LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1610

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JUNE 6, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of State, or at projects receiving State funds, to meet certain criteria.

Type of Impact:

State and local government expenditure increases; State and local government savings.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Transportation; Department of the Treasury, Division of Property Management and Construction; Board of Public Utilities; certain local governments.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

Annual

 

State Net Cost Impact

 

Indeterminate

 

Local Net Cost Impact

 

Indeterminate

 

 

 

·       The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds there may be upfront costs for the State and affected local governments to assess, install, or replace outdoor lighting fixtures for State projects or those 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 affected local governments.    

·       The OLS, however, does not have information to estimate the amount of any expenditure increases and savings that would result from the bill.  Therefore, the net fiscal impact of the bill cannot be determined.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill would require outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of, a State agency, or at projects receiving public moneys from a State agency, to meet the criteria enumerated in the bill in order to reduce light pollution. 

       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.  Lighting fixtures in high-security areas, as determined by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the State Police, would be exempt from replacement.

      Under the provisions of this bill, the Department of Transportation would be 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.  The Division of Property Management and Construction would be required to collaborate with the Board of Public Utilities to ensure uniformity in lighting specifications for State-owned buildings and in any funding and rebates available through the State Facilities Initiative.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds that there may be upfront costs for the State and affected local governments to assess, install, or replace outdoor lighting fixtures for State projects or those receiving State funds.  Ultimately, the use of more efficient light sources under the bill may result in cost savings to the State and affected local governments (i.e., those with projects covered under the bill receiving State funds).  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 to comply with this bill.  The Board of Public Utilities may also experience cost increases associated with ensuring uniformity in lighting specifications for State-owned buildings and in any funding and rebates available through the State Facilities Initiative.    

      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, however, does not have information to estimate the amount of any expenditure increases and savings that would result from the bill.  Therefore, the net fiscal impact of the bill cannot be determined.  For context, the OLS 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.  For reference, the OLS notes that the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel provided comments, observations, and recommendations on light-emitting diode (LED) conversion costs to the Board of Public Utilities on February 21, 2020, as part of the energy efficiency transition stakeholder process.   

 

Section:

Environment, Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources

Analyst:

Anna Heckler

Assistant Fiscal Analyst

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.).