LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 2196
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: JULY 2, 2024
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of State, or at projects receiving State funds, to meet certain criteria. |
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Type of Impact: |
Net impact on State and local government expenditures. |
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Agencies Affected: |
Department of Transportation; Department of the Treasury, Division of Property Management and Construction. |
Office of Legislative Services Estimate
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Fiscal Impact |
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Annual |
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State Net Cost Impact |
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Indeterminate |
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Local Net Cost Impact |
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Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that there may be upfront costs for the State and local governments to assess, install, or replace outdoor lighting fixtures for projects receiving State funds. The OLS also finds the use of more efficient light sources under the bill may result in cost savings to the State and local government units.
· The OLS cannot determine the bill’s net fiscal impact to the State and local government units. However, for context, the office notes that similar legislation in the states of California and Texas involved building standards for lighting fixtures designed to minimize energy use and light pollution. Analyses of each bill determined that there would be minimal to no fiscal implications.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of State agencies to meet certain criteria to reduce light pollution. These include that the luminaire is fully shielded and that the outdoor lighting fixture emits only as much light as necessary for the intended purpose. Additionally, the criteria under the bill require full consideration to energy conservation, glare reduction, light pollution minimization, and preservation of the natural night environment and public health. The requirements of the bill would not apply to lighting fixtures used only on a temporary basis or if there is a safety concern that cannot be addressed by another method.
Under the provisions of this bill, the Department of Transportation is required to assess whether the purpose of outdoor lighting fixtures can be achieved by the installation of reflective road markers, lines, or other substitute methods.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS finds that there may be upfront costs for the State and local governments to assess, install, or replace outdoor lighting fixtures for projects receiving State funds. The OLS also finds the use of more efficient light sources under the bill may result in cost savings to the State and local government units. To the extent that compliant lighting fixtures are more expensive than other alternatives, there will be an increase in overall construction costs, incurred by the Division of Purchase and Property Management, for purchase of goods or services to comply with this bill. Other State agencies and local government units could also expect to experience an increase in overall construction costs and decrease in expenditures on electricity, to the extent that their projects are covered under the provisions of the bill.
The OLS notes there also may be State costs increases associated with the Department of Transportation’s assessments of whether reflective road markers, lines, signage, or other methods might be effective substitutes for the installation of new outdoor lighting fixtures.
The OLS cannot determine the bill’s net fiscal impact to the State and local government units. However, for context, the office notes that similar legislation in the states of California and Texas involved building standards for lighting fixtures designed to minimize energy use and light pollution. Analyses of each bill determined that there would be minimal to no fiscal implications.
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Section: |
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Analyst: |
Assistant Fiscal Analyst |
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Approved: |
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer |
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).