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A 5153

Relates to advanced metering infrastructure devices for residential services

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ed Ra and 1 co-sponsor

Makes permanent $500,000/year from the Clean Communities Fund to DEP for statewide single-use plastics education/outreach, including redistribution of reusable bags to food banks.

REFERRED TO ENERGY
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Bill Summary · A 5153

Summary — A5153

Title: Relates to advanced metering infrastructure devices for residential services (bill text actually amends funding for single‑use plastics outreach)
Status: Referred to Energy (committee activity through Assembly Budget; substituted by S3711 (1R) on 2025‑06‑30)
Introduced: December 19, 2024
Primary sponsor: Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages; cosponsor: Assemblyman Edward Ra

Note: Although the short title shown references metering, the bill's operative text amends funding language in the Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach connected to New Jersey’s single‑use plastics reduction law (P.L.2020, c.117).

Purpose

To make permanent an existing $500,000 annual appropriation from the Clean Communities Program Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for statewide public education and outreach about New Jersey’s single‑use plastics reduction program. The current law limited that annual appropriation to the first three fiscal years after the effective date of P.L.2020, c.117; A5153 removes that time limit.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends Section 5 of P.L.2002, c.128 (C.13:1E‑217) to eliminate the three‑year sunset on a $500,000 annual appropriation from the Clean Communities Program Fund for single‑use plastics outreach.
  • Requires the $500,000 to be appropriated annually and made available on July 1 to the organization under contract with DEP to carry out the statewide public information and education program established under P.L.2020, c.117.
  • Committee amendment clarifies that the funded activities include the "redistribution" (not original distribution) of reusable bags — e.g., collecting reusable bags and repurposing them for food banks, pantries, and other distribution programs.

Who is affected

  • Department of Environmental Protection: receives the appropriation and oversees the contracted outreach program.
  • The organization under contract with DEP (the Clean Communities Program contractor): continuing funding for outreach and bag‑redistribution activities.
  • Clean Communities Program Fund: reallocates $500,000 annually from its available balance for this purpose.
  • Municipalities, counties, and nonprofit partners (e.g., food banks) may be indirect beneficiaries of bag‑redistribution and outreach efforts.

Fiscal and implementation notes

  • Amount: $500,000 annually, available July 1 each year.
  • Funding source: Clean Communities Program Fund (user fees from manufacturers/wholesalers/distributors/retailers of litter‑generating products, penalties, voluntary donations, and interest).
  • The bill was not certified as requiring a fiscal note. It changes the duration (makes permanent) of an existing appropriation rather than creating a new one.

Procedural/timeline highlights

  • Introduced in Assembly: 2024‑12‑19; referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee.
  • Reported favorably and referred to Budget Committee: 2025‑01‑27.
  • Reported out with amendments by Assembly Budget Committee: 2025‑06‑26.
  • Transferred to Assembly Appropriations Committee and reported: 2025‑06‑19.
  • Recommitted and substituted by companion Senate bill S3711 (1R): 2025‑06‑30.
  • Current status listed as REFERRED TO ENERGY (as of 2025‑02‑12).

Related legislation

  • Companion: S3711 (1R)
  • Prior-session related: A5752

This bill stabilizes and extends ongoing outreach funding to support implementation of New Jersey’s single‑use plastics reduction program, including continued reuse/redistribution of reusable bags for charitable distribution.

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

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