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Topic AreaStates Bill NumberSponsor(s) Bill SummaryLatest Action Action Date Bill Progress
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Waste ReductionNJA1861Jim Kennedy (D)*, Sterley Stanley (D)*, Anthony Verrelli (D)*, Roy Freiman (D), Lisa Swain (D), Robert Karabinchak (D), Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D), Alixon Collazos-Gill (D), Clinton Calabrese (D)This bill would require each solid waste management district in the State (i.e., each county and the Hackensack Meadowlands District) to develop, as part of its district solid waste management plan, a strategy to reduce food waste in the district. Specifically, the bill would require each solid waste management district to develop and implement a strategy for reducing, by the year 2035, the amount of food waste generated annually in the district by at least 50 percent of the amount which was generated in 2022. The strategy would be adopted as an amendment to each district's solid waste management plan, or through an administrative action, and would be subject to the approval of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill would require the DEP to develop, and publish on its Internet website, a list of measures solid waste management districts can take in order to achieve the food waste reduction requirement established in the bill. These measures would include actions to prevent food waste and increase the donation of surplus edible food, the source separation and recycling of food waste, the composting and anaerobic digestion of food waste and other food waste diversion methods that also reduce methane emissions, and public awareness campaigns. The bill would also require the DEP to adopt rules and regulations to create a tiered regulatory structure for composting facilities, based on the framework established in the Solid Waste Management Act, in order to facilitate the use of organic waste recycling facilities in the State.Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.228.01/13/2026Signed/Enacted/Adopted
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Awareness, Date LabelingNJA2031Shama Haider (D)*, Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)*This bill would establish standards for food date labeling and require the Department of Health to establish a public education program and guidelines related to food safety. Under the bill, a manufacturer may use food date labeling, but is required, if food date labels are used, to follow the labeling standards provided in the bill. A food date label may indicate either: (1) a "quality date" to indicate the date after which the quality of food may begin to deteriorate, but is still acceptable for consumption; or (2) an "elevated-risk date" to indicate the date, established by the manufacturer, after which there is a high level of risk associated with the consumption of a "time/temperature control for safety food." The bill defines a "time/temperature control for safety food" as a food that requires time/temperature control for safety, in accordance with the 2013 United States Food and Drug Administration Food Code, to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation. Quality dates would be displayed with the uniform phrase "BEST if Used By" and elevated-risk dates would be displayed with the uniform phrase "USE By." Under the bill, a retail food facility would not be liable for a manufacturer's failure to properly label food in accordance with the bill. Nothing in the bill would prohibit the sale, donation, or use of food after the food's quality date has passed. However, a retail food facility would be prohibited from selling or donating food after its elevated-risk date. A retailer would also be prohibited from selling food labeled with a "sell-by" date, or any date that is intended to communicate primarily to a distributor or retailer for purposes of stock rotation and that is not a quality date or an elevated-risk date, unless the date is in a coded format not easily readable by consumers. The bill would also change the labeling requirements that must be used for fluid milk products from "sell by" or "not to be sold after" to a quality date label as described above. Alcoholic beverages would be exempt from the bill's provisions. The bill allows the Department of Health to designate additional foods as time/temperature control for safety foods, or exempt foods from the designation. The department would post this information on its Internet website. The bill would also require the establishment of a public education program, which would include a public information campaign about the meaning of date labels, and educating consumers on how to handle food properly and when it can safely be consumed.Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Donation Program or Donation RequirementNJA2353Bill Moen (D)*, Shama Haider (D)*, Sterley Stanley (D)*, Cody Miller (D), Clinton Calabrese (D), Alixon Collazos-Gill (D), Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)This bill requires certain supermarkets, grocery stores, and food suppliers to donate food under certain circumstances. Under the bill, a supermarket, grocery store, or food supplier is to make a reasonable effort to donate all food that is fit for human consumption, but which would otherwise be discarded in the normal course of business by the supermarket, grocery store, or food supplier, to a food bank, a nonprofit organization, or to any person. The bill defines "supermarket or grocery store" to mean a retail outlet operating in a closed structure with an area greater than 16,000 square feet, of which at least 90 percent is occupied by food and related products.Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Tax IncentiveNJA2382Bill Moen (D)*, Heather Simmons (D)*, David Bailey (D)*, Alex Sauickie (R), Luanne Peterpaul (D), Vicky Flynn (R), Dawn Fantasia (R), Erik Simonsen (R), Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)This bill creates a pilot program that provides a tax credit against the corporation business tax and the gross income tax based on the value of certain donated fruits and vegetables. Specifically, the tax credit is available to commercial farm operators who donate fruits or vegetables that are fit for human consumption to a charitable organization located in this State during the first three tax periods beginning on or after January 1 of the year next following the date of the bill's enactment. The amount of the credit is equal to 50 percent of the wholesale value of the fruits or vegetables donated, but not to exceed the value of $5,000 during each tax period. However, if a commercial farm operator is unable to claim any portion of the credit otherwise permitted for a tax period, the unused credits can be carried forward for the earliest available use during the next five tax periods following the period for which the credits were allowed. Under the bill, a commercial farm operator is required to obtain a written statement from the charitable organization before claiming the tax credit. In addition to certain other information, this statement is to specify the variety, grade, and quantity of the donated fruits and vegetables and the wholesale value of the fruits and vegetables, as provided by the commercial farm operator. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare a written statement form for use by individuals authorized to accept donations on behalf of the charitable organization. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury (director), to prepare an annual report on the utilization of the credits provided on or before December 1 beginning in the year next following the first year in which the utilization of tax credits is permitted pursuant to the bill. In addition to certain requirements for each annual report required by the bill, the Secretary of Agriculture is to provide recommendations in the final report as to whether: (1) the allowance of tax credits pursuant to the bill's provisions should be continued; and (2) the percentage of the wholesale value of the fruits or vegetables donated to a charitable organization used to determine amounts of tax credits should be increased, and if so, to what percentage. The aggregate value of tax credit amounts awarded under the bill's provisions is limited to $100,000 in any fiscal year.Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Composting/AD PermittingNJA3670Don Guardian (R)*This bill would authorize certain large food waste generators to send their food waste to sanitary landfill facilities for the purpose of generating Class I renewable energy or renewable natural gas. Under current law, beginning in October 2021, large food waste generators were required to source separate their food waste and send the food waste to an authorized food waste recycling facility, with certain exceptions. This bill provides that a large food waste generator will be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this law if the large food waste generator sends its food waste for final disposal to a sanitary landfill facility that collects and delivers landfill gas to a gas-to-energy facility as fuel either for the generation of Class I renewable energy or for the generation of renewable natural gas that satisfies pipeline quality standards or transportation fuel grade requirements. The exemption would apply only so long as the large food waste generator continues to dispose of its food waste in this manner. "Class I renewable energy" is defined by existing law to include electric energy produced from methane gas from landfills.Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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OtherNJA3713Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)*, Michael Inganamort (R)*This bill would incentivize the development and construction of anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste within the State by providing a tax credit against the corporation business tax to compensate a taxpayer for the costs incurred during the development and construction of the anaerobic digestion facility. The tax credit would be available for a period of six years. The bill defines "anaerobic digestion facility" as a facility that operates and hosts an anaerobic digester. The bill defines "anaerobic digester" as a device that promotes the decomposition of organic material into simple organics and gaseous biogas products, in the absence of elemental oxygen, by means of controlling temperature and volume, and that includes a methane recovery system. The bill also defines "food waste" to mean food processing vegetative waste, food processing residue generated from processing and packaging operations, overripe produce, trimmings from food, food product over-runs from food processing, soiled and unrecyclable paper generated from food processing, and used cooking fats, oil, and grease. "Food waste" does not include food donated by the generator for human consumption, any waste generated by a consumer after the generator issues or sells food to the consumer, or any waste regulated by 7 C.F.R. ss.330.400 through 330.403 and 9 C.F.R. s.94.5. The amount of the tax credit provided by the bill may not exceed the lesser of: (1) 50 percent of the costs incurred to develop and construct the anaerobic digestion facility, or (2) $250,000. The bill would also limit the cumulative total of tax credits awarded pursuant to the bill to $15 million. To qualify for the tax credit allowed pursuant to this section, a taxpayer would be required to apply to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection (commissioner) for a certification that provides: (1) that the anaerobic digestion facility developed by the taxpayer is eligible for the tax credit; and (2) the amount of the tax credit. The application to the commissioner would be required to demonstrate that the anaerobic