SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 685

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 12, 2026

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 685.

      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 and whether or not to extend the task the term of the task force or to convert the task force to a permanent fleet advisory council.  After the report is published, the task force would dissolve unless otherwise authorized by the Legislature.

      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.  The bill would direct the task force to 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.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments to the bill:

      (1) add a provision to the legislative findings and declarations section;

      (2) require the task force to study the impacts on fleet reliability, mission readiness, service continuity, total cost of ownership and workforce and training requirements for fleet operators;

      (3) specify that one of automotive original equipment manufacturers on the task force is to have direct experience with fleet deployment or fleet operation in in zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles;

      (4) clarify that the administrative support received by the DEP would not be construed to limit or direct the independent advisory role of the task force;

      (5) require the task force to include in its report to the Governor and Legislature a recommendation on whether to extend the term of the task force or to convert the task force to a permanent fleet advisory council;

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

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

      (8) authorize the task force to establish subcommittees to examine specific issues related to converting commercial motor vehicle fleets to zero-emission vehicles; and

      (9) make technical and clarifying changes.