ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT AND SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4555

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

      The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4555.

      As amended, this bill would establish the “Fleet Conversion Task Force” (task force) in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  The task force would provide a report to the Governor and Legislature, no later than 18 months after its first meeting, on the issue of converting commercial motor vehicle fleets to zero-emission vehicles, after which it would dissolve unless the Legislature authorizes conversion of the task force to a permanent fleet advisory council.

      The bill would direct the task force to, in addition to other duties enumerated in the bill, study the challenges faced by commercial motor vehicle fleet owners and operators in converting their fleets to zero emission vehicles, to coordinate with the necessary stakeholders to develop a cost-effective ecosystem to support the transition to zero-emission motor vehicle fleets, and to formulate recommendations for policy changes that could ease compliance with any existing laws or policies, and recommendations for new policies that could more effectively and efficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial motor vehicles.  The task force would be composed of 15 members: six ex-officio members and nine members of the public appointed by the Senate President, Speaker of the General Assembly, and Governor, as enumerated in subsection b. of section 1 of the bill. 

      As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 4555 is identical to Senate Bill No. 685 (1R), which was also amended and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1) revise the findings and declarations section;

      (2) expand upon the duties of the task force to include an evaluation of comparative technology pathways for the conversion and modernization of commercial and publicly owned motor vehicle fleets, an assessment of electric grid capacity, infrastructure readiness, and rate impacts associated with the conversion of commercial and publicly owned motor vehicle fleets, and a fiscal impact analysis of fleet conversion for commercial and publicly owned motor vehicle fleets operating fewer than 50 vehicles;

      (3) modify the task force membership for two of the public members appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly to include one representative of privately owned fleets operating with 50 or more vehicles and one representative of privately owned fleets operating with fewer than 50 vehicles;

      (4) require one of representatives of automotive original equipment manufacturers appointed by the Governor to have direct experience with fleet deployment or fleet operation in zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles;

      (5) require the task force to recommend whether or not to extend the term of the task force or convert the task force to a permanent fleet advisory council in its final report;

      (6) decrease the amount of time the task force has to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature from two years to 18 months;

      (7) require the task force to serve in advisory capacity to the Governor and Legislature on fleet modernization, transition, and implementation;

      (8) require the task force to also provide a copy of the report to the chairs of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee;

      (9) authorize the task force to establish subcommittees as necessary;

      (10) authorize the task force to use data provided by State agencies and utilities when assessing grid capacity and substation load and require protection of confidential, proprietary, and security-sensitive infrastructure information which may be provided; and

      (11) make technical and clarifying changes.