Sen. Bob Smith

Maddy summarySCR 58 is a New Jersey legislative resolution condemning President Trump's 2025 decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. It urges the President to rejoin the agreement, noting this withdrawal conflicts with New Jersey's state law (P.L.2018, c.3) and the position of 23 states in the U.S. Climate Alliance. The resolution will be formally sent to the President, Vice President, and New Jersey's congressional representatives. As a non-binding statement, it does not change U.S. policy but expresses legislative disapproval.

Maddy summaryS 2273 bans the use of perchloroethylene (PCE) in consumer and commercial products and prohibits all commercial uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) in New Jersey. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules within two years that mirror the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s 2024 regulations on these chemicals, including any exemptions or phased timelines. Facilities that continue using PCE must implement measures to protect workers from exposure. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2332, amends New Jersey's affordable housing law to exclude certain environmentally protected or flood-prone lands from counting toward a municipality's obligation to provide affordable housing. Specifically, it removes lands where development is already prohibited or heavily restricted by environmental laws (like flood zones or conservation areas), agricultural preservation covenants, historic sites, or small private parcels under five housing units. Municipalities will no longer need to count these excluded lands when calculating their "fair share" of affordable housing requirements under state law. The change clarifies that lands already legally off-limits for development cannot be forced into housing projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 692) would have modified licensing requirements for businesses that transport, broker, or process solid waste and soil/fill recyclable materials in New Jersey. It aimed to tighten background checks by requiring detailed "disclosure statements" from applicants, including personal information for key personnel (like names, addresses, and Social Security numbers), past violations of waste regulations, legal issues, and ownership details. The key change was expanding the scope of required disclosures to ensure applicants' competency, reliability, and integrity before receiving licenses. The bill was withdrawn after being incorporated into another law (P.L.2025, c.330), so it did not become effective.

Maddy summaryS 626 establishes a 9-member Nuclear Power Advisory Commission within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection. The commission must study nuclear energy's role in the state's energy future, specifically examining its value as a reliable zero-emission power source for climate goals, impacts of plant closures on grid reliability and electricity costs, emerging small-scale nuclear technologies, and other states' nuclear policies. The commission, including ex-officio members and six gubernatorial appointees representing nuclear plants, academia, environmental groups, business, and labor, must submit a report within 18 months. The bill expires 30 days after the report is submitted.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's SREC-II solar incentive program to increase the annual solar development goal to 750 megawatts per year and extend target dates to 2035 (previously ending in 2026). It establishes a system where solar project owners earn renewable energy certificates (SREC-IIs) for each megawatt-hour of electricity generated, which utilities can use to meet state renewable energy requirements. Specific targets include 3,000 megawatts of community solar capacity by 2029 and 50 megawatts for small-scale remote net metering projects. These changes will affect solar developers who receive payments and ratepayers who fund the program through utility bills.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 670, the "Toxic Packaging Reduction Act," requires plastic packaging producers to gradually reduce plastic use by 50% over 10 years (starting at 90% of baseline after 2 years). It mandates that cardboard packaging sold in the state must contain 75% recycled content after 2 years. The bill creates a Toxic Packaging Task Force to identify harmful chemicals in packaging and recommend restrictions. This directly affects plastic producers selling packaging or products in New Jersey, excluding medical devices, food packaging, and certain industrial materials.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create rules allowing low- and moderate-income residential customers to self-attest to their income for community solar program participation, instead of providing traditional income documentation. It directly affects households qualifying as low- or moderate-income who wish to join community solar programs established under 2018 law (P.L.2018, c.17). The key provision replaces current income verification requirements with a self-attestation method, to be defined by the BPU in new regulations. This change aims to simplify access to community solar benefits for qualifying residents.

Maddy summaryS 637 requires owners and operators of certain sanitary landfills (those authorized to accept solid waste for final disposal or closing after the law takes effect) to control and monitor methane emissions. Key provisions include installing and operating a landfill gas collection system meeting specific standards, conducting quarterly methane surface monitoring, and ensuring emissions stay below 500 parts per million at any single point or 25 parts per million on average across the facility. Owners must also submit annual methane generation estimates and maintain records for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The law takes effect 24 months after enactment, with penalties for violations including fines up to $50,000 per day.

Maddy summarySCR 65 is a symbolic resolution passed by New Jersey's Senate condemning Hinduphobia - defined as prejudice or hatred against Hinduism and Hindus - and anti-Hindu bigotry. It declares New Jersey a welcoming state for Hindu Americans, recognizing their contributions to U.S. society and citing documented hate crimes against the community. The resolution has no binding legal effect but directs copies to the governor, New Jersey's congressional delegation, and the Hindu American Foundation. It serves as a formal statement of support, not a policy change.