Bill
Bill > A3443
NJ A3443
NJ A3443Concerns procedures with respect to repair of certain public utility facilities and related street repaving.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill adds gas and sewer public utilities and cable television companies to the types of public utilities required to notify a municipality prior to the placement, replacement, or removal of the public utility's poles and underground facilities and includes the repair of these poles or underground facilities to the notification requirement. The bill removes the provision of law that requires a municipality to first adopt an ordinance requiring a public utility to notify the municipality prior to a public utility undertaking this work. The bill requires a public utility to repave a portion of a street, road, or highway that was excavated to undertake the work to restore the property to its previous condition as much as possible and require a public utility to pay workers no less than the prevailing wage rate for restoring the property where the work was undertaken to its previous condition as much as possible. The bill increases the amount of a fine a municipality may assess against a public utility in the event a public utility does not meet the law's requirements concerning the removal of debris and the restoration of property within a right of way to its previous condition from up to $100 per day to up to $1,000 per day. The bill prohibits a public utility from recovering from its ratepayers the costs of a fine assessed against a public utility as provided in the bill.
AI Summary
This bill expands notification requirements for public utilities, including gas and sewer providers and cable television companies, requiring them to inform municipalities before placing, replacing, repairing, or removing poles and underground facilities. It removes a previous requirement for municipalities to first pass an ordinance to enforce these notification rules. The bill mandates that utilities must restore excavated streets, roads, or highways to their previous condition, including repaving, and pay workers the prevailing wage rate for this restoration work. Furthermore, it significantly increases the potential daily fine for utilities that fail to remove debris and properly restore public rights-of-way, from up to $100 to up to $1,000 per day, and importantly, prohibits utilities from passing these fine costs on to their customers, known as ratepayers.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A3443 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A3500/3443_I1.HTM |
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