ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5153

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 26, 2025

      The Assembly Budget Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5153.

      As amended, this bill would make the annual allocation of $500,000 from the "Clean Communities Program Fund" to the Department of Environmental Protection to fund public outreach efforts related to the State's single-use plastics program reduction permanent.  Under current law, this annual allocation only applies for first three years after the effective date of P.L.2020, c.117 (C.13:1E-99.126 et al.).

      The Clean Communities Program Fund (fund) receives moneys from user fees paid by the manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers of litter-generating products, as well as penalties, and other voluntary donations.  P.L.2020, c.117 (C.13:1E-99.126 et al.), the law banning single-use plastics, included the allocation of $500,000 from the fund to pay for the Clean Communities Program for education and implementation of the law.  The Clean Communities Program has used these funds, in part, for the establishment of a bag redistribution program that collects reusable bags and repurposes them for use by food banks, food pantries, and other food distribution programs. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended to bill to clarify that the annual allocation of $500,000 from the "Clean Communities Program Fund" to the Department of Environmental Protection to fund public outreach efforts related to the State's single-use plastics program reduction includes the redistribution of reusable bags, rather than the distribution of reusable bags.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note.