This bill creates a grant program within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to help municipalities address flood risks. It provides funding for flood risk assessments, mitigation projects (like dikes, weirs, permeable pavements, and stormwater basins), emergency preparedness training, and public education about flood hazards. Municipalities in greatest need, particularly overburdened communities, will receive priority for grants to implement structural and non-structural flood solutions. The DEP will manage applications, set criteria, and require grantees to report on fund use and program effectiveness annually.
This proposed bill (A 3087) directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop an artificial intelligence tool that predicts and maps flood risks at the neighborhood level using satellite imagery, historical rainfall data, climate models, river sensors, and federal floodplain maps. The tool must be made publicly available to municipalities, emergency officials, and residents, with ongoing updates to improve accuracy. The DEP may partner with universities and tech companies through competitive bidding and grant programs to build the tool, requiring all contracts and awards to be publicly disclosed. The bill aims to enhance flood preparedness and resilience by integrating diverse data sources into a single accessible resource.
This concurrent resolution (ACR 59) declares that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) proposed "NJPACT-REAL" rules - aimed at climate resilience and expanding flood zones - are inconsistent with legislative intent. It challenges the DEP's authority to unilaterally create these rules, arguing they exceed constitutional limits since the Legislature never authorized such sweeping changes through new laws. The resolution requires the DEP to amend or withdraw the rules within 30 days or face potential legislative action to invalidate them. This is a procedural step, not a law altering policies, focusing solely on the DEP's proposed rules' constitutional validity.
This bill creates a new Office of River Maintenance within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to oversee all stream cleaning and bank restoration projects statewide. The office will replace the previous system under P.L.1993, c.376, and must follow strict environmental rules - including protecting "Category one waters" (like trout streams and park-adjacent waters) and coordinating with agencies for endangered species or wetlands. Projects must avoid altering stream beds beyond historical levels, preserve shading vegetation, and comply with existing wetlands and flood control laws. The bill directly affects DEP operations and any entities conducting stream or bank work, requiring all such projects to be managed through this new office.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a program mapping all stormwater infrastructure - including culverts, drains, and underground pipes - using drone and LIDAR technology. It directly affects DEP, counties, and municipalities, especially older communities with outdated or missing records of aging infrastructure. The DEP must prioritize vulnerable areas, store all collected data in a central database accessible to relevant agencies, and submit annual progress reports to the Governor and Legislature. The goal is to improve flood prevention, emergency response, and infrastructure planning by replacing incomplete records with accurate, modern maps.
This bill creates a three-year "Smart Stormwater Sensor Pilot Program" funded by a $1 million appropriation to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It allows counties and municipalities to apply for grants to install smart sensors in storm drains and flood-prone infrastructure, which monitor real-time water levels and send flood alerts to residents and agencies. Local governments must submit detailed applications showing flood risk history and response plans before receiving grants. The DEP will report annually on the program's effectiveness, including sensor performance, geographic distribution, and recommendations for potential expansion.
New Jersey's bill A2760 would allow owners of small renewable energy projects (under 20 megawatts, such as rooftop solar or small wind systems) to seek approval only from local governments instead of state agencies for land use. This exempts projects from state permitting requirements under laws covering wetlands, coastal zones, flood areas, and other protected lands, provided they pass local inspections and get utility approval. Projects must still follow the State Uniform Construction Code for safety. The bill requires applicants to choose between local or state permitting upfront, waiving local approval if they first apply to a state agency.
This bill (A 760) eliminates a 5% down payment requirement for local governments issuing bonds to fund hazard mitigation and resilience projects. It directly affects municipalities and counties when financing projects like flood protection, storm recovery, or climate adaptation infrastructure. The key change exempts these projects from needing to set aside 5% of bond proceeds as a down payment and removes the requirement to apply to the Local Finance Board for maturity adjustments on related bonds. This simplifies financing for communities addressing climate risks without changing bond maturity rules for other projects.
This bill designates the week containing Earth Day (April 22) each year as "Litter Law Enforcement Week" in New Jersey. During this week, the Department of Environmental Protection and State Police must prioritize enforcing state littering laws (including specific statutes on illegal dumping and littering in public spaces), while encouraging local law enforcement to join the effort. Fines collected from littering violations during this period must be split equally into three state funds: the Clean Communities Program Fund (for public litter removal), the Coastal Protection Trust Fund (for beach cleanups), and the Municipal Stormwater Fund (for litter control at stormwater sites). Municipalities and counties can also choose to donate their collected fines to these funds.
This bill (S 1383) 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 flood mitigation. It directs the DEP to use specific criteria - such as protecting floodplains, wetlands, and flood-prone areas - to rank projects for funding under existing Green Acres programs. The bill amends current law to ensure projects addressing flood risk receive priority when allocating constitutionally dedicated funds. This affects local governments and nonprofits applying for DEP grants to acquire or develop land for public recreation or conservation uses.
