S 743 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Appropriates $111.6 million in dedicated natural resource damages revenues to DEP for habitat restoration, land acquisition, and restoration oversight projects.*

S 743 appropriates $58.145 million in natural resource damages funds - collected from settlements with companies like Exxon and Atlantic Richfield - to New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The funds directly support habitat restoration, land acquisition, and oversight projects across specific regions (including the Lower Delaware, Atlantic, and Raritan watersheds) and Superfund sites, as prioritized by state law. The DEP may use the money for state costs, including grants to local governments or nonprofits, and can reallocate funds with approval from the Treasury Division. The bill requires written notice of any fund reallocation to key legislative committees.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

General Assembly Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Jul 30, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was nearly doubled in funding from $58.145 million to $111.6 million, with the vast majority of the increase ($49.255 million) directed to habitat restoration and land acquisition in the Lower Delaware Water Region. A new legal case (Solvay Specialty Polymers/Arkema) was added as a source of natural resource damages revenues, and the bill passed out of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee on February 12, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's funding scope expanded significantly, nearly doubling total appropriations and adding a new source case (Solvay/Arkema). The geographic focus shifted heavily toward the Lower Delaware Water Region, which now receives approximately 49% of all appropriated funds compared to roughly 9% in the original version.

FISCAL

Total appropriation increased from $58,145,000 to $111,600,000, nearly doubling the available funds for DEP habitat restoration and land acquisition projects.

Lower Delaware Water Region allocation increased dramatically from $5,200,000 to $54,455,000, making it by far the largest single regional allocation in the bill.

Administration allocation increased from $5,000,000 to $9,200,000.

SCOPE

A new legal case was added as a source of recovered funds: N.J. Dep't of Env. Protection v. Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, and Arkema, Inc. No. GLO-L-001239-20.

Bill status changed from 'Introduced Pending Technical Review' to 'As reported by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee on February 12, 2026, with amendments,' indicating it cleared committee.

TECHNICAL

Additional sponsors were added: Assemblyman James J. Kennedy (District 22) and Assemblywoman Heather Simmons (District 3), along with co-sponsors Senator Timberlake, Assemblywomen Brennan, Haider, and Assemblyman Bhalla.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (78-0-0)

lower

Jun 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading

lower

Jun 23, 2026

Committee

Transferred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (38-0)

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee

upper

3 primary · 3 co-sponsors