ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5977

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 18, 2025

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5977.

      As reported, this bill would amend P.L.2025, c.109 to revise the lists of environmental infrastructure projects for which the Legislature has appropriated funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for State fiscal year 2026.

      In July 2025, P.L.2025, c.109 was enacted into law, which appropriated funds to the DEP for the purpose of financing approximately $2.4 billion in Storm Sandy and other environmental infrastructure projects through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) in FY2026.  This bill would amend the lists of environmental infrastructure projects for which the DEP is appropriated funds pursuant to P.L.2025, c.109 to include new projects, remove projects, modify the priority of certain projects, and modify the loan amounts for certain projects.  As amended by the bill, P.L.2025, c.109 would appropriate to the DEP up to $2.69 billion, and any unexpended balances from previous authorizations, to provide loans to project sponsors for a total of 225 eligible environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026.  This would include 142 projects on the “Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2026 Clean Water Project Eligibility List” and 76 projects on the “Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2026 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List.”

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.