New Jersey A 3325: Directs Commissioner of Education to encourage implementation of Natural High Drug Prevention Program in school districts.

Bill Text

A3325 

ASSEMBLY, No. 3325 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman KATIE BRENNAN

District 32 (Hudson)

Assemblyman� RAVI S. BHALLA

District 32 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� "Lead-Free Drinking Water Bond Act of 
2025," authorizes bonds for $400 million, and appropriates $5,000.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act 
authorizing the creation of a debt of the State of New Jersey by the issuance 
of bonds of the State in the aggregate principal amount of $400 million for the 
purpose of providing financing for the replacement of lead plumbing and service 
lines; providing the ways and means to pay and discharge the principal of and 
interest on the bonds; providing for the submission of this act to the people 
at a general election; and making an appropriation therefor.

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

���� 1.��� This act shall be known 
and may be cited as the "Lead-Free Drinking Water Bond Act of 2025."

���� 2.��� a.� The Legislature 
finds and declares that:

���� (1) Despite recent progress in 
providing New Jerseyans with drinking water that is free of lead, notably the 
passage of P.L.2021, c.183 (C.58:12A-40 et seq.), and P.L.2021, c.183 
(C.40A:4-35.2 et al.), which require public community water systems to 
inventory and replace their lead drinking water service lines and provide a 
method by which municipal water systems may finance the costs of the 
replacement projects, New Jersey residents are still exposed to harmful levels 
of lead in their drinking water, caused by the use of lead service lines and 
lead plumbing in homes, schools, and places of work.

���� (2) According to the United 
States Environmental Protection Agency, 20 percent of lead exposure comes from 
drinking water, although the percentage is higher for infants who consume 
mostly mixed formula.

���� (3) Approximately 3,226 
children in New Jersey were found to have elevated blood levels at or above 5 
micrograms per deciliter according to the 2022 Annual Report on Childhood Lead 
Exposure in New Jersey, published by the New Jersey Department of Health.

���� (4) Approximately 0.5 out of 
every 100,000 employed adults in New Jersey had elevated blood levels in 2022, 
according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

���� (5) In 1986, Congress passed 
an amendment to the federal "Safe Drinking Water Act" to prohibit the 
use of pipes, solder, or flux that contain lead in plumbing that provides water 
to be used for human consumption.

���� (6) Existing plumbing was 
exempted from this law, meaning that millions of homes in New Jersey, 
particularly those build prior to 1986, may contain lead pipes or be served by 
lead service lines.

���� b.��� The Legislature 
therefore determines that it is in the public interest to issue bonds in the 
name of the State of New Jersey in order to establish a revolving fund to 
provide grants and loans to support projects to replace lead plumbing and 
service lines in the State.

���� 3.��� As used in this act:

���� "Bonds" mean the 
bonds authorized to be issued, or issued, under this act.

���� "Commission" means 
the New Jersey Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning.

���� "Commissioner" means 
the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.

���� "Cost" means the 
expenses incurred in connection with: a lead plumbing replacement project; the 
execution of any agreements and franchises deemed by the department to be 
necessary or useful and convenient in connection with any lead plumbing 
replacement project authorized by this act; the procurement or provision of 
engineering, inspection, planning, legal, financial, or other professional 
services, estimates, studies, reports, or advice, including the services of a 
bond registrar or an authenticating agent; feasibility studies; the issuance of 
bonds, or any interest or discount thereon; the administrative, organizational, 
operating, or other expenses incident to the financing and completing of any 
project authorized by this act; the establishment of a reserve fund or funds 
for working capital, operating, maintenance, or replacement expenses and for 
the payment or security of principal or interest on bonds, as the Director of 
the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury may 
determine; and reimbursement to any fund of the State of moneys which may have 
been transferred or advanced therefrom to any fund created by this act, or of 
any moneys which may have been expended therefrom for, or in connection with, 
any project authorized by this act.

���� "Department" means 
the Department of Environmental Protection or any agency or department 
successor to its power and responsibilities.

���� "Government securities" 
means any bonds or other obligations which as to principal and interest 
constitute direct obli