Enviro Bills Released from Committee Today

The following environmental legislation was released from various committees today, February 13, 2020.

Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

S228 (Diegnan/Ruiz): Requires EDA to establish a loan program for certain costs of electric-powered school bus purchases by local school districts and school bus contractors.

“It is important to get electric vehicles moving in New Jersey, and focusing on electric school buses is a great idea. Not only will this reduce air pollution for children riding them, but for the communities that the school buses drive through. Over 45% of our greenhouse gases in New Jersey come from automobiles, but these emissions can be easily cut by implementing EV technology. Electric school buses will help reduce emissions from refineries, drilling oil, and transportation,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Electric school buses will help make us more energy independent. This legislation will help our children breathe easier.”

S647 (Greenstein/Singleton): Revises cybersecurity, asset management, and related reporting requirements in “Water Quality Accountability Act.”

“New Jersey has far too many water problems, whether it is PFOAs, chlorpyrifos, cyanobacteria in our reservoirs, or lead. This bill is important because it will help to address the state’s crumbling water infrastructure. For too long, New Jersey has failed to adequately protect its drinking water and is putting the public at risk. This legislation will require DEP to adopt rules implementing the Water Quality Accountability Act. It will also require the DEP to conduct an assessment of the data every three years, to make sure that problems with our water infrastructure are fixed before they get worse,”  said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Requiring more detailed reports and updating the data will help build pressure and support to take care of existing problems.”

Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee

S368 (Cryan/Weinberg): Permits municipalities to require developers to make contributions for mass transit improvements.

“This legislation is important because it will make sure developers pay their fair share of mass transit costs associated with new developments. New developments create more demand on mass transit systems, and create more traffic in the area. Developers are getting a free ride. They are letting taxpayers pick up the tab for mass transit improvements associated with their developments, and profiting as these improvements increase their property values,” said Tittel. “New Jersey is one of the most densely populated states in the country, and we have some of the worst air quality in the nation. Developers should be required to help offset the burden that their developments put on mass transit.”

Assembly Agriculture Committee

A2773 (Mazzeo): Allows certain preserved farms to hold 14 special occasion events per year; imposes further event restrictions on residentially-exposed preserved farms.

“This is land that has been paid for and preserved by taxpayers to keep farming viable for future generations. This legislation undermines that commitment by New Jersey to protect our farmland. Preserved farms are meant to be just that. We should not be allowing more non-agricultural development on preserved farms with this legislation. We’re turning farms into Disney World with amusement rides, adventure activities, bounce houses, group hubs, weddings, bed and breakfasts, tractor repair, music festivals, and wineries,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The people of New Jersey paid to protect this land and keep it as farmland.”