Lieutenant Governor Way today signed into law New Jersey’s Bill S1034/A2929, marking a major victory for public health and tenant protections across the state. The legislation, which passed with unanimous approval in the state legislature, ensures that all tenants will receive critical information about potential lead exposure in their drinking water.

Lead service lines are responsible for up to 75% of typical lead exposure in drinking water, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. While previous state legislation required water systems to notify property owners about these dangerous pipes, tenants—who make up a significant portion of New Jersey’s population—were often left in the dark.

“Tenants are often the population least likely to know their status,” explains Deandrah Cameron, policy manager at New Jersey Future. “This new law ensures a more comprehensive, timely, and accurate disclosure process to all tenants, including those who don’t directly pay their water bills.”

The legislation specifically targets communities that have been hit hardest by lead exposure, including children, formula-fed infants, and underserved communities of color who have been disproportionately harmed by failing water infrastructure.

Assemblyman Gary Schaer, a prime sponsor of the bill, highlighted the urgency of this issue: “The municipalities with the highest percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels in New Jersey are predominantly urban and marginalized communities. These municipalities also have the highest percentage of renters in the state.”

State Senator Linda Greenstein, another prime sponsor, emphasized the serious health risks: “Data shows that exposure to even small amounts of lead can result in serious health complications, including difficulties with memory and concentration, and miscarriages or premature birth in pregnant women.”

The bill’s passage represents months of collaboration among advocacy groups, water utilities, housing and apartment associations, and public health organizations.

Amy Goldsmith, chair of the Lead In Drinking Water Task Force at Jersey Water Works, praised the collaborative approach: “This law is a testament to the power of collaboration and the tireless efforts of the Jersey Water Works Collaborative. Together, we’ve created a safer, healthier future for our state’s residents.”

Ed Potosnak, executive director of New Jersey LCV, celebrated the milestone: “Access to clean, safe drinking water is not just a necessity—it’s a fundamental right. For too long, failing water infrastructure has disproportionately harmed the most vulnerable among us. We thank the legislature and Governor Murphy for this crucial victory.”

The legislation also received support from housing and water industry stakeholders, who recognized it as an important step toward replacing all lead service lines by 2031.

Nicholas Kikis, vice president of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs at the New Jersey Apartment Association, noted: “This bill enhances consumer education, ensures tenants receive notifications when their landlords do, and allows residential consumers to request water tests. These are essential steps to support education, testing, and compliance until New Jersey’s water systems replace all affected service lines.”

Chris DeMarco of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) added: “Reducing the risks associated with lead in drinking water is a fundamental public health priority that this important legislation serves to advance.”

The new law complements New Jersey’s existing lead safety protections. Sean Jackson, CEO of Isles, Inc., connected this legislation to previous efforts: “Three years ago, New Jersey’s Lead Safe Certificate law began requiring landlords to address lead paint hazards in pre-1978 rental properties. This bill completes the assessment process by requiring disclosure of potential lead in drinking water.”

Jackson emphasized the economic benefits: “This saves taxpayer money that would otherwise be needed for special education services and complications from hypertension, pregnancy complications, kidney disease, and more.”

While advocates celebrate this progress, they acknowledge it’s part of a larger effort to eliminate lead exposure entirely.

Yvette Jordan, chair of the Lead-Free New Jersey Advocacy Coordinating Committee, hailed the bill as “ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability in lead hazard disclosure.” However, she noted that while this represents “significant progress,” it’s “only a temporary fix.”

The ultimate goal remains removing all lead service lines at a fair and equitable cost to ensure permanent, lead-free drinking water for all New Jerseyans.