TRENTON – The Senate today passed bills sponsored by Senator Bob Smith that would establish two task forces to study, and make recommendations on, how the State can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicle fleets and ease the negative effects of climate change on property insurance rates for residents across New Jersey.

“As federal agencies are essentially no longer able to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight against climate change, it’s essential that state lawmakers like my colleagues and I go forward and take action,” said Senator Smith (D-Middlesex/Somerset). “These bills set in motion the necessary first steps to help reduce the strain of these emissions on our environment as well as on residential costs and property insurance prices, which continue to climb at unprecedented rates.”

“Climate change has extensive impacts, which means we need extensive solutions,” said Senator John McKeon (D-Essex/Passaic), a co-sponsor of one of the bills. “Flooding, a well-documented effect of climate change, for example, has taken a toll not only on our residents but also on their insurance premiums. Establishing a task force meant to evaluate the relationship between climate disasters and rising insurance premiums is necessary to alleviate financial burdens and ultimately protect New Jersey residents.”

The first bill, S-685, sponsored by Senator Smith, would establish the Fleet Conversion Task Force to study and make recommendations on the process of converting motor vehicle fleets from fossil fuel-powered to zero-emission vehicles.

The task force would formulate recommendations for policy changes or new policies that could better reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial motor vehicles and ease the burden of transitioning to zero-emission fleets for owners and operators.

The second bill, S-687, sponsored by Senators Smith and McKeon, would create the Joint Blue Ribbon Task Force on Impacts of Climate Change on Property Insurance. The task force would assess the current and predicted impacts of climate change on residential and commercial property insurance.

A rise in flooding in New Jersey has endangered residents and resulted in increased property insurance premiums. This task force would make recommendations on how the State can better protect residents against both the threats of floods and the housing affordability issues that come with them.