A 5333

ASSEMBLY, No. 5333
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED JUNE 28, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� ANTHONY ANGELOZZI
District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)
Assemblywoman� MAUREEN ROWAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Assemblywoman� TENNILLE R. MCCOY
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Bhalla
SYNOPSIS
���� Appropriates $15,546,575 to DEP from constitutionally
dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or
develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain
administrative expenses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act appropriating $15,546,575 from constitutionally
dedicated corporation business tax revenues to provide grants to assist
qualifying tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands for
recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses.
���� Be It
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.� a.� For the purposes of
this section:
���� �Garden State Green Acres
Preservation Trust Fund� means the fund established pursuant to section 19 of
P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-19).
���� �Green Acres bond act� means
P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.2007, c.119, P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, P.L.1989,
c.183, P.L.1987, c.265, and P.L.1983, c.354.
���� �Preserve New Jersey Green
Acres Fund� means the fund established pursuant to section 6 of the �Preserve
New Jersey Act,� P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48).
���� �Stewardship activity� means
the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the �Preserve New Jersey Act,�
P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-45).
���� b. �There is appropriated to
the Department of Environmental Protection, for the purpose of providing
grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire lands
for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to subsection c. of this
section, to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to
subsection d. of this section, and to undertake stewardship activities pursuant
to subsection e. of this section:
���� (1) the sum of $8,200,000 from
the dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII,
Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the �Preserve New Jersey
Green Acres Fund,� established pursuant to section 6 of the �Preserve New
Jersey Act,� P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48)
���� (2) $6,915,075 from the
�Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund,� the �Garden State Green Acres
Preservation Trust Fund,� and any Green Acres fund established pursuant to a
Green Acres bond act, made available due to project cancellations and
withdrawals.
���� c.���� The following projects
for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes are
eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of
this section:
Nonprofit Organization
Project
County
Municipality
Approved Amount
(1) D & R Greenway Land Trust
Greenway Acquisitions
Burlington
All municipalities
$534,948
Camden
Audubon Boro
Audubon Park Boro
Brooklawn Boro
Camden City
Cherry Hill Twp
Collingswood Boro
Gloucester City
Haddon Heights Boro
Haddon Twp
Haddonfield Boro
Merchantville Boro
Mount Ephraim Boro
Oaklyn Boro
Pennsauken Twp
Woodlynne Boro
Cumberland
Deerfield Twp
Fairfield Twp
Greenwich Twp
Hopewell Twp
Stow Creek Twp
Upper Deerfield Twp
Gloucester
National Park Boro
West Deptford Twp
Westville Boro
Hunterdon
All municipalities
Mercer
All municipalities
Middlesex
All municipalities
Monmouth
All municipalities
Morris
All municipalities
Salem
Elsinboro Twp
Lower Alloways Creek Twp
Mannington Twp
Pennsville Twp
Somerset
All municipalities
(2) Lamington Conservancy
Central Lamington Project
Hunterdon
Readington Twp,
Tewksbury Twp
$240,000
Morris
Chester Twp,
Washington Twp
Somerset
Bedminster Twp,
Peapack-Gladstone Boro
(3) New Jersey Conservation
  Foundation
Priority Area Acquisitions
Atlantic
Buena Vista Twp
Egg Harbor City
Egg Harbor Twp
Estell Manor City
Folsom Boro
Galloway Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hammonton Town
Mullica Twp
Weymouth Twp
$5,163,000
Burlington
Bass River Twp
Beverly City
Bordentown City
Bordentown Twp
Burlington City
Burlington Twp
Chesterfield Twp
Cinnaminson Twp
Delanco Twp
Delran Twp
Evesham Twp
Fieldsboro Boro
Florence Twp
Mansfield Twp
Medford Twp
New Hanover Twp
North Hanover Twp
Pemberton Twp
Shamong Twp
Southampton Twp
Springfield Twp
Tabernacle Twp
Washington Twp
Woodland Twp
Camden
Camden City
Merchantville Boro
Pennsauken Twp
Cape May
Lower Twp
Middle Twp
Cumberland
Fairfield Twp
Greenwich Twp
Hopewell Twp
Maurice River Twp
Millville City
Stow Creek Twp
Upper Deerfield Twp
Vineland City
Essex
West Orange Twp
Gloucester
Franklin Twp
Logan Twp
South Harrison Twp
Woolwich Twp
Hudson
Jersey City
Hunterdon
All municipalities
Mercer
East Windsor Twp
Ewing Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hightstown Boro
Hopewell Twp
Lawrence Twp
Princeton Boro
Robbinsville Twp
Trenton City
West Windsor Twp
Middlesex
Cranbury Twp
Edison Twp
Monmouth
Allentown Boro
Millstone Twp
Upper Freehold Twp
Morris
All municipalities
Ocean
Lacey Twp
Ocean Twp
Plumsted Twp
Passaic
West Milford Twp
Salem
Alloway Twp
Carneys Point Twp
Elmer Boro
Elsinboro Twp
Lower Alloways Creek Twp
Mannington Twp
Oldmans Twp
Pennsville Twp
Pilesgrove Twp
Pittsgrove Twp
Quinton Twp
Upper Pittsgrove Twp
Woodstown Boro
Somerset
Bedminster Twp
Bernards Twp
Bernardsville Boro
Branchburg Twp
Bridgewater Twp
Far Hills Boro
Hillsborough Twp
Montgomery Twp
Peapack-Gladstone Boro
Raritan Boro
Sussex
Andover Twp
Byram Twp
Frankford Twp
Green Twp
Hampton Twp
Hopatcong Boro
Sparta Twp
Vernon Twp
Wantage Twp
Union
Elizabeth City
Linden City
Springfield Twp
Union Twp
Warren
Allamuchy Twp
Blairstown Twp
Franklin Twp
Frelinghuysen Twp
Greenwich Twp
Hardwick Twp
Harmony Twp
Hope Twp
Independence Twp
Knowlton Twp
Liberty Twp
Lopatcong Twp
Mansfield Twp
Oxford Twp
Pohatcong Twp
Washington Twp
White Twp
(4) Old Pine Farm Natural Lands
  Trust
Old Pine Farm Greenway
Gloucester
Deptford Twp
Gloucester Twp
$65,000
(5) Ridge and Valley Conservancy
Open Space Conservation Plan
Sussex
Andover Boro
Andover Twp
Frankford Twp
Fredon Twp
Green Twp
Hampton Twp
Hardyston Twp
Lafayette Twp
Sandyston Twp
Sparta Twp
Stillwater Twp
Wantage Twp
$66,000
Warren
Allamuchy Twp
Blairstown Twp
Frelinghuysen Twp
Hardwick Twp
Hope Twp
Knowlton Twp
Mansfield Twp
White Twp
(6) South Jersey Land and Water
  Trust
South Jersey Watersheds
Atlantic
All municipalities
$519,000
Camden
All municipalities
Cape May
All municipalities
Cumberland
All municipalities
Gloucester
All municipalities
Salem
All municipalities
(7) Stoutsburg Sourland African
  American Museum
Smith Grover House Acquisition
Somerset
Montgomery Twp
$182,125
(8) The Land Conservancy of New
  Jersey
Priority Areas Acq.
Bergen
All municipalities
$2,827,000
Essex
All municipalities
Middlesex
All municipalities
Morris
All municipalities
Ocean
All municipalities
Passaic
All municipalities
Somerset
All municipalities
Sussex
All municipalities
Union
All municipalities
Warren
All municipalities
TOTAL
$9,597,073
���� d.��� The following projects
for the development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes are
eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of
this section:
Nonprofit Organization
Project
County
Municipality
Approved Amount
Branch Brook Park Alliance
Branch Brook Park Improvements
Essex
Newark City
$773,980
Verona Park Conservancy
Verona Park Children's Garden
  Improvements
Essex
Verona Twp
$355,000
Zoological Society of New Jersey
Turtle Back Zoo African Adventure
  Exhibit Improvements
Essex
West Orange Twp
$2,440,862
Camp Dill Foundation
Camp Dill Improvements
Hunterdon
Clinton Twp
$19,000
Friends of Hopewell Quarry
Hopewell Quarry Development
Mercer
Hopewell Boro
$212,410
Hamilton Area YMCA
Sawmill Rehabilitation Project
Mercer
Hamilton Twp
$140,000
Friends of Dey Mansion
Dey Mansion Site Improvements
Passaic
Wayne Twp
$475,000
Friends of Passaic County Parks
Goffle Brook Park Improvements
Passaic
Hawthorne Boro
$814,250
TOTAL
$5,230,502
���� e.���� The following
stewardship activity projects are eligible for funding with the moneys
appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of this section:
Nonprofit Organization
Project
County
Municipality
Approved Amount
Friends of Passaic County Parks
Highlands Farm Restoration
Passaic
Bloomingdale Boro
$287,500
TOTAL
$287,500
���� f.���� Any transfer of any
funds, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in subsection c., d.,
or e. of this section shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight
Committee or its successor.
���� g.��� To the extent that
moneys remain available after the projects listed in subsection c., d., or e.
of this section are offered funding pursuant thereto, any project of a
qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization that previously received funding
appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual
appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for
recreation and conservation purposes shall be eligible to receive additional
funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, subject
to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
���� h.��� There is reappropriated
to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to
project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, of the amounts
appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual
appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund to
assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop
lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purposes of: �(1) this
section; and (2) providing additional funding, as determined by the Department
of Environmental Protection, to any project of a qualifying tax exempt
nonprofit organization that previously received funding appropriated or
reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or
the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and
conservation purposes, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight
Committee or its successor.� Any such additional funding provided from a Green
Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
���� 2.� There is appropriated to
the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $431,500 from dedicated
corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II,
paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the �Preserve New Jersey Green Acres
Fund,� established pursuant to section 6 of the �Preserve New Jersey Act,�
P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for paying administrative costs associated with
administering the applicable provisions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).
���� 3.��� There is appropriated
from the General Fund to the �Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund,�
established pursuant to section 6 of the �Preserve New Jersey Act,� P.L.2016,
c.12 (C.13:8C-48), the sum of $8,631,500 to implement the provisions of this
act.
���� 4.� This act shall take effect
immediately.
STATEMENT
���� The bill appropriates $15,546,575
to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), of which $15,115,075 is to
provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for
recreation and conservation purposes and $431,500 is to be used by the DEP for
associated administrative costs.�
���� Of the amount appropriated by
the bill to provide grants to various nonprofit entities:� $9,597,073 is
allocated for eight acquisition projects; $5,230,502 is allocated for eight
park development projects; and $287,500 is allocated for one stewardship
activity project.
���� The bill also would allow the
DEP to re-distribute certain other moneys, which have been returned to the
department due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, for the
purpose of providing additional funding, for recreation and conservation
purposes, to previously approved and funded projects of nonprofit entities,
subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee.� This
additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include
administrative costs.� The projects listed in the bill have been approved by
the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust.
���� The funding in this bill is
provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT)
revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State
Constitution.� The �Preserve New Jersey Act,� P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et
seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space,
farmland, and historic preservation.� The �Preserve New Jersey Green Acres
Fund� was established by section 6 of the �Preserve New Jersey Act.�� The act
provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues
allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for:� the
acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and
development projects on State lands administered by the DEP�s Division of Fish
and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local
government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to
nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation
purposes.