Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a program to incentivize the development of transmission-scale energy storage systems with a minimum capacity of 5 megawatts. The program will solicit applications for projects totaling at least 500 megawatts of capacity, with projects needing commercial operation by December 2030 and interconnection to the PJM grid. The BPU will provide incentive awards totaling at least $60 million annually for 15 years, based on a scoring system that evaluates price, project maturity, and community benefits. The program is designed to help New Jersey meet its 2030 energy storage target of 2,000 megawatts, with the BPU required to report on progress one year after the initial procurement.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to approve sites for small modular reactors (SMRs) exclusively in municipalities with existing nuclear facilities, overriding local zoning laws. It permits SMR operators to store spent nuclear fuel on-site until a national waste repository is established, following U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission safety standards. The BPU must also create a financial incentive program for SMR construction within one year. These provisions directly affect SMR developers, the BPU, and municipalities with prior nuclear operations.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey property owners to claim a state income tax deduction for the capital gain realized when selling certain real estate interests to qualified conservation organizations. It applies to both full market value sales and "bargain sales" (where property is sold below market value but still includes a conservation component), with the deduction amount matching the federal capital gain calculation. The deduction covers sales to organizations participating in programs like Green Acres, Blue Acres, farmland preservation, historic preservation, and wildlife conservation initiatives. It directly affects landowners who sell conservation-protected property to these groups, helping offset taxable gains while supporting land preservation efforts.
Maddy summaryThis bill would permit New Jersey county boards of elections to extend the prohibited distance for electioneering from 100 feet to 200 feet around polling places and ballot drop boxes during elections. Currently, electioneering is prohibited within 100 feet of these locations. County boards would have discretion to choose the extended 200-foot distance but must provide clear notice of this rule and its penalties before implementation. This change would directly affect voters, candidates, and campaign workers near polling locations during election periods.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S4693 requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to collaborate with neighboring states to research alternatives to PJM Interconnection's capacity market, which has caused record electricity costs for consumers. The bill directs the BPU to examine three specific options: mandating that electricity providers secure 80% of their future capacity through long-term bilateral contracts, withdrawing from PJM's market to form a multi-state compact, or leaving PJM's transmission grid entirely. This action responds to a 2024 PJM capacity auction that saw prices surge nearly 10x, projecting $14.7 billion in consumer costs for the 2025/2026 delivery year. The BPU must submit a report by December 31, 2025, with recommendations for these alternatives. The bill directly affects electricity providers and ratepayers by targeting the system that sets grid reliability costs.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires the Board of Public Utilities to create a program that procures and provides financial incentives for transmission-scale energy storage systems (those with at least 5 MW capacity) with a minimum total capacity of 500 MW for the first round of applications. The program will provide annual incentive payments of $60 million over a 15-year period to qualified projects, with applications evaluated based on cost, project readiness, and community benefits. The incentives will be funded through the societal benefits charge, and the BPU must report on the program's impact one year after initial procurement, assessing progress toward the state's 2030 energy storage target.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan" within 24 months. The plan must identify natural wildlife movement pathways, areas with frequent animal-vehicle collisions, and barriers like roads, then prioritize safety projects to protect both wildlife and drivers. It mandates the plan be updated every 10 years and coordinated with conservation groups, existing projects like NJ CHANJ, and road construction. The state appropriates $90,000 to fund the DEP and DOT's work on this plan. The bill directly affects wildlife habitats, driver safety, and state agency planning processes.
Maddy summaryS 220 establishes a 9-member Nuclear Power Advisory Commission within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection. The commission will study nuclear energy's role in the state's energy future, specifically examining its value as a zero-emission power source, impacts of plant closures on grid reliability and electricity prices, emerging reactor technologies, and actions by other states and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The commission must submit a report with recommendations within 18 months of the bill's effective date. This study directly affects New Jersey's energy policy decisions and nuclear power plant operations.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes standardized food date labels in New Jersey: "BEST if Used By" for quality (food may lose quality but remains safe) and "USE By" for safety (food may become unsafe after this date). It prohibits confusing "sell-by" dates meant for retailers and requires manufacturers to use the new standardized labels. Retailers must stop selling food after its "USE By" date but aren't liable for labeling errors. The Commissioner of Health must create a public education program explaining these labels to help consumers distinguish between quality and safety dates, reducing food waste from misinterpreted labels.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes how constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenues are allocated for fiscal year 2026 and beyond. It directs 5% of these revenues annually to a new Preserve New Jersey Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Fund, with an initial $25 million deposit upon enactment. The bill authorizes the Garden State Preservation Trust and local governments to acquire urban land for agricultural or horticultural purposes through purchase or development easements. It also establishes a grant program to support stewardship activities like soil health improvements on land acquired for these purposes.