Sen. Bob Smith

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 223 requires electric utilities to give customers full ownership and control over their energy usage data collected through smart meters. The bill mandates that utilities obtain explicit customer consent before sharing data with third parties and sets new privacy standards through the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Utilities must provide real-time access to customer energy data within 24 hours, implement security measures to prevent breaches, and notify customers if data is compromised. This directly affects electricity customers and utilities by establishing clear rules for data privacy, access, and third-party sharing.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding Senate Resolution urges states in the PJM Interconnection region (including New Jersey and 12 other states) to require data centers to source electricity from new zero- or low-emission energy sources. It does not create new legal requirements but calls on other states to adopt such policies, citing data centers' current use of 4% of U.S. electricity (projected to double by 2030) as a growing strain on regional grids. The resolution highlights that clean energy sources like solar and wind could help meet this demand while supporting climate goals. It is a symbolic action, not a legislative mandate, intended to encourage policy changes in other states.

Maddy summarySCR 124 is a symbolic resolution passed by the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly that formally condemns President Trump's 2025 decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or entities, as it is a non-binding statement of disapproval. The resolution urges the President to rejoin the accord and was sent to the White House and New Jersey's congressional delegation. It references New Jersey's existing law requiring state participation in the accord and the stance of the U.S. Climate Alliance. This resolution has no legal effect on federal policy or climate action.

Maddy summaryThe "Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act" (S 4117) requires businesses with over $1 billion in annual revenue operating in New Jersey to publicly disclose their annual greenhouse gas emissions. These companies must report direct emissions (Scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2), and supply chain emissions (Scope 3) through a state-managed system. Starting three years after enactment, businesses must submit emissions data to the Department of Environmental Protection, with public disclosure of Scope 1 and 2 emissions beginning four years later and Scope 3 emissions five years after enactment. The law mandates independent verification of emissions data and allows companies to use existing California climate reporting to meet requirements, with civil penalties of up to $50,000 for repeated violations.

Maddy summaryThe Electronic Cigarette Extended Producer Responsibility Act requires e-cigarette manufacturers to form a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that will develop and implement a plan for collecting, reusing, recycling, and disposing of e-cigarettes in an environmentally sound way. The PRO must submit a stewardship plan to the Department of Environmental Protection within five years, including collection sites that provide convenient access for 90% of residents within 15 miles of their homes. Producers will pay fees based on the quantity of e-cigarettes they sell and their environmental impact, with lower fees for reusable or recyclable products. After six years, the law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes from producers not part of the PRO, with civil penalties of up to $500 per violation for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (SCR 11) would prohibit the construction or reconstruction of new fossil fuel power plants in New Jersey that burn coal, natural gas, oil, or petroleum products for electricity generation. It directly affects developers, utilities, and state agencies planning new power infrastructure. The ban includes key exceptions: it does not apply to repairs/maintenance of existing plants or to limited "peaking power plants" (used only during peak demand with strict capacity limits) that support grid stability. This is a proposed constitutional change requiring voter approval, not an enacted law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all new residential buildings in New Jersey to have smart thermostats installed in every unit before construction permits are approved. A "smart thermostat" is defined as a Wi-Fi-enabled device that connects to the internet, commonly called a Wi-Fi thermostat. Builders must include these thermostats in their permit applications, and the state will develop energy efficiency standards for them through regulations by the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the Board of Public Utilities. The requirement takes effect seven months after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires packaging producers to reduce single-use packaging waste and improve recycling rates through specific targets: a 25% reduction by 2032 (with at least 10% from shifting to reusable options or eliminating plastic), all packaging must be compostable or recyclable by 2034, and a 65% recycling rate by 2036. Producers can join or form Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) to develop and implement stewardship plans that outline how they'll meet these goals, with fees paid to a new Packaging Reduction and Recycling Fund to improve recycling infrastructure. The bill exempts small producers (with less than $5 million revenue or under 1 metric ton of packaging) and establishes an Office of Plastics and Packaging Management within the Department of Environmental Protection to oversee implementation. Producers must also conduct public outreach and provide educational materials about proper packaging disposal.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenue to preserve land in New Jersey's Highlands Region. The funds will be deposited into a new "Preserve New Jersey Highlands Preservation Fund" managed by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, with $2.5 million allocated each year for recreation/conservation lands, $2.5 million for development credits, and $2.5 million for farmland preservation. Priority for funding will be given to lands in special environmental zones, conservation priority areas, and lands that connect to existing preserved lands. The bill specifies that funds cannot be used for land requiring condemnation, contaminated land, or land already preserved.

Maddy summaryThe Freedom to Read Act establishes requirements for library materials in New Jersey public school libraries and public libraries, requiring school boards and library governing bodies to adopt policies that ensure access to diverse and inclusive materials. The bill defines "diverse and inclusive material" as content reflecting protected classes under New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination, materials produced by authors regardless of their protected class status, and materials containing authors' views on contemporary issues, while excluding age-inappropriate content. It creates procedures for challenging library materials, including review committees and requiring that challenged materials remain available until a final decision is made. The bill also provides legal protections for school library media specialists and librarians, granting them immunity from liability for good-faith actions and a civil cause of action against those who harass them for complying with the law.