Environment & Energy
Bill Reintroduced to Establish ‘Pollinator-Friendly’ Label for Plants, Implement Pesticide Regulations – On June 30th, New Jersey Assembly Bill A3094 was engrossed and filed for introduction into the 2026 legislative session. It is sponsored by Lisa Swain (D-38), Chris Tully (D-38), and Clinton Calabrese (D-36). This bill gives the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection the power to regulate rules, sales, purchase, applications, and labeling of pesticides that have adverse effects on humans or the environment. It also states that anyone seeking certification or licensure as a pesticide applicator must take the appropriate training course administered by the NJDEP concerning its impact on pollinating bees. An “animal pollinator” is now defined as any animal that can pollinate plants such as bees, butterflies, wasps, flies, beetles, ants, hummingbirds, or bats. This bill requires the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Secretary of Agriculture to work together to establish a solid definition of what plants are friendly to pollinators and regulates the labeling and purchase of harmful pesticides.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill Signs Three Bills Meant to Lower Electricity Costs and Regulate Data Center Power Demand – On July 7th, Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed three energy bills into law, all targeting rising electricity rates driven by rapid expansion of AI data centers on the PJM regional grid, which serves New Jersey and 12 other states. The first bill, the Data Center Fair Share Act, requires the Board of Public Utilities to establish a separate rate class for data centers consuming at least 50 megawatts, protecting other ratepayers from costs generated by these facilities. During periods of peak grid demand, data centers must also prioritize cutting their own consumption before residential customers face service reductions. The second bill mandates participation in the PJM grid for New Jersey utilities, eliminating a 0.5% return on equity bump that utilities received for voluntarily joining the regional grid, a change projected to save ratepayers $60M annually. The third bill, the Advanced Grid Technologies Act, requires utilities to obtain state approval before undertaking supplemental transmission infrastructure projects which were previously only subject to federal oversight and whose costs were passed to ratepayers. This bill package is projected to save New Jersey ratepayers more than $1 billion annually. These bills introduce financial accountability to data centers rather than burdening the broader ratepayer base. However, since the grid is regional, demand from data centers in Virginia or Pennsylvania will continue to affect New Jersey electricity prices regardless of in-state policy.
Education
Federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act Threatens Access to Free School Meals – The Center for American Progress analyzed the potential impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on access to free school meals for students across the United States. The legislation cuts programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, reducing the number of students automatically eligible for free meals through direct certification. During the 2024-25 school year, approximately 33.9 million students in public schools received free or reduced-price meals through individual eligibility or the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). If families lose access to these programs, a household with two children could face nearly $1,900 annually in additional costs for school meals. The report emphasizes that reduced access to nutritious school meals could negatively impact children’s health, academic performance, and attendance. To address these challenges, policy recommendations include protecting universal free meal programs, simplifying applications, and supporting community-based food initiatives. More information about New Jersey’s school nutrition programs and how to access them can be found here.
NJ Office of the Secretary of Higher Education Awards $3.5M for Aerospace Training Programs – On July 7th, the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) awarded $3.5 million in grants to support aerospace training programs in the state. Warren County Community College will receive $500,000 and Atlantic Cape Community College and Kean University will each receive $1.5 million. Signed by former Governor Phil Murphy on January 12th, 2026, Bill A5712 appropriated $3.5 million to establish the Air Traffic Controller Loan Redemption Program through OSHE. The distribution of funds comes after the tragic Potomac River crash in January 2025 that killed 67 people and aging infrastructure snarled air traffic at Newark Liberty International Airport in May 2025. In year one, the funding will support aviation training for up to 20 individuals in New Jersey and seek to fill the 3,000 vacant air traffic control positions nationwide.
Housing
Bill to Restrict Algorithmic-Based Rent Pricing Passes Senate and Assembly – On June 30th, New Jersey took a significant step to combat rising housing costs with the passage of the “Forbidding the Algorithmic Inflation of Rent (FAIR) Act” (Bill A3497/S451) in the New Jersey Legislature. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez (D-19), Assemblywoman Margie Donlon (D-11), Assemblyman Chigozie U. Onyema (D-28), Assemblywoman Katie Brennan (D-32), Senator Brian P. Stack (D-33), and Senator Teresa Ruiz (D-29), this bill aims to prevent landlords from artificially inflating rent prices. The legislation is intended to specifically target the use of algorithms that analyze nonpublic competitor data to set or recommend rents. This practice, often employed by third-party software providers, has historically allowed landlords to collude, limit competition, and drive-up rents in various areas. The FAIR Act clearly defines these actions as illegal, making it unlawful to use software that pools sensitive market information like unpublished prices or lease terms. By strengthening existing antitrust laws and giving the Attorney General the authority to create a tenant reporting system, the purpose of this bill for New Jersey is that it will work to ensure fairer rental markets and make housing more affordable for its residents. The bill is headed to Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s desk and awaits her signature.
Health
Fourth of July Heat Wave Draws Renewed Attention to Heat-Related Illness and Death – Between July 2nd and July 6th, 29 heat-related deaths and 350 heat-related emergency department visits were reported in New Jersey, representing a fivefold increase in heat-related deaths compared to last summer. In May, Sen. John Cryan (D-20) re-introduced Bill S4137, which would require job sites to implement protective measures and monitor workers during periods of excessive heat. While the bill would improve workplace safety during extreme heat, advocates note that people experiencing homelessness remain particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. They emphasize that expanding access to cooling centers, increasing affordable housing, and addressing shelter limitations is needed to prevent future heat-related deaths.
Gov. Sherrill Signs Bill to Expanding Prescription Access Through Telemedicine Appointments – On July 8th, Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed Bill A4852 into law, revising certain requirements for prescription of Schedule II drugs via telemedicine and telehealth without in-person examination or review. Introduced by Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (D-8) the law updates New Jersey’s telehealth rules for prescribing Schedule II controlled substances, which are medications with a high potential for dependence such as Adderall, Dilaudid, and methadone. The default rule stays intact, which requires an initial in-person exam plus in-person visits every three months for a prescription renewal, but the bill adds exceptions: minors on stimulants can skip the in-person exam with a parent’s written consent; adults on stimulants can have their initial exam done via telehealth if followed by an in-person visit within 30 days; and patients in cancer treatment, hospice/palliative care, long-term care, medical marijuana treatment, or substance use disorder treatment are exempted from the in-person requirement entirely. All telehealth prescriptions must still use real-time audio-video and meet the same standard of care as in-person visits. The bill passed both houses on June 30th (Assembly 76-2, Senate 38-2) and takes effect immediately.