By Michael Skelly, Environmental Justice Task Force member
Following hours of impassioned testimony on Monday, March 11, New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Chairman Bob Smith suddenly called a Thursday meeting of the Environment and Energy Committee. Advocates and the media were taken by surprise by the swift action.
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Three bills had made it onto the agenda as the result of a lengthy and arduous process of public meetings, study, and modifications that had stretched through the last two years and into 2024. At stake was whether the bills would be approved and released for further consideration to possibly become law or be defeated in committee.