digestion facility was developed and constructed prior to applying for the tax credit. The application would also be required to include a receipt demonstrating the total cost of the development and construction of the anaerobic digestion facility, a certification that the anaerobic digestion facility will be used to process food waste, and any other information determined relevant by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill would require the DEP, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation, to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the bill's provisions Finally, the bill would require, no later than six years after the bill's effective date, the DEP to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature, a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in incentivizing the development and construction of anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste in the State. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, between 30 and 40 percent of food in the United States is wasted. In 2017, nearly 41 million tons of food waste was generated and only 6.3 percent of that food waste was diverted from landfills and incinerators for composting. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that unwanted and discarded food squanders resources, including water, land, energy, labor, and capital, and that when food waste is dumped into a landfill, it rots and creates methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Food waste also contributes to approximately 8 percent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. A valuable way to divert waste food waste from landfills is anaerobic digestion. Food waste can be converted through anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, which can be used to generate heat and electricity, or can be injected into the natural gas pipeline. According to the DEP, electricity produced from the combustion of biogas from food waste qualifies for Class I Renewable Energy Certificates from the Board of Public Utilities. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are three types of anaerobic digestion facilities that accept food waste, such as stand-alone food waste digesters, on-farm digesters that co-digest food waste, and digesters at water resource recovery facilities that co-digest food waste. A 2017-2018 report by the EPA concerning anaerobic digestion facilities that accept food waste in the United States, reported that there are only four anaerobic digestion facilities that accept food waste in New Jersey. The EPA also reports that there are many anaerobic digestion facilities in the country that currently do not accept or process food waste. Overall, this bill would incentivize the development of anaerobic digestion facilities that accept food waste in the State in an effort to reduce food waste, limit the amount of food waste being dumped into landfills and incinerators, and further protect the environment from the adverse effects of climate change.Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Source Separation and Recycling RequirementsNJA3759Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)*This bill would amend current law to require large organic waste generators that are located within 25 road miles of an authorized organic waste recycling facility and generate an average projected volume of 52 or more tons per year of organic waste within 25 road miles of an authorized organic waste recycling facility to: (1) source separate its organic waste from other solid waste; and (2) send the source separated organic waste to an authorized organic waste recycling facility that has available capacity and will accept it. This bill would amend current law that establishes requirements for certain large food waste generators to source separate its food waste and deliver the source separated food waste to an authorized food waste recycling facility and, instead, provide that the requirements would apply to certain large organic waste generators. As defined in the bill, "organic waste" means any material that derives from a plant or animal and is biodegradable, including, but not limited to, food waste, yard trimmings, branches, leaves, crop residues, and animal manure. The bill would update all references under the current law to "large food waste generator," "food waste," and "authorized food waste recycling facility" and replaces those terms with "large organic waste generator," "organic waste," and "authorized organic waste recycling facility," respectively, to extend the requirements under current law for large food waste generators to large organic waste generators. The bill would also add golf courses, farms, and landscaping service providers to the list of entities defined as "large organic waste generators." Specifically, the bill would amend current law to provide that if a large organic waste generator is not located within 25 road miles of an authorized organic waste recycling facility, or the facility will not accept the generator's organic waste, the generator may send the organic waste for final disposal at a solid waste facility as provided in the approved district solid waste management plan for the solid waste management district in which the generator is located. In addition, a large organic waste generator would be deemed in compliance with the bill if the generator: (1) performs enclosed on-site composting, or anaerobic or aerobic digestion of its source separated organic waste in accordance with standards adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); or (2) recycles organic waste using an alternative authorized organic waste recycling method. In addition, the bill would amend current law to authorize a large organic waste generator to petition the DEP for a waiver of the recycling requirement if the cost of transporting the organic waste plus the fee charged by an authorized organic waste recycling facility located within 25 road miles of the large organic waste generator is at least 10 percent more than the cost of transporting the organic waste for disposal as solid waste plus the disposal fee charged for solid waste disposal in the State for noncontract commercial waste by a properly licensed transfer station, sanitary landfill facility, incinerator, or resource recovery facility located within 25 road miles of the large organic waste generator. Finally, the bill would require the DEP to update the rules and regulations adopted under the current law as necessary to implement the provisions of this bill.Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Composting/AD PermittingNJA3917Robert Karabinchak (D)*, Michael Inganamort (R)*This bill would authorize certain large food waste generators to send their food waste to sanitary landfill facilities for the purpose of generating Class I renewable energy. Under current law, beginning in October 2021, large food waste generators were required to source separate their food waste and send the food waste to an authorized food waste recycling facility, with certain exceptions. This bill provides that a large food waste generator is deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of P.L.2020, c.24 if, as of the effective date of that law, April 14, 2020, the large food waste generator sent its food waste for final disposal to a sanitary landfill facility that collects and delivers landfill gas to a gas-to-energy facility as fuel for the generation of Class I renewable energy. The exemption would apply only so long as the large food waste generator continues to dispose of its food waste in this manner. Under section 3 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-51), "Class I renewable energy" is defined to include electric energy produced from methane gas from landfills.Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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FundingNJA4067Alex Sauickie (R)*This bill establishes the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program (program) in the Department of Agriculture (department). The purpose of the program will be to award grants to food recovery organizations to support food recovery organizations and assist with the purchase of the equipment that is necessary to safely recover and store food obtained from food donors. The bill requires the department to administer the program and make grants available to food recovery organizations in this State to assist with the: costs of providing salaries, wages, or compensation to the organization's employees; overhead and general administrative costs of the organization; and costs of purchasing eligible equipment necessary to safely recover and store food obtained from food donors. The bill requires the department, in consultation with Office of the Food Security Advocate, to develop an application by which a food recovery organization may apply for a grant, and criteria by which to evaluate the applications received by the department, and to select grant awardees from those applications. The department will provide notice of the availability of funding under the grant program and make the application available on the department's Internet website. A food recovery organization seeking to participate in the grant program will be required to submit an application in a form and manner determined by the department. A grant awarded pursuant to the bill will be in an amount determined by the department, not to exceed $50,000 and subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. The bill authorizes the department to utilize any combination of available funding from various sources to provide grants under the program. In awarding grants under the program, the department will expend any available forms of non-State financial assistance before expending State funds. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture such sums as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill.Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee02/12/2026In Committee
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SchoolsNJAR81Tennille McCoy (D)*, Andrea Katz (D)This Assembly resolution would urge schools to implement share tables, in order to reduce food waste and help alleviate food insecurity in the State.Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Liability ProtectionNJS338Douglas Steinhardt (R)*, Declan O'Scanlon (R)*This bill authorizes any retail seller or distributor to donate expired food or food waste to a farmer for use as animal feed, provided the farmer signs and submits to the retail seller or distributor a liability waiver. The bill also directs the Farm Liaison, established pursuant to P.L.2019, c.94 (C.4:1-48), to: 1) collaborate with farmers and retail sellers and distributors to develop contacts and networks to request, process, and receive expired food or food waste donations; and 2) coordinate communications about expired food or food waste available for donation and distribution. The bill specifies the liability waiver provide that the person signing the waiver: 1) understands and accepts the potential dangers and negative impacts for people or animals consuming expired food or food waste; 2) releases the retail seller or distributor from any liability with regard to the donated expired food or food waste; and 3) waives any right to legal action as a result of accepting the donated expired food or food waste.