Advocates Cheer as Polluters Pay Act Clears Senate Budget Committee 

Landmark affordability bill to make polluters pay for climate damages advances out of Senate Budget, clearing path for final passage before state budget deadline Tuesday night

TRENTON, NJ — With the state budget deadline only days away, a broad coalition of advocates and lawmakers applauded the New Jersey Senate Budget Committee for advancing the Polluters Pay to Make New Jersey More Affordable Act (S2338) at a special budget hearing on Sunday night.

“This is a historic opportunity for lawmakers to show that they’re fighting to lower costs for New Jersey families,” said Antoinette Miles, Executive Director, New Jersey Working Families Party. “When big polluters don’t pay, we all do. This is about fairness and making our state more affordable for working people, not big corporations.”

The bill has cleared the Senate and Assembly Environment Committees, the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and the Senate Budget Committee. Now it can go up for floor votes in both chambers.

“We applaud the bill sponsors and legislative leaders for moving the Polluters Pay Act forward. This campaign has received an incredible amount of support across New Jersey over the last two years, leading us to tonight’s vote,” stated Matt Smith, Director, New Jersey Food and Water Watch. “Passing the Polluters Pay Act before the state budget is finalized will make sure taxpayers are no longer forced to pay 100% of the costs of increasing flooding, extreme heat, and severe storms. Now let’s get this done.”

“This bill has brought together the broadest coalition of support I’ve seen in New Jersey in years. Faith leaders, community groups, and labor unions, along with local officials in every corner of the state support this bill,” said Amy Goldsmith, New Jersey State Director of Clean Water Action. “We’re all united because the math is simple. Either polluters pay, or we all do. Tonight’s vote moves us closer to a fairer system for all of us.”

Advocates, labor unions, and community organizations applauded lawmakers for advancing the bill on Sunday night, pointing to how it will result in much-needed infrastructure and new jobs while saving taxpayers money.

"Nothing could be more clear for youth voters – this is a vote for a more affordable New Jersey,” said Ben Dziobek, Executive Director of Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey (CRAN). “So many young adults are having trouble paying their bills. We should be providing taxpayer and ratepayer relief by making the world's largest fossil fuel companies pay for the pollution they profited from."

Right now, the cost of climate damages and new infrastructure falls solely on residents and small businesses through rising property taxes, utility bills, and insurance premiums. Leading economists say the bill will save New Jersey families billions over the next 20 years.

“This is a once in a generation opportunity to invest $50 billion into transportation infrastructure, affordable housing, school improvements, and more, creating 18,000 good-paying union jobs in the process at no cost to taxpayers,” said Ana Maria Hill, Vice President and NJ State Director of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ. “With dedicated funding for workforce development and training programs to recruit local and disadvantaged workers, this legislation will create new career pathways for the communities who need them most.”

“Working class families are already paying the price for climate change. The communities hit the hardest are the ones who can least afford the cleanup,” said Nedia Morsy, Director of Make the Road New Jersey. “This is how we protect the little guy against some of the biggest and most profitable corporations on the planet. With the federal government cutting disaster aid, it’s up to states like New Jersey to step up.”

The Polluters Pay Act would require the world’s largest fossil fuel extraction companies to pay $50 billion over the next 20 years to cover the cost of worsening floods, extreme heat, and severe storms. At least 51% of the funds will be directed to projects and services that directly benefit communities overburdened by climate change.

Not more than 82 of the world’s largest polluters would be covered by the bill, none of which are headquartered in New Jersey. New York and Vermont already have similar legislation in place.

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