Sen. Bob Smith

Maddy summaryThis bill reaffirms the continuation of Rutgers University's Institute of Management and Labor Relations for its 75th anniversary and allocates $750,000 annually in state funds to support its work. The Institute will provide affordable or free educational programs - including classes, webinars, and conferences - to New Jersey residents on labor-management relations, workforce issues, and workplace dynamics. It will also conduct research on labor-related problems and maintain an advisory council with equal representation from labor, management, and the public. The funding is supplemental to existing state allocations and specifically supports the Institute’s educational outreach and research activities.

Maddy summaryS 655 requires New Jersey electric utilities to submit new tariffs for commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for approval within 180 days of enactment. It directly affects utilities (who must file tariffs) and commercial EV charger operators (who gain protection from certain fees). The bill mandates tariffs must use alternative rate structures without demand charges, ensure cost equity between commercial and residential rates, remain technology-neutral, and encourage investment in EV charging infrastructure. Utilities cannot charge demand or subscription fees on direct current fast charging facilities for 60 days after enactment without BPU-approved tariffs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 643) allows grocery stores and third-party delivery services to provide single-use paper bags (with at least 40% recycled content), cardboard boxes, or reusable bags for grocery orders delivered, picked up, or curbside ordered - temporarily expanding options previously restricted. It applies to grocery stores (2,500+ sq. ft. establishments selling food for off-site consumption) and delivery services, effective for three years after the bill’s enactment. After three years, these businesses must stop using single-use paper bags and cardboard boxes for such orders. Food banks and pantries also receive an extended timeline (until 60 months after a prior law’s effective date) to use certain bags, avoiding a full ban on single-use plastic bags during this period.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a comprehensive State Water Infrastructure Investment Plan every five years, detailing funding needs and strategies for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. It mandates the DEP to consult with stakeholders, include public input through comment periods and meetings, and address priorities like environmental justice and climate resilience. The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank must publish additional project information and receives $200,000 to support these requirements. The plan directly affects all municipalities and water utilities across New Jersey by establishing a statewide strategy for infrastructure investment and funding coordination.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics, creating a formal structure for a program that places scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals with PhDs into government roles. It requires selecting at least four fellows annually who work for one year with New Jersey's Legislature (at least two) and Executive Branch (at least two), receiving stipends and benefits. The bill appropriates $360,000 for initial program costs and mandates an annual $520,000 appropriation starting in fiscal year 2025 to fund fellow stipends and administration. The program directly affects eligible PhD holders in natural sciences, engineering, or healthcare who are selected for these government placements.

Maddy summaryS 644 establishes New Jersey's "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" in the state's General Fund, funded by $500 per retail electric vehicle sale reported annually. The fund supports repurposing (using old EV batteries for stationary storage like home energy systems), remanufacturing (restoring batteries to like-new condition), and recycling of EV batteries in an environmentally safe way. It directly affects electric vehicle owners (through the sales-based funding) and businesses handling battery processing. The bill aims to prevent toxic landfill contamination from batteries containing lithium, cobalt, and graphite as EV adoption grows in the state.

Maddy summaryS 608, the Water Resources Protection Trust Fund Act, requires public water systems and large commercial/industrial users to pay a fee based on their water consumption or diversion (e.g., taking water from rivers or aquifers not returned to the source). Revenue from this fee will fund projects to improve water quality, supply reliability, and aging infrastructure, such as repairing broken pipes, reducing leaks, and addressing lead contamination in drinking water systems. The bill directly affects entities operating public water systems (serving 15+ connections) and businesses with significant water use. It creates a dedicated funding stream to address New Jersey's deteriorating water resources and infrastructure, replacing reliance on insufficient existing funding.

Maddy summaryS 674 requires New Jersey's electric utilities to upgrade portions of their transmission and distribution systems with "advanced conductors" during routine maintenance or dedicated projects, where practical. These conductors reduce energy loss by at least 10% compared to standard wires by using more efficient designs (like carbon fiber cores). Utilities must assess their systems within one year of the law's effective date and propose specific upgrade locations to the Board of Public Utilities. They may also request approval to recover the costs of these upgrades through customer electricity bills.

Maddy summaryS 659 provides a 35% tax credit for New Jersey taxpayers who install solar energy systems on their property, directly affecting residential homeowners, apartment building owners, and businesses. The credit covers 35% of qualified solar equipment costs (purchase, installation, or long-term leases), with annual limits of $5,000 for single-family homes, $350 per apartment unit, and $500,000 for commercial or industrial properties. Taxpayers must apply for certification from the Environmental Protection Commissioner, and unused credits can be carried forward for up to seven years. The total annual tax credit funding is capped at $25 million across all eligible properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale, distribution, or import of products or packaging that make deceptive recyclability claims (like using the chasing arrows symbol) unless the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) determines the product is widely recyclable. The DEP must create a list by January 2027 identifying materials that are recyclable in the state, based on whether they are collected by curbside recycling programs covering at least 60% of New Jersey’s population and routinely used to make new products. Products meeting the DEP’s criteria can display recyclability symbols, while others cannot. The bill includes exemptions for federal requirements, composting labels, and a transition period for manufacturers until 2027.