Asm. Jim Kennedy

Maddy summaryThis bill requires recycling centers that process glass, plastic, cardboard, or paper to annually report specific data to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by December 31. Centers must provide information on the availability, location, and cost of markets for recycled materials, as well as details about contamination in the recycling stream. The DEP must keep any information deemed a trade secret or competitive business method confidential upon request from the recycling center. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to ensure all interior doors providing access to train operator cabins or control compartments remain locked at all times, except during emergencies or when health, safety, or security demands otherwise. It directly affects NJT passenger trains by mandating this safety measure for all rail vehicles owned or operated by NJ Transit. The key provision is the permanent locking requirement for these specific doors, with clear exceptions for emergency situations. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a rebate program for residents purchasing new low-speed electric bicycles meeting specific safety standards (ANSI/CAN/UL 2849). Rebates cover up to $2,000 or 50% of the bike's price (minimum $1,000 purchase), but only for in-person purchases made by New Jersey residents. The program, funded by $1 million from an existing societal benefits charge, aims to reduce vehicle emissions by encouraging e-bike use for short trips. The BPU will determine eligible bike types, application processes, and additional program requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Safe Dam Act to require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to consider potential impacts to natural resources - such as wildlife, fish, aquatic life, habitats, plants, and historic sites - when classifying dams by hazard potential. Currently, classifications only consider loss of life and property damage; this change expands the criteria to include environmental impacts. The DEP must update its classification system to incorporate these factors, affecting how dams are assessed for safety. Dam owners and the DEP will be directly impacted by this new requirement in the hazard classification process.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to review the electricity rates and revenues of electric utilities that use smart meters for billing. The BPU must compare these rates and revenues before and after a utility installs smart meters. Within six months of the bill's enactment, the BPU must submit a written report of its findings to the Governor and Legislature. The bill applies to all electric public utilities in New Jersey using smart meter technology for customer billing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric public utilities to submit detailed infrastructure improvement plans to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) within 120 days. The plans must address reopening closed or restricted electric distribution circuits - currently limiting renewable energy installations - to allow more solar and storage projects, using smart inverter technology to manage electricity flow. Utilities must also report on new renewable interconnection approvals and complete required work as soon as possible. The BPU will review and approve these plans within 300 days, focusing on expanding access to distributed renewable energy systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey school districts to include environmental sustainability goals in their existing long-range facilities plans. Districts must update these plans every five years to incorporate sustainability measures, such as energy efficiency or waste reduction, alongside other planning elements like enrollment projections and safety standards. The requirement applies to all school districts, including those designated as "Abbott districts" under previous law. This amendment modifies an existing 2000 law (P.L.2000, c.72) by adding environmental sustainability as a mandatory component of the planning process, without specifying exact sustainability metrics.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2043) changes how public colleges in New Jersey can collect fees for student groups that lobby for legislation. It allows colleges to automatically include such fees on student tuition bills as "waivable fees" (meaning students can choose to remove them), instead of requiring a separate student vote to add them. The fee must clearly state it’s optional, not mandatory, explain how to waive it, and note the college doesn’t endorse the group. It directly affects students paying tuition and public college governing bodies managing fee structures.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's "Packaging and Paper Product Stewardship Act" (A-3744) requires producers of packaging and paper products sold in the state to manage the end-of-life disposal of these items through mandatory stewardship plans. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of packaging (like food containers, bags, and beverage containers) and paper products (excluding books and non-recyclable items), shifting responsibility for waste management from taxpayers to producers. Key mechanisms include creating "environmentally sound" recycling, composting, or reuse systems via producer groups (PROs) or individual plans, setting annual recycling rate targets, and prioritizing waste management in "overburdened communities." The bill defines specific terms like composting (excluding wastewater treatment) and recycling to ensure waste is handled safely and effectively, without relying on incineration or landfill disposal.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $17 million from the General Fund to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for fiscal year 2023. It establishes a grant program to assist qualified entities - including lake commissions (like Greenwood Lake and Lake Hopatcong), local governments, and nonprofits - focusing on lake management for recreation and conservation. Grants prioritize projects improving water quality, preventing harmful algal blooms, increasing public access, and controlling pollution that affects lake use. The DEP must develop application criteria and administer the program, with funds limited to eligible lake management activities.