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Assembly Committee Advances Life-Saving Code Red Protections 1/9/2026 Housing and community advocates today applauded the New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee for approving S2346/A2258, legislation that would establish Code Red protections to safeguard people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable residents during periods of extreme heat and dangerous air quality. The bill would require the establishment of cooling centers during Code Red events, ensuring that individuals most at risk have access to safe, climate-controlled spaces during extreme weather. Amendments adopted in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, however, reduced the bill’s overall appropriation to $2.5 million. “This is a significant and long-overdue step toward protecting New Jerseyans from the growing threat of extreme heat,” said Matthew Hersh, vice president of policy and advocacy for the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ (the Network). “Heat is not just uncomfortable; it can be deadly. We commend the Assembly Appropriations Committee for advancing this critical bill that can save lives. However, we are disappointed that the funding was reduced, as adequate resources are essential to ensure these protections are implemented effectively and reach every community that needs them.” As climate change accelerates, New Jersey continues to experience hotter and more dangerous summers. Research by Climate Central shows that New Jersey is the fastest-warming state in the Northeast, and recent years have shattered temperature records statewide. Extreme heat poses a severe and disproportionate risk to vulnerable populations. An estimated 445 New Jersey residents die each year due to excessive heat, making heat one of the deadliest weather-related threats in the state. At the same time, New Jersey’s population of people experiencing homelessness continues to rise, leaving thousands exposed to life-threatening conditions during heat emergencies. Advocates are now calling on all Assemblymembers to vote in favor of S2346/A2258 when it comes to the floor and urging Governor Murphy to sign the bill into law without delay. “For years, New Jersey has lacked a statewide Code Red policy, even as temperatures climb and the risks become more severe,” said Hersh. “Code Red protections are a common-sense, humane response to a growing climate reality, and they must be backed by sufficient funding to truly save lives.”
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