A 1620 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Directs DEP to lift conservation restrictions imposed as condition of CAFRA permit under certain conditions.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to remove conservation restrictions from property when the owner needs the land for expanding a special needs school, provided they also establish a new conservation restriction on a parcel at least twice as large within 20 miles. It applies specifically to properties with restrictions tied to Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permits. The new restriction must protect land similarly to the original. This creates a trade-off between development for education and expanded conservation coverage.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Feb 12, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 4 edits

MODERATE

This is a first reprint of Assembly Bill A1620 as reported by the Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee on February 12, 2026. The substantive policy content remains unchanged; the amendments are primarily technical corrections to a numbering error in the definition of 'conservation restriction' (a duplicate letter (d) was fixed and subsequent items renumbered through (h)), plus a clarifying addition of the formal name 'Coastal Area Facility Review Act.' Two new sponsors were added, and the legislative statement was removed as is standard for committee-reported versions.

TECHNICAL

Fixed a numbering error in the definition of 'conservation restriction' where item (d) appeared twice. The second (d) [excavating, dredging, or removing loam] was renumbered to (e), and all subsequent items shifted: old (e) became (f), old (f) became (g), and old (g) became (h).

Added the formal name 'Coastal Area Facility Review Act' before the citation P.L.1973, c.185 in section b for clarity. No change to the legal effect.

The legislative statement summarizing the bill's purpose was removed, which is standard practice when a bill is reported out of committee with amendments.

SCOPE

Assemblyman Alexander 'Avi' Schnall (District 30) was added as a sponsor, and Assemblyman Myhre was added as a co-sponsor.

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Full legislative history

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Committee

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Transferred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee

lower

3 primary · 3 co-sponsors