This bill (A 3718) creates the Highlands Conservation Trust to permanently preserve environmentally sensitive lands in New Jersey's Highlands Region. The Trust will acquire and manage land to protect natural resources like forests, watersheds, and wildlife habitats, preserve historic sites, and provide passive recreation opportunities. It will fund its work primarily through revenue from special "Highlands Conservation" license plates sold to vehicle owners. The Trust is governed by a seven-member board appointed by the Governor and state officials, with land acquisition focused on areas defined under existing Highlands protection laws.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop a plan for two artificial reefs within state waters (within three nautical miles of the coast) within one year of enactment. The plan must consider fishing history and both commercial/recreational uses of the sites, while the DEP will also establish rules governing the number of fish and lobster pots allowed on these reefs. Currently, 17 artificial reefs exist off New Jersey's coast - only the two within state waters are directly affected by this bill, though the DEP may seek to extend similar management to 15 federal reef sites via the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The law focuses on creating clear usage rules for existing reefs to balance fishing activities with conservation.
This bill extends the maximum initial and renewal terms for property leases between local governments (municipalities, counties) and nonprofit organizations (like land conservancies) from five to seven years. It applies specifically to agreements for recreation and conservation purposes, such as managing public parks or natural areas. The bill also codifies existing rules allowing longer terms - up to 25 years with "good cause" documentation or over 25 years with approvals from the Environmental Protection Commissioner and State House Commission. These changes aim to provide more stability for long-term conservation projects while maintaining current approval pathways.
This bill allows New Jersey taxpayers a state income tax deduction equal to the capital gain realized from selling certain real property interests to qualified conservation organizations. It directly affects landowners who sell property (either at full market value or for less than full value in a "bargain sale") to groups preserving land through programs like Green Acres, farmland preservation, or wildlife conservation. The deduction covers the profit from the sale portion, with specific rules for allocating costs in bargain sales where part is treated as a charitable donation. The policy aligns with federal tax treatment for conservation donations and applies to sales benefiting conservation programs.
This bill allocates $10 million in constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues to fund grants for land acquisition and development projects focused on recreation and conservation. The funds would be distributed as follows: 55% to the state for land acquisition and development (including 22% for stewardship), 38% to local governments for similar projects, and 7% to qualifying nonprofit organizations. These grants support activities like protecting natural areas, enhancing public parks, and managing lands for public enjoyment. The bill modifies existing rules for the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" but does not change the fund’s core purpose or create new tax requirements.
This bill changes how municipalities calculate impervious surfaces for parks in the Highlands preservation area. It specifies that all municipal parks within a single town should be treated as one property (not individually) when measuring impervious surface percentage against the 3% limit. The calculation excludes Highlands open waters and solar panels from the impervious surface count. This directly affects municipal park development projects in the Highlands region, making compliance with the 3% limit easier by allowing combined park area calculations.
This bill, the "Barnegat Bay Protection Act," would create a dedicated fund to protect Barnegat Bay by establishing three funding streams: a 1% tax on fertilizer sales, special "Protect Barnegat Bay" license plates (with a $50 application fee and $10 annual renewal), and voluntary donations collected during boat registrations, vessel renewals, and beach tag purchases. The fund, managed by the State Treasurer with input from the Environmental Protection Department, would finance watershed preservation and remediation projects, including public education campaigns. It directly affects residents and businesses in Ocean County (33 municipalities) and parts of Monmouth County (4 municipalities), where over 500,000 people live and visit. The bill focuses on generating ongoing revenue for bay restoration, not on new regulations or mandates.
This bill requires the creation of wildlife management plans for open space and farmland in specific circumstances. It authorizes the use of constitutionally dedicated CBT (Criminal Justice Bond Trust) revenues to fund activities under these plans. The plans would be developed and implemented by the Department of Environmental Protection or local entities managing such lands. This change allows wildlife conservation efforts on preserved open space and agricultural areas to be financed using CBT funds that were previously restricted to criminal justice programs.
This bill requires the Garden State Preservation Trust to conduct a comprehensive audit of New Jersey's land preservation programs (including Green Acres, Blue Acres, farmland preservation, and historic property programs) within six months. It allows local governments and qualified nonprofits to use certain constitutionally dedicated land preservation funds to cover administrative costs like staff time and document preparation, rather than only program expenses. The bill also appropriates $150,000 to support this audit process. Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was approved as part of P.L.2025, c.385.
This bill allows New Jersey counties to create mentoring programs pairing experienced farmers with new or less experienced farmers (defined as those with 10 years or less farming experience in the state). It also authorizes counties to resell preserved farmland - land previously protected through state programs - at reduced prices to beginning farmers, provided the land remains under agricultural deed restrictions. Proceeds from these sales must be returned to the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund for future land protection. The bill modifies existing farmland preservation laws to enable these programs and sales while ensuring funds support ongoing farmland conservation.
