P.L. 2025, c.169 (S4569)

An Act appropriating $13,640,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to provide grants to assist qualifying tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire, develop, or conduct planning activities related to, 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 the sum of $11,959,000 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), 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.

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	Beverly City Bordentown City Bordentown Twp Burlington City Burlington Twp Chesterfield Twp Cinnaminson Twp Delanco Twp Delran Twp Edgewater Park Twp Fieldsboro Boro Florence Twp Hainesport Twp Mansfield Twp Maple Shade Twp Moorestown Twp Mount Holly Twp Mount Laurel Twp Palmyra Boro Riverside Twp Riverton Boro Springfield Twp Westampton Twp Willingboro Twp	$1,136,000
		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) Hunterdon Land Trust	Hunterdon Open Space Plan Priority Areas	Hunterdon	All municipalities	$286,000
(3) Lamington Conservancy	Central Lamington Project	Hunterdon	Readington Twp, Tewksbury Twp	$450,000
		Morris	Chester Twp, Washington Twp
		Somerset	Bedminster Twp, Peapack-Gladstone Boro
(4) 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	$3,080,000
		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
		Gloucester	Franklin Twp Logan Twp South Harrison Twp Woolwich Twp
		Hunterdon	All municipalities
		Mercer	East Windsor Twp Ewing Twp Hamilton Twp Hightstown Boro Hopewell Twp Lawrence Twp Trenton City Princeton Boro Robbinsville Twp 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 Pittsgove 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
(5) Raritan Headwaters Association	Raritan Headwaters Acquisitions	Hunterdon	Alexandria Twp, Bethlehem Twp Califon Boro Clinton Town Clinton Twp Delaware Twp East Amwell Twp Flemington Boro Franklin Twp Glen Gardener Boro Hampton Twp High Bridge Boro Lebanon Boro Lebanon Twp Raritan Twp Readington Twp Tewksbury Twp Union Twp West Amwell Twp	$1,259,000
		Morris	Chester Boro Chester Twp Mine Hill Twp Mendham Boro Mendham Twp Mt. Arlington Twp Mt. Olive Twp Randolph Twp Roxbury Twp Washington Twp
		Somerset	Bedminster Twp Bernards Twp Bernardsville Boro Branchburg Twp Bridgewater Twp Far Hills Boro Hillsborough Twp Peapack-Gladstone Boro Raritan Boro
(6) 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	$69,000
		Warren	Allamuchy Twp Blairstown Twp Frelinghuysen Twp Hardwick Twp Hope Twp Knowlton Twp Mansfield Twp White Twp
(7) Tewksbury Land Trust	Land Acquisition	Hunterdon	Tewksbury Twp	$1,616,000
(8) Woodland Wildlife Refuge, Inc.	Preserving a Wildlife Heritage	Hunterdon	Alexandria Twp	$450,000
TOTAL				$8,346,000

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	$1,082,000
Essex County Parks Foundation	Mills Reservation Improvements	Essex	Cedar Grove Twp	$1,051,000
TOTAL				$2,133,000

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 West Windsor Open Space	Moses Tunda Tatamy Trail	Mercer	West Windsor Twp	$268,000
Friends of Passaic County Parks	Schuyler-Colfax Historic Landscape Restoration	Passaic	Wayne Twp	$270,000
Duke Farms Foundation	Farm Barn Area Restoration Initiative	Somerset	Hillsborough Twp	$543,000
PEACE NJ	Restoring Riparian Habitat and River Access	Warren	Hackettstown Town	$399,000
TOTAL				$1,480,000

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 $681,000 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 to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $1,000,000 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), to establish a Planning Grant program, the purpose of which shall be to provide matching grants to nonprofit organizations to fund the preparation of plans and other activities necessary to identify needs and opportunities for additional recreation and conservation initiatives in the State. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection e. of section 6 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48) or any other law to the contrary, the distribution of grant funds pursuant to this section shall not require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee.

4. 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 $13,640,000 to implement the provisions of this act.

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

The bill appropriates $13,640,000 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), of which $11,959,000 is to provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, $1,000,000 is to establish a new planning grant program, and $681,000 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: $8,346,000 is allocated for eight acquisition projects; $2,133,000 is allocated for two park development projects; and $1,480,000 is allocated for four stewardship activity projects. In addition, the bill would appropriate $1,000,000 to the DEP in order to establish a new a Planning Grant program, the purpose of which would be to provide matching grants to nonprofit organizations to fund the preparation of plans and other activities necessary to identify needs and opportunities for additional recreation and conservation initiatives in the State.

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.

Appropriates $13,640,000 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities for open space acquisition, park development, and planning projects, and for certain administrative expenses.