Bob Smith

Spending on Shore Protection Fund has been $25 million a year since 1999. A bill doubling that has taken a first step through the Senate.

Fresh off the enactment of a ban on single-use plastic and paper bags, lawmakers seek to increase the recycled content in plastics such as drink bottles.

Lawmakers may direct the BPU to study whether to withdraw from the regional electric transmission grid in favor of going it alone or joining New York's.

Medical malpractice lawsuits might be banned for coronavirus treatment in NJ, including possible choices about who gets a ventilator and who doesn't.

Significant legislation that would require food waste to be recycled by places that generate a lot of it has been approved by the Legislature.

Legislation banning plastic bags, paper bags and Styrofoam food containers is approved by the Senate and back to the Assembly, where it stalled two months ago.

The proposal was revised to take effect in 18 months, rather than two years. Last legislative session, it was approved by the Senate but not the Assembly.

The bill would ban single-use carryout bags in two years. Its sponsor says it will be a top priority in the new session with a first hearing on Jan. 30.

After a ban on plastic and paper bags and a bill promoting electric vehicles, environmental groups and lawmakers set ambitious goals for next session.

Even before a new climate change center at Rutgers gets off the ground, its proposed state funding has been shrunk by three-fourths.