New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey S4374: Utility bill payment assistance programs-expand cert req, automatic enrollment
Status: Passed one chamber, October 29, 2026
Expands certain requirements concerning automatic enrollment for utility bill payment assistance programs.
What the bill says
An Act concerning automatic enrollment in certain utility bill payment assistance programs and supplementing P.L.2025, c.387 (C.48:2-29.60).
From the introduced text, June 1, 2026:
An Act concerning automatic enrollment in certain utility bill payment assistance programs and supplementing P.L.2025, c.387 (C.48:2-29.60). Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. a. As used in this section: Ongoing assistance means assistance, including monetary assistance, provided to residential recipients of a needs-based assistance program that does not expire upon reaching a pre-determined total amount of assistance received or pre-determined total time period during which assistance was received. Nonprofit organization means a private nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. s.501(c)(3) that administers a utility bill payment assistance program that provides ongoing assistance in the State on behalf of a utility company. Utility company means public utility, as defined in R.S.48:2-13, or a municipality, county, water district, authority, or other public agency which provides electric, gas, water, or wastewater utility service, that administers a utility bill payment assistance program that provides ongoing assistance in the State. b. Within three months of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Department of Community Affairs shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with nonprofit organizations and utility companies. A memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to this section shall: (1) …
Sponsors
- Nicholas P. Scutari (D, 22) · primary sponsor
- Nilsa I. Cruz-Perez (D, 5) · primary sponsor
- Angela V. McKnight (D, 31)
Latest actions
- : R/A REF ASL
- : PS (28-9)
- : REP 2RS
- : INT 1RS REF SBA
Votes
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE - Utility bill payment assistance programs-expand cert req, automatic enrollment (October 22, 2026): 28 yea, 9 nay, passed
- Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee: Reported favorably (June 4, 2026): 9 yea, 4 nay, passed
Subjects: PUBLIC UTILITIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT - MUNICIPALITIES
Common questions
- What is S4374?
- S4374 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Utility bill payment assistance programs-expand cert req, automatic enrollment.
- What does S4374 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning automatic enrollment in certain utility bill payment assistance programs and supplementing P.L.2025, c.387 (C.48:2-29.60).
- What is the status of S4374?
- Passed one chamber as of October 29, 2026. Latest action: R/A REF ASL (October 29, 2026).
- Who sponsored S4374?
- Nicholas P. Scutari (D, 22), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S4374?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S4374
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.