Bill Text: NJ S4373 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expands memorandum of understanding requirements for purpose of consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3)
Status: (Engrossed) 2026-06-18 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee [S4373 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S4373-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
Senator JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Expands memorandum of understanding requirements for purpose of consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act expanding consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs and amending P.L.2025, c.265 (C.52:27D-9.5).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2025, c.265 (C.52:27D-9.5) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Department" means the Department of Community Affairs.
"Director" means the Director of the Division of Housing and Community Resources in the Department of Community Affairs.
"Division" means the Division of Housing and Community Resources in the Department of Community Affairs.
"State agency" means any department, division, office, board, commission, council, or bureau in the Executive branch of State government.
"Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization" means a nonprofit organization designated pursuant to P.L.2000, c.132 (C.48:2-29.38 et seq.).
b. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the Division of Housing and Community Resources shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each State agency and Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization that administers [its own] a utility assistance program providing financial assistance to residential customers for utility bill payments or energy efficiency measures and that is not currently included in the division's existing consolidated application portal to be included in the division's consolidated, user-friendly Internet website-based application form for those programs on the department's Internet website. Each State agency and Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization identified by the department pursuant to this section shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department and shall assist the department in updating the consolidated application, if applicable, including alerting the department of temporary programs that provide financial assistance to residential customers for utility bill payments or energy efficiency measures that the State agency or Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization may be directed to administer, so that the department may integrate that temporary program into the consolidated application form.
c. The Department of Community Affairs, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations it deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
(cf: P.L.2025, c.265, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Division of Housing and Community Resources in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to enter into a memorandum of understanding with any Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization that administers a financial assistance program for residential utility customers to provide a consolidated, user-friendly Internet website-based application for those programs on the DCA's Internet website. Current law is narrower, as it only requires such memorandum of understanding, in part, to be between the DCA and Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organizations that administer their own financial assistance program for residential utility customers.