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Date LabelingNJS606Bob Smith (D)*, Linda Greenstein (D)*, Shirley Turner (D)This bill would establish standards for food date labeling and require the Department of Health to establish a public education program and guidelines related to food safety. Under the bill, a manufacturer may use food date labeling, but is required, if food date labels are used, to follow the labeling standards provided in the bill. A food date label may indicate either: (1) a "quality date" to indicate the date after which the quality of food may begin to deteriorate, but is still acceptable for consumption; or (2) an "elevated-risk date" to indicate the date, established by the manufacturer, after which there is a high level of risk associated with the consumption of a "time/temperature control for safety food." The bill defines a "time/temperature control for safety food" as a food that requires time/temperature control for safety, in accordance with the 2013 United States Food and Drug Administration Food Code, to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation. Quality dates would be displayed with the uniform phrase "BEST if Used By" and elevated-risk dates would be displayed with the uniform phrase "USE By." Under the bill, a retail food facility would not be liable for a manufacturer's failure to properly label food in accordance with the bill. Nothing in the bill would prohibit the sale, donation, or use of food after the food's quality date has passed. However, a retail food facility would be prohibited from selling or donating food after its elevated-risk date. A retailer would also be prohibited from selling food labeled with a "sell-by" date, or any date that is intended to communicate primarily to a distributor or retailer for purposes of stock rotation and that is not a quality date or an elevated-risk date, unless the date is in a coded format not easily readable by consumers. The bill would also change the labeling requirements that must be used for fluid milk products from "sell by" or "not to be sold after" to a quality date label as described above. Alcoholic beverages would be exempt from the bill's provisions. The bill allows the Department of Health to designate additional foods as time/temperature control for safety foods, or exempt foods from the designation. The department would be required to post this information on its Internet website. Finally, the bill would also require the establishment of a public education program, which would include a public information campaign providing information about the meaning of date labels, and educating consumers on how to handle food properly and when it can safely be consumed.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Source Separation and Recycling RequirementsNJS609Bob Smith (D)*, Linda Greenstein (D)*This bill would establish Statewide targets to reduce the disposal of organic waste in landfills, and would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt regulations to achieve those targets. The Statewide targets established in the bill are as follows: (1) a 50 percent reduction in the level of the Statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2016 level by January 1, 2027; and (2) a 75 percent reduction in the level of the Statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2016 level by January 1, 2032. The bill would require the DEP to adopt regulations to achieve these targets within 18 months after the bill's enactment. These regulations may require local governments to impose requirements on generators of organic waste or other appropriate persons or entities, and may authorize local governments to impose reasonable penalties for noncompliance. The regulations would not, however, include a numeric organic waste disposal limit for individual landfills. The bill would authorize local governments to charge and collect reasonable fees from generators of organic waste and other appropriate persons or entities to recover costs the local government incurs in complying with the regulations. No later than July 1, 2027, the DEP would be required to prepare and submit a report analyzing the progress that the solid waste sector, State government, and local governments have made in achieving the organic waste reduction targets established in the bill. Nothing in the bill would prohibit a local government from adopting, implementing, and enforcing requirements regarding the reduction of organic waste that are more stringent than, or in addition to, those adopted under the bill.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Donation Safety, SchoolsNJS1247Linda Greenstein (D)*, Angela Mcknight (D)*This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to update the school food waste guidelines to include recommendations for how to minimize food waste within schools by increasing utilization of food nearing best-by and expiration dates. The State of New Jersey's 2019 School Food Waste Guidelines stated that four to 10 percent of all food purchased by schools becomes pre-consumer waste. Pre-consumer waste includes food items that have spoiled or become expired and, therefore, are required to be discarded before the food could be utilized. The 2019 School Food Waste Guidelines mention the importance of improving food-handling techniques in order to limit pre-consumer food waste. Updating the school food waste guidelines to include recommendations to increase the utilization of food nearing best-by and expiration dates will help to reduce pre-consumer food waste and ensure that food items are properly utilized prior to expiration. The current law requires the DEP, in consultation with other State agencies, to establish voluntary guidelines for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education to reduce, recover, and recycle food waste. This bill would require the DEP's school food waste guidelines to be updated to specifically include recommendations for how schools can better utilize foods nearing best-by and expiration dates to prevent food waste, including, but not necessarily limited to, paying greater attention to food labels and improving food purchasing, storage, and usage methods to ensure older food items are consumed prior to food items that were recently purchased.