New Jersey S 1383: Enhances certain reporting and disclosure concerning State tax expenditures.

Bill Text

S1383 

SENATE, No. 1383 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator JOSEPH A. LAGANA

District 38 (Bergen)

Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Diegnan

SYNOPSIS

���� 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.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

��

An Act concerning funding for certain recreation and 
conservation projects and certain environmental infrastructure projects that 
include, or allow for, flood mitigation projects and amending P.L.1999, c.152, P.L.1985, 
c.334, and P.L.1997, c.224.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� Section 24 of P.L.1999, c.152 
(C.13:8C-24) is amended to read as follows:

���� 24. a. (1) There is 
established in the Department of Environmental Protection the Office of Green 
Acres.� The commissioner may appoint an administrator or director who shall 
supervise the office, and the department may employ such other personnel and 
staff as may be required to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the 
department and the office pursuant to P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et al.) and 
P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), all without regard to the provisions of 
Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes.� Persons appointed or 
employed as provided pursuant to this subsection shall be compensated in a 
manner similar to other employees in the Executive Branch, and their 
compensation shall be determined by the Civil Service Commission.

���� (2)� The Green Acres Program 
in the Department of Environmental Protection, together with all of its 
functions, powers and duties, are continued and transferred to and constituted 
as the Office of Green Acres in the Department of Environmental Protection.� Whenever, 
in any law, rule, regulation, order, contract, document, judicial or 
administrative proceeding or otherwise, reference is made to the Green Acres 
Program, the same shall mean and refer to the Office of Green Acres in the 
Department of Environmental Protection.� This transfer shall be subject to the 
provisions of the �State Agency Transfer Act,� P.L.1971, c.375 (C.52:14D-1 et 
seq.).

���� b.��� The duties and 
responsibilities of the office shall be as follows:

���� (1)� Administer all provisions 
of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et al.) and P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.) 
pertaining to funding the acquisition and development of lands for recreation 
and conservation purposes as authorized pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, 
paragraph 6 and paragraph 7 of the State Constitution;

���� (2)� Continue to administer 
all grant and loan programs for the acquisition and development of lands for 
recreation and conservation purposes, including the Green Trust, established or 
funded for those purposes pursuant to:� P.L.1961, c.45 (C.13:8A-1 et seq.); 
P.L.1971, c.419 (C.13:8A-19 et seq.); P.L.1975, c.155 (C.13:8A-35 et seq.); or 
any Green Acres bond act; 

���� (3)� Adopt, with the approval 
of the commissioner and pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� 
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations:

���� (a)�� establishing application 
procedures for grants and loans for the acquisition and development of lands 
for recreation and conservation purposes, criteria and policies for the 
evaluation and priority ranking of projects for eligibility to receive funding 
for recreation and conservation purposes using constitutionally dedicated 
moneys pursuant to P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et al.) or constitutionally 
dedicated CBT moneys pursuant to P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et� seq.), any 
conditions that may be placed on the award of a grant or loan for recreation 
and conservation purposes pursuant to P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et al.) or 
P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et al.), and any restrictions that may be placed on 
the use of lands acquired or developed with a grant or loan for recreation and 
conservation purposes pursuant to P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et al.) or 
P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).� The criteria and policies established 
pursuant to this subparagraph for the evaluation and priority ranking of 
projects for eligibility to receive funding for recreation and conservation 
purposes using constitutionally dedicated moneys pursuant to P.L.1999, c.152 
(C.13:8C-1 et al.) or constitutionally dedicated CBT moneys pursuant to 
P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.) may be based upon, but need not be limited 
to, such factors as: protection of the environment, natural resources, water 
resources, watersheds, aquifers, wetlands, floodplains and flood-prone areas, 
stream corridors, beaches and coastal resource