Requires BPU to report societal benefits charge revenues and expenditures to Governor and Legislature.*

A804 1R

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 804

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman DAVID BAILEY, JR.

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Assemblyman ROY FREIMAN

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

Assemblyman AL ABDELAZIZ

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Scharfenberger, Karabinchak, Macurdy,
Assemblywomen Brennan and Speight

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires BPU to report societal benefits charge
revenues and expenditures to Governor and Legislature.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As reported by the Assembly Telecommunications and
Utilities Committee on February 12, 2026, with amendments.

��

An Act

1
[
regarding
the contents of the Governor�s annual budget message
]

concerning societal
benefits charge revenues and expenditures
1

and supplementing Title
1
[
52
]

48
1

of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.�
1
[
In addition to
the requirements of section 11 of article 3 of P.L.1944, c.112 (C.52:27B-20),
and any other provisions of law, the Governor�s budget message transmitted
annually to the Legislature shall include a report of
]

In January and October of
each year, the board shall report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature,
1
the
revenues and expenditures derived from the societal benefits charge setting
forth in columnar form the following information, for each of the five most
recently completed fiscal years and the current fiscal year:�

���� (1)�� the total amount of
revenue collected through the societal benefits charge;

���� (2)�� the amount of revenues
retained by the State from the societal benefits charge and allocated for
demand side management programs, and including an itemized statement of all
amounts committed for expenditure and expended, respectively, for energy
efficiency programs, distributed energy resources, renewable energy programs,
planning and administration, and other initiatives administered by the board
pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23
(C.48:3-60) and paragraph (3) of subsection a. of
1
section
13 of
1

P.L.2007, c.340 (C.48:3-98.1);

���� (3)�� the amount of revenues
retained by the State from the societal benefits charge and allocated to the
Universal
1
[
Services
]

Service
1
Fund
established pursuant to subsection b. of section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23
(C.48:3-60), and including an itemized statement of all amounts committed for
expenditure and expended, respectively from the fund, but not limited to, the
amounts allocated for the �Lifeline Credit Program� established pursuant to
P.L.1979, c.197 (C.48:2-29.15 et seq.) and the �Tenants� Lifeline Assistance
Program,� established pursuant to P.L.1981, c.210 (C.48:2-29.30 et seq.);

���� (4)�� the amount of revenues
retained by the State from the societal benefits charge and allocated to the
Plug-in Electric Vehicle Incentive Fund pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection
b. of section 7 of P.L.2019, c.362 (C.48:25-7), and including an itemized statement
of all amounts committed for expenditure and expended, respectively, from the
fund, including the amounts allocated under the light duty plug-in electric
vehicle incentive program, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2019, c.362
(C.48:25-4) and the program established pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2019,
c.362 (C.48:25-6); and

���� (5)��
1
[
the total
]

an
itemized statement that includes the
1

amount of
1
societal
benefits charge
1

revenues
1
[
retained
]

expended
1
by each
electric public utility and gas public utility
1
[
, respectively, from each
component of the societal benefits charge for which each public utility has
been approved to retain by the board
]

for any program or purpose not included in paragraphs (2) through (4) of
this subsection
1
.

���� b.���
1
[
The board
shall assist and advise the Governor in the preparation of the report required
pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

���� c.
]
1
� As used in this
1
[
act
]

section
1
:�

���� �Board� means the New Jersey
Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency.

���� �Societal benefits charge�
means the charge imposed by an electric public utility or a gas public utility,
at a level determined by the board, pursuant to, and in accordance with,
section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60).

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall first apply to the fiscal year commencing July 1,
2026.