Environment (Coastal & Flood Protection) in New Jersey

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

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 1873: Requires DEP to prioritize funding for certain projects for acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes and certain environmental infrastructure projects that include, or allow for, flood mitigation projects.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Parks & Recreation

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

A 3083: Requires developer to submit stormwater impact study as part of application for planned development site plan approval.

This bill requires developers seeking approval for planned development projects (like residential clusters or commercial sites) to submit a stormwater impact study as part of their site plan application. The study, conducted by a third-party consultant agreed upon by both the developer and local planning board, must evaluate pre- and post-development stormwater runoff, downstream flood risks, and potential mitigation strategies. It applies directly to developers and planning boards reviewing applications for planned developments under New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law. The bill amends existing law to mandate this review before site plan approval can be granted.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

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

A 3861: Allows State-owned, municipally-managed Blue Acres lands to be used for freshwater wetlands mitigation projects.

This bill (A 3861) adds State-owned, municipally-managed "Blue Acres" land as a permitted option for developers to compensate for freshwater wetland loss caused by construction projects. It allows wetland creation, enhancement, or restoration on Blue Acres land (property acquired by the State for recreation/conservation, often flood-prone or buffer land managed by municipalities) if both the State and the municipality grant permission. Currently, developers can use private land or contribute to a Wetlands Mitigation Bank when on-site wetland restoration isn't feasible; this bill creates a fourth option using Blue Acres land. The change directly affects developers seeking wetland mitigation, municipalities managing Blue Acres properties, and the Department of Environmental Protection overseeing permit approvals.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation

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

A 675: Prohibits NJT from making major alterations to rail yards located near certain environmentally sensitive areas.

Bill A-675 prohibits New Jersey Transit (NJT) from making major rail yard modifications - such as adding tracks, building fuel tanks, or upgrading facilities - near environmentally sensitive areas. It specifically applies to rail yards located within coastal zones, within 1,000 feet of wetlands or tidal water bodies, or where water flows into the Barnegat Bay Estuary. NJT must obtain the Governor’s written authorization after consulting the Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA before proceeding with such changes. This law aims to protect ecological areas by requiring environmental review and approvals before rail yard alterations.

Topics ✓ Environment ✗ Transportation

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Rail

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 23, 2026

A 3735: "Polluters Pay to Make New Jersey More Affordable Act"; imposes cost recovery payments on certain fossil fuel companies for funds needed for climate change adaptation; establishes program in DEP to collect and oversee distribution of funds.**

The Climate Superfund Act (A 3735) holds fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments into a state fund. Companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels during 1995-2026 and emitted over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases must pay based on their proportional liability, with joint liability for companies in a "controlled group." Funds collected will be distributed to implement climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs in overburdened communities. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to manage payments and fund these projects.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Climate Change Coastal & Flood Protection Hazardous Materials

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

A 3903: Establishes Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience Financing Program in NJ Infrastructure Bank; imposes per-kilowatt hour charge on electric energy consumption to finance climate change mitigation and resilience projects.

This bill establishes a Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience Financing Program within the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. It would impose a per-kilowatt-hour charge on all electricity consumption in the state, added to utility bills for residential, commercial, and industrial consumers. The collected funds would finance projects like flood-resistant infrastructure, coastal protection, and other climate resilience initiatives. The program aims to address climate impacts through targeted infrastructure investments, funded directly by electricity users.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Climate Change Coastal & Flood Protection

All environment bills