) and preempts local sodium-labeling ordinances.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state entities (like agencies and departments) to submit a reforestation plan to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) before any deforestation project, regardless of size. The plan must ensure "no net loss" of forested areas by replanting trees using a scientific Tree Replacement Factor (based on 204 trees per acre) and following specific planting guidelines, such as using native species and maintaining species diversity. If on-site replanting isn't feasible, trees must be planted first within the same municipality, then within five miles, or finally off-site. This eliminates the current one-half acre size threshold, applying the requirement to all deforestation projects to better protect New Jersey's forest resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2088) requires electric public utilities in New Jersey to charge government entities (such as cities, counties, or school districts) only the actual costs for installing and operating LED street lights they own or provide service to. It mandates that utilities revise their billing rates within 60 days of the bill’s effective date to reflect these actual costs, submitting the changes to the Board of Public Utilities for approval. The law specifically applies to LED street lights used on public streets, roads, or highways owned by government entities or utility-owned LED lights. This change aims to prevent utilities from adding profit margins to street lighting charges, aligning billing with the lower operational costs of energy-efficient LED technology.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A601 establishes a Division of Advocacy for Developmentally Disabled within the Office of Public Defender. This division will serve as the state's official protection and advocacy agency for people with developmental disabilities, handling complaints, providing legal representation, and ensuring adequate care in state-operated facilities. The bill requires the Public Defender to designate at least one staff attorney per office with expertise in developmental disabilities to represent these clients in criminal cases. It transfers all existing advocacy functions from a private entity to this new public division, effective 180 days after enactment. The measure directly affects developmentally disabled individuals in criminal proceedings and state care facilities.