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A 5892

Authorizes practitioners in institutional dispensers to dispense controlled substances as emergency treatment and authorizes practitioners to dispense controlled substances for use in detoxification treatment

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Keith Brown and 7 co-sponsors

Requires DEP to study and report on how water use by large-scale data centers affects drinking water, wastewater, and the environment, plus reduction strategies.

SUBSTITUTED BY S3416D
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Bill Summary · A 5892

Summary — Assembly Bill A5892 (Introduced Version)

Note on content: The bill text provided concerns requiring the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to evaluate water use by large-scale data centers. This differs from the bill title shown in metadata (which references controlled substances). This summary follows the bill language supplied (data center / water-use evaluation). Also note the bill record shows the bill was “Substituted by S3416D”; readers should verify the substituted version for the final enacted language.

Purpose / Intent

Require the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to study and report on the effects of water use by large-scale data centers (including AI/data-processing facilities) on drinking water systems, wastewater systems, and the environment, and to identify possible water-use reduction strategies and policy recommendations.

Key provisions

  • Definitions:
    • “Artificial intelligence (AI)” and “Data center” are defined; data centers include facilities housing servers, network and storage systems, environmental controls, and related infrastructure.
    • “Department” = DEP; “Board” = Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
  • DEP evaluation:
    • DEP must complete an evaluation of the effects of water use by large-scale data centers no later than 1 year after the bill’s effective date.
    • The evaluation must include, at minimum:
    • Short-term effects (measured over the preceding 3 years).
    • Long-term effects (measured over the preceding 7 years).
    • Anticipated effects from future (proposed or yet-to-be-built) data centers.
    • Efforts by DEP or operators to reduce data-center water use.
    • Impacts on overall State water use and costs.
    • Effects on data center operations (efficiency, cooling, uptime) due to water constraints.
    • Direct and indirect costs (public water systems, ratepayers, infrastructure upgrades).
    • Analysis of feasible water-use reduction strategies for data centers.
    • Any additional information DEP deems necessary for a comprehensive study.
  • Reporting:
    • DEP must submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 15 months after the effective date.
    • The Commissioner of DEP may include recommendations for legislation to address water use by data centers.
  • Effective date / expiration:
    • The act takes effect immediately and expires upon submission of the required report.

Who is affected

  • DEP (responsible for conducting the evaluation and reporting).
  • Large-scale data center operators (subject matter of the evaluation; findings could inform future regulation or incentives).
  • Public water systems and ratepayers (potentially affected by data center water demand and any future policy changes).
  • State policymakers (may receive legislative recommendations).

Timeline & procedural notes

  • DEP evaluation due within 1 year of enactment.
  • Written report due within 15 months of enactment.
  • Act sunsets automatically upon report submission.
  • Legislative record indicates the bill was substituted by S3416D; verify current status and text before relying on this version.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • The study could identify infrastructure needs, costs to ratepayers, and operational risks from water constraints, and may lead to new regulations, permitting conditions, or incentive programs promoting water-efficient cooling and reuse technologies.
  • DEP resource needs: conducting a statewide, multi-year analysis may require staffing, data collection from private operators, and coordination with water utilities and local governments.
  • Confidentiality and data access: DEP will need access to operational and water-use data from private data center operators, which may raise commercial-sensitivity questions.

For the most current language and status, consult the Legislature’s bill tracking page and the substituted companion bill S3416D.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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