LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 4833

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: NOVEMBER 19, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes abandoned mine reclamation program in DOT.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase; potential annual State revenue increase; potential annual local revenue increase. 

Agencies Affected:

Department of Transportation.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual

 

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

Potential State Revenue Increase

Indeterminate

 

Potential Local Revenue Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

·       The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that this bill will result in increased annual expenditures of an indeterminate magnitude for the State attributable to the establishment of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program