Environment (Coastal & Flood Protection) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4380: Establishes Watershed Council in DEP.

This bill creates a 21-member Watershed Council within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The council, appointed by the Governor with input from environmental groups, will represent each of the state's 21 watershed areas and analyze flooding, water quality, and environmental programs. It must assess the DEP's watershed management effectiveness - including flood protection, stormwater runoff, and ecosystem preservation - and make recommendations. Within 12 months of its first meeting, the council will submit annual reports to the DEP commissioner, Governor, and Legislature with these findings and suggestions for improving water quality and resident safety.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Water Quality

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 547: Requires DEP and owners of certain reservoirs to implement certain flood control measures; authorizes Office of Emergency Management to order lowering of reservoirs levels in response to severe weather events.

This New Jersey bill (A 547) requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to identify reservoirs with a history of causing downstream flooding and study their capacity and water needs. The DEP must then set maximum water levels for these reservoirs to balance flood prevention with water supply, and require owners to create approved flood action plans - including flood gates - for reservoirs linked to past flooding. The Office of Emergency Management can order reservoir levels lowered during severe weather to prevent flooding, after consulting with the DEP. Reservoir owners who follow approved plans and comply with emergency orders are protected from related lawsuits. The bill directly affects DEP, reservoir owners, and communities downstream of affected reservoirs.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3477: Establishes fund in DEP for Blue Acres acquisition and relocation projects; appropriates $25 million.

This bill creates the Blue Acres Buyout Fund within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), appropriating $25 million from the General Fund. The fund will provide relocation assistance to homeowners and tenants displaced by Blue Acres property acquisitions, cover the state's costs for purchasing flood-prone lands under the Blue Acres program, and pay for program administration (limited to 5% of annual funds). It directly affects residents in flood-prone areas who may be relocated due to these acquisitions. The fund operates as a nonlapsing, revolving account managed by the DEP.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Procurement State Budget Coastal & Flood Protection

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 320: "Flood Zone Clarification Act"; modifies procedure for delineation of State flood hazard areas.

This bill modifies New Jersey's process for defining flood hazard areas. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection to update flood maps to align with federal FEMA standards, mandating that state flood hazard zones must be at least as protective as FEMA's 100-year floodplain maps and no more than one foot above FEMA's designated elevation. The bill also delays implementation of the proposed NJPACT flood rules until after June 1, 2038, unless the Legislature passes a specific resolution authorizing them. These changes directly affect property owners, developers, and local governments needing permits in flood-prone areas, as they govern where construction can occur and what safety standards apply.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 12, 2026

A 1620: 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.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1845: Requires DEP and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide priority for principal forgiveness on environmental infrastructure project loans to municipalities in coastal areas.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to prioritize principal forgiveness for environmental infrastructure loans to municipalities in coastal areas. It directly affects coastal municipalities needing funding for projects like wastewater treatment and water supply systems. The key mechanism establishes that these coastal communities will receive preferential treatment in the existing Interim Environmental Financing Program for eligible projects listed on the DEP's priority list. The change modifies how loan forgiveness is allocated within current financing programs, without creating new funding sources.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1465: Revises permitting thresholds for certain types of development requiring CAFRA permit from DEP.

Bill A 1465 revises New Jersey's Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) to expand which municipalities require Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permits for certain large developments. It adds cities of the fourth class ranked in the top two percent of the state's 2020 Municipal Revitalization Index to the existing groups (qualifying municipalities and cities with over 30,000 residents) that must follow CAFRA's threshold rules. For these cities, DEP permits are now required for residential projects with 75+ units, commercial projects with 150+ parking spaces, or industrial/public developments located beyond 500 feet from the water's edge. This change extends existing permitting standards to new municipalities without altering the specific thresholds for development size.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3258: Increases cap on grants for farmland stewardship activities to $100,000 per application.

This bill increases the maximum grant amount for farmland stewardship activities on preserved farmland from $20,000 to $100,000 per application. It directly affects New Jersey farmers who preserve land under the state's farmland preservation program and seek funding for projects like soil conservation, deer fencing, or water management. The key change removes the previous $200 per acre limit and adjusts the program to allow larger-scale projects as inflation has made current grants insufficient for meaningful stewardship. The bill aims to address rising costs for activities that restore or improve preserved farmland, such as repairing soil health or enhancing flood resilience.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3892: Excludes permit applications for construction of certain pipelines and related infrastructure from eligibility for automatic approval if DEP fails to take action on application within 90 days.

This bill amends New Jersey's "90-Day Law" to exclude pipeline construction permits for natural gas and petroleum products, along with related infrastructure like compressor stations, from automatic approval if the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) doesn't act within 90 days. Currently, most construction permits (e.g., for waterfront development or coastal wetlands) automatically become approved after 90 days without a DEP decision, but this bill removes pipeline projects from that rule. Pipeline developers must now wait for an explicit DEP decision within the 90-day window instead of relying on automatic approval. The change applies only to pipeline permits and does not affect other types of permits covered by the 90-Day Law.

Topics ✗ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Coastal & Flood Protection

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 1, 2026

A 3078: Requires DEP to establish online flood, rainfall, river level, and sewer capacity dashboard.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a publicly accessible online dashboard tracking real-time flood risks across the state. The dashboard must display rainfall, river levels, sewer capacity, flood damage reports, drainage complaints, and historical flood data from municipalities. Municipalities and counties must report this data to the DEP, with the dashboard updated weekly during active storm warnings. The DEP must annually review the system to standardize reporting, reduce administrative burdens on local governments, and improve data sharing capabilities.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

All environment bills