A 4816 New Jersey General Assembly · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Prohibits requirement for beach tag for access to beach below mean high tide line for recreational purposes.*

This bill prohibits New Jersey municipalities from requiring beach tags or admission passes for surfers and fishermen accessing the wet sandy beach area below the mean high tide line for recreational surfing or fishing. It directly affects individuals engaging in these specific activities on public beaches. The key provision bans municipal requirements for tags in this zone, regardless of existing local laws or regulations. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment. It does not impact other beach access rules or recreational uses.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Sep 19, 2024 Last action Feb 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version Reprint ATG 2/13/25 1R · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was expanded from protecting only surfers and fishermen from beach tag requirements to protecting any individual using the ocean for any recreational activity below the mean high tide line. This significantly broadens who is exempt from municipal beach tags when accessing the wet sandy beach area.
SCOPE

Changed the protected class from 'a surfer or a fisherman' to 'an individual,' meaning any person is now covered, not just those surfing or fishing.

Changed the protected activity from 'surfing or fishing' to 'using the ocean for a recreational activity,' covering all recreational ocean use (swimming, wading, shell collecting, etc.) rather than only surfing and fishing.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
lower
Sep 19, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors