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S 3737

Prevents fraudulent deed transfers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Sanders

The bill tightens NJ GHG reporting by including indirect gases, using a 20-year GWP, accelerated annual reporting, satellite data, and broader emitter reporting.

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO CODES
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Bill Summary · S 3737

Summary — S-3737 (Preventing fraudulent deed transfers)*

(Note: Bill title in docket header contrasts with bill content — the enacted text and committee statement address greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting. This summary reflects the bill text and committee statement concerning greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring and reporting.)

Purpose

S-3737 revises New Jersey law governing monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions (under the Global Warming Response Act) to (1) broaden which gases are counted, (2) require use of a 20‑year global warming potential (GWP) time horizon for calculations and reporting, (3) accelerate and standardize annual reporting timelines, and (4) require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to obtain satellite GHG data to support emissions reporting.

Key provisions

  • Adds a definition of “indirect greenhouse gas” (explicitly including nitrogen oxides and hydrogen) and clarifies that “greenhouse gas” for monitoring and reporting also includes indirect GHGs.
  • Mandates DEP monitoring and reporting of both direct and indirect GHG emissions, and requires DEP to identify all significant emission sources (including short‑lived climate pollutants).
  • Requires the global warming potential of emissions from each significant source to be calculated using a 20‑year time horizon; agencies may also present 100‑year GWP values only if the 20‑year values are also shown.
  • Requires DEP’s annual GHG reports to be published no later than six months after the end of the calendar year for which they provide data.
  • Requires DEP to monitor progress specifically toward the 2030 objective (50% reduction from 2006 levels as per Executive Order No. 274 (2021)), the 2020 limit, the 2050 limit, and interim benchmarks.
  • Requires entities that are significant emitters (e.g., fossil fuel manufacturers/distributors, electricity generators, gas utilities, and other entities identified by DEP) to report their emissions, and expands reporting to include methane, nitrous oxide, fugitive emissions, and leakages in agency studies/regulations/incentives.
  • Requires DEP to contract with a provider of satellite greenhouse gas sensing technology; contract may include data analysis, modeling, and related services.
  • Extends the requirement to use 20‑year GWP to any study, assessment, regulation, or incentive conducted by, supported by, or produced for any State agency.

Who is affected

  • Department of Environmental Protection (primary implementing agency)
  • Board of Public Utilities and other State agencies (for studies/regulations/incentives)
  • Significant emitters: fossil fuel suppliers, electricity generators (in‑ and out‑of‑state generation delivered to NJ), gas utilities, and other entities the DEP designates (including indirect GHG sources)
  • Potential contractors (satellite GHG data providers)

Procedural status & timeline

  • Introduced: October 7, 2024 (Sponsor: Sen. James Sanders Jr.)
  • Reported out of Senate Environment & Energy Committee with amendments: January 14, 2025
  • Referred to Senate Budget & Appropriations; later reported and committed to the Senate Code(s) Committee (status as of April 7, 2025: REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO CODES)
  • Committee amendments added the “indirect greenhouse gas” definition and related clarifications.

Fiscal impact

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates annual State expenditure increases of at least $270,000 for DEP personnel (two FTEs including benefits).
  • Additional, indeterminate annual cost for the DEP to contract with a satellite GHG sensing provider — OLS cannot estimate without contract specifications. The bill anticipates some reporting costs will be borne by emitters, but DEP will incur administrative and rulemaking costs.

Related/companion legislation

  • Companion: A-5222, A-7708
  • Prior-session related bills: S-7720, S-1569, S-2948

*If the docket title (“Prevents fraudulent deed transfers”) is accurate, that appears inconsistent with the bill text; this summary follows the bill content as reported by the Senate Environment & Energy Committee.

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

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