SENATE ECONOMIC GROWTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 5435

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 11, 2025

      The Senate Economic Growth Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5435 (1R).

      As reported, 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 each State agency and Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization that administers its own utility assistance program providing 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 DCA’s Internet website.

      The bill also directs each State agency and Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the DCA and to assist the DCA in updating the consolidated application, if applicable, including alerting the DCA 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 DCA may integrate those temporary programs into the consolidated application form.  

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 5435 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 4308, which was reported by the committee on this date.