Budget & Taxes

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to prioritize funding for two types of projects: (1) land acquisition for recreation and conservation, and (2) environmental infrastructure projects that include or enable flood mitigation. It directly affects local governments, nonprofits, and communities seeking DEP grants under the Green Acres program, which uses constitutionally dedicated funds. Key provisions mandate that DEP establish criteria prioritizing projects that protect floodplains, reduce flood risk, conserve natural resources, and support recreational access. The bill amends existing laws to ensure these factors are explicitly considered when ranking eligible projects for funding.

This bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to voluntarily contribute a portion of their state income tax refund or make an additional payment when filing their tax return to support public humanities programming. The contributions would go into a new "New Jersey Council for the Humanities Fund" established within the Department of the Treasury. The state would deduct administrative costs from collected contributions before depositing the net amount into the fund. The Legislature would annually appropriate these funds to the New Jersey Council for the Humanities to provide grants for humanities programs across the state.