STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Speight, Assemblymen Egan, Scharfenberger, Assemblywoman Haider, Assemblyman Danielsen, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblymen Walker and DeAngelo
SYNOPSIS
Supplements FY2026 Appropriations Act; makes $10 million off-budget appropriation to NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, P.L.2025, c.74.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The following language is added to section 1 of P.L.2025, c.74, the annual appropriations act for Fiscal Year 2026:
22 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
50 Economic Planning, Development, and Security
55 Social Service Programs
Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary and in addition to the amount hereinabove appropriated for NJSHARES – S.M.A.R.T. Program, an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 is appropriated from the Universal Service Fund for utility payment assistance through the NJSHARES – S.M.A.R.T. Program, including, but not limited to, utility arrearage assistance, which shall be awarded pursuant to guidelines established by the Commissioner of Community Affairs to homeowners and tenants of residential property throughout the State suffering financial difficulties. The commissioner shall design and establish program criteria and guidelines consistent with this provision which the commissioner deems necessary and appropriate to award grants to eligible homeowners and tenants in an expeditious manner to enable eligible homeowners and tenants to comply with their utility obligations. To be eligible for a grant under this program, a homeowner or tenant shall not be eligible for, or a recipient of funding from, private insurance or from any other available funding opportunity which may be considered a duplication of benefits.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill supplements the FY2026 Appropriations Act to include language appropriating an additional $10 million from the off-budget Universal Service Fund to the NJSHARES – S.M.A.R.T. Program for utility payment assistance, including utility arrearage assistance. The FY2026 Appropriations Act made a $5 million appropriation from the General Fund for the NJSHARES – S.M.A.R.T. Program. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to design and establish program criteria and guidelines consistent with the bill to award grants to eligible homeowners and tenants in an expeditious manner to enable them to comply with their utility obligations. To be eligible for a grant under this program a homeowner or tenant may not be eligible for, or a recipient of, funding from private insurance or from any other available funding opportunity, which may be considered a duplication of benefits.