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Awareness, Donation Program or Donation RequirementNJS1729Parker Space (R)*, Angela Mcknight (D)*This bill requires the Food Security Advocate to establish and maintain, in the Office of the Food Security Advocate, a food rescue hotline that is designed to: (1) receive and respond to requests, whether by telephone, in-person, or via electronic or other means, as authorized by the Food Security Advocate, from individuals or organizations that are seeking to donate large quantities of food; and (2) direct each such individual or organization requesting hotline assistance to an appropriate food bank, and to other appropriate community resources and organizations, in order to facilitate the delivery of the donated food to an appropriate location. The bill requires the Food Security Advocate to engage in a public awareness campaign, using all available media, including television, radio, print, the Internet, and social media, to inform the public about the availability and purpose of the food rescue hotline.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Tax IncentiveNJS2215Teresa Ruiz (D)*, Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)*, Troy Singleton (D), Shirley Turner (D), Parker Space (R), Andrew Zwicker (D)This bill creates a pilot program that provides a tax credit against the corporation business tax (CBT) and the gross income tax based on the value of certain donated fruits and vegetables. Specifically, the tax credit is available to commercial farm operators who donate fruits or vegetables that are fit for human consumption to a charitable organization located in this State during the first three tax periods beginning on or after January 1 of the year next following the date of the bill's enactment. The amount of the credit is equal to 50 percent of the wholesale value of the fruits or vegetables donated, but not to exceed the value of $5,000 during each tax period. However, if a commercial farm operator is unable to claim any portion of the credit otherwise permitted for a tax period, the unused credits can be carried forward for the earliest available use during the next five tax periods following the period for which the credits were allowed. Under the bill, a commercial farm operator is required to obtain a written statement from the charitable organization before claiming the credit. In addition to certain other information, this statement is to specify the variety, grade, and quantity of the donated fruits and vegetables, and the wholesale value of the fruits and vegetables, as provided by the commercial farm operator. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and publish the wholesale value of fruits and vegetables for the purpose of calculating the tax credit allowed under the bill. The Secretary of Agriculture is also required to prepare a written statement form for use by individuals authorized to accept donations on behalf of the charitable organization. Upon approval of the written statement, the Department of Agriculture is required to notify the Director of the Division of Taxation as to the eligibility of the commercial farm operator for a CBT credit or gross income tax credit in the amount approved by the department. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury (director), to prepare an annual report on the utilization of the credits provided on or before December 1 beginning in the year next following the first year in which the utilization of tax credits is permitted pursuant to the bill. In addition to certain requirements for each annual report required by the bill, the Secretary of Agriculture is required to provide recommendations in the final report as to whether: (1) the allowance of tax credits pursuant to the bill's provisions should be continued; and (2) the percentage of the wholesale value of the fruits or vegetables donated to a charitable organization used to determine amounts of tax credits should be increased, and if so, to what percentage. The total value of tax credit amounts awarded under the bill's provisions would not exceed $100,000 in any fiscal year.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Composting/AD PermittingNJS2304John McKeon (D)*This bill would incentivize the development and construction of anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste within the State by providing a tax credit against the corporation business tax to compensate a taxpayer for the costs incurred during the development and construction of the anaerobic digestion facility. The tax credit would be available for a period of six years. The bill defines "anaerobic digestion facility" as a facility that operates and hosts an anaerobic digester. The bill defines "anaerobic digester" as a device that promotes the decomposition of organic material into simple organics and gaseous biogas products, in the absence of elemental oxygen, by means of controlling temperature and volume, and that includes a methane recovery system. The bill also defines "food waste" to mean food processing vegetative waste, food processing residue generated from processing and packaging operations, overripe produce, trimmings from food, food product over-runs from food processing, soiled and unrecyclable paper generated from food processing, and used cooking fats, oil, and grease. "Food waste" does not include food donated by the generator for human consumption, any waste generated by a consumer after the generator issues or sells food to the consumer, or any waste regulated by 7 C.F.R. ss.330.400 through 330.403 and 9 C.F.R. s.94.5. The amount of the tax credit provided by the bill may not exceed the lesser of: (1) 50 percent of the costs incurred to develop and construct the anaerobic digestion facility, or (2) $250,000. The bill would also limit the cumulative total of tax credits awarded pursuant to the bill to $15 million. To qualify for the tax credit allowed pursuant to this section, a taxpayer would be required to apply to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection (commissioner) for a certification that provides: (1) that the anaerobic digestion facility developed by the taxpayer is eligible for the tax credit; and (2) the amount of the tax credit. The application to the commissioner would be required to demonstrate that the anaerobic digestion facility was developed and constructed prior to applying for the tax credit. The application would also be required to include a receipt demonstrating the total cost of the development and construction of the anaerobic digestion facility, a certification that the anaerobic digestion facility will be used to process food waste, and any other information determined relevant by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill would require the DEP, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation, to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the bill's provisions Finally, the bill would require, no later than six years after the bill's effective date, the DEP to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature, a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in incentivizing the development and construction of anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste in the State.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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FundingNJS2725Britnee Timberlake (D)*This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations act to make an appropriation of $30 million from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture, to be used for food and hunger programs. The funds would be distributed to the State's six regional food banks, which solicit, store, and distribute donations of edible but unmarketable surplus food. The food is then distributed to food pantries and other nonprofit organizations that feed the needy. In November 2025, due to the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture halted benefit payments under the federal SNAP program, citing insufficient funds. Approximately 800,000, or one in nine, New Jersey residents rely on SNAP benefits to purchase groceries each month. The delay in funding will impact the entire State as food banks become overwhelmed and New Jersey residents stop paying certain bills in order to pay for food. This funding will provide meals to low-income families, senior citizens, disabled individuals, and children throughout the State.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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Donation Program or Donation RequirementNJS4021Joe Vitale (D)*This bill would require certain businesses to submit an excess food reduction plan to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and would provide a tax credit under the corporation business tax to eligible businesses that reduce excess food by 25 percent. Specifically, this bill would require, within one year of the bill's effective date, a business within the State that caters or orders food for employees or clients, or to host events, to submit an excess food reduction plan to the DEP for approval. The excess food reduction plan would be required to include, at a minimum, procedures that the business will utilize to: (1) reduce the amount of excess food generated as a result of catering or ordering food for employees or clients, or to host events; (2) limit the ordering or catering of food to amounts that are necessary and not excessive; (3) improve methods of providing food to employees, to clients, or during events by reducing the provision of self-service food so that excess food may be reused or donated; (4) minimize the disposal of excess food to landfills or incinerators; and (5) increase the use of alternate methods for the disposition of excess food generated, including composting and food donation. No later than 90 days after receipt of an excess food reduction plan, the DEP would be required to make a determination to approve the plan as submitted, approve the plan with conditions, or disapprove the plan. If an excess food reduction plan is disapproved, the business would be required to resubmit a revised excess food reduction plan to the DEP. After receiving approval from the DEP, the business would be required to proceed with the implementation of the excess food reduction plan. Under the bill, certain public institutions of higher education would not be required to submit an excess food reduction plan to the DEP if the public institution of higher education is already required to submit a food waste reduction plan that is substantially similar to the excess food reduction plan established by the bill. The bill would also allow a taxpayer that owns or operates a business in this State and that demonstrates a 25 percent reduction in excess food by composting, recycling, or donating excess food rather than disposing of the excess food at a landfill or incinerator to receive a corporation business tax credit to compensate the taxpayer for certain costs incurred in the alternate disposal of excess food. The amount of the tax credit would not exceed the lesser of: (1) the total costs associated with the alternate disposition of excess food through composting, recycling at an authorized food waste recycling facility, or food donation rather than disposal in a landfill or incinerator; or (2) $2,500. To qualify for a tax credit under the bill, a taxpayer would be required apply to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection (commissioner) for a certification that provides that the taxpayer's business' reduction in excess food is eligible for the tax credit. The application to the commissioner is required to demonstrate that the taxpayer's business reduced excess food by 25 percent through the alternate disposition of excess food using composting, recycling, or food donation rather than disposal in a landfill or incinerator prior to applying for the tax credit and that the taxpayer has not received any other corporation business tax credit for a reduction in food waste or excess food. The bill would require, no later than one year after the expiration date of the tax credits provided pursuant to the bill, the commissioner to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature, a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in reducing excess food at businesses throughout the State and in incentivizing the alternate disposition of excess food through composting, recycling, or food donation rather than disposal in a landfill or incinerator. Finally, the bill would also authorize the department to impose a fee at the time an excess food reduction plan is submitted to the department and an application fee at the time a taxpayer applies to the commissioner for a certification that provides that the taxpayer's business' reduction in excess food is eligible for the tax credit provided pursuant to the bill. The amount of the fee and application fee are required to cover the administrative costs of the department in reviewing the excess food reduction plans and tax credit applications. Under the bill, the amount of the tax credit awarded to a taxpayer may also be utilized to reimburse a taxpayer for fees submitted to the department.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee03/19/2026In Committee
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AwarenessNJSJR18Bob Smith (D)*This joint resolution designates the first week of May of each year as "Composting Awareness Week" in the State of New Jersey.This joint resolution also respectfully requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe "Composting Awareness Week" with appropriate activities and programs.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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OtherNJSJR93Renee Burgess (D)*This joint resolution recognizes the right to adequate food. The right to adequate food includes, but is not limited to: (1) the satisfaction of nutritional needs; (2) food availability; (3) physical access to food; (4) economic access to food; (5) the acceptability and cultural relevance of foods, considering the non-nutrition related values associated with food and food consumption, and the well-founded concerns of consumers about the nature of the foods available; (6) sustainability; (7) food sovereignty; and (8) access to, and the availability and sanitation of, water for use by individuals for personal and domestic consumption and for the production of food in a sufficient, healthy, acceptable, and affordable manner. Pursuant to the joint resolution, the right to adequate food is not to be construed as providing the basis for, or subject to, a private right of action for violations of the resolution or any other law. The joint resolution also encourages State, county, and municipal entities to take certain action. In particular, the joint resolution encourages State entities to: (1) promote, respect, and protect the exercise of the right to adequate food, in accordance with the principles of universality, interdependence, indivisibility, progressiveness, subsidiarity, environmental sustainability, precautionary principle, social participation, gender and age equality, the best interests of children, cultural diversity, efficiency, free competition, transparency, and accountability; and (2) prioritize the needs of underdeveloped communities, including the ability of underdeveloped communities to grow food. Under the joint resolution, every State, county, and municipal entity is encouraged to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture to prioritize policies and programs that: (1) help New Jersey farmers better access the commercial food market in this State; (2) help New Jersey farmers make farming a sustainable lifestyle; and (3) contribute to growing the number of new farmers in the State.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee02/24/2026In Committee
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SchoolsNJSR16Bob Smith (D)*This Senate resolution would urge schools to implement share tables, in order to reduce food waste and help alleviate food insecurity in the State.Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee01/13/2026In Committee
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OtherNJAJR72Shama Haider (D)*, Bill Spearman (D)*, Shanique Speight (D)*This joint resolution recognizes the right to adequate food. The right to adequate food includes, but is not limited to: (1) the satisfaction of nutritional needs; (2) food availability; (3) physical access to food; (4) economic access to food; (5) the acceptability and cultural relevance of foods, considering the non-nutrition related values associated with food and food consumption, and the well-founded concerns of consumers about the nature of the foods available; (6) sustainability; (7) food sovereignty; and (8) access to, and the availability and sanitation of, water for use by individuals for personal and domestic consumption and for the production of food in a sufficient, healthy, acceptable, and affordable manner. Pursuant to the joint resolution, the right to adequate food is not to be construed as providing the basis for, or subject to, a private right of action for violations of the resolution or any other law. The joint resolution also encourages State, county, and municipal entities to take certain actions outlined in the joint resolution.Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, JR-19.01/13/2026Dead
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Composting/AD PermittingNJA1872Jim Kennedy (D)*, Sterley Stanley (D)*, Shama Haider (D)*, William Sampson (D), Michael Inganamort (R), Shanique Speight (D), Margie Donlon (D), Luanne Peterpaul (D), Ravi S. Bhalla (D)This bill exempts community gardens that operate on-site composting systems or other systems of managing organic waste from needing certain permits from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in specific instances.Passed by the Assembly (71-0-0)03/23/2026Crossed Over
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