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Read. Follow. Verify.Assemblyman David Bailey, Jr. introduces A800 to cap interest rates on delinquent water and sewer bills and property taxes
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities CommitteeSponsor: Bailey, David, Jr.
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What This Bill Would Do
Assembly Bill 800 modifies the interest rates and accrual rules for unpaid water and sewer utility bills, municipal taxes, assessments, and liens across New Jersey. Under the bill, interest on delinquent water and sewer charges will match the rather than fixed statutory percentages, while property tax delinquency rates will be capped at three percentage points above the prime rate.
Property owners and utility customers facing late payments will experience shifted financial penalties, replacing long-standing fixed rates of up to 18 percent annually or 1.5 percent monthly with market-indexed rates for utilities and prime-plus-three-points for municipal taxes.
- The statutory interest rate on unpaid sewerage and utility service charges in New Jersey had remained fixed at 1.5 percent per month since January 1982. context
- Property tax delinquency interest rates governed by R.S.54:4-67 had previously been capped at tiered rates established in 1979. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Property owners
Property owners face modified interest accrual rates and penalty structures on delinquent municipal taxes, assessments, and water or sewer service charges.
Sewerage authorities
Sewerage authorities must calculate interest on unpaid service charges using the prevailing municipal bond yield and observe a 30-day grace period before interest accrues.
Municipalities
Municipalities must apply updated interest caps on delinquent property taxes and municipal liens, and may exercise discretionary waivers during declared states of emergency.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will interest on late water and sewer bills be calculated under this bill?
What is the new interest rate cap for delinquent property taxes?
How long must a utility bill be overdue before interest begins to accrue?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Transition from Fixed to Market-Indexed Utility Penalties
The legislation replaces utility interest rates that remained unchanged since 1982 with a dynamic formula tied to municipal bond yields.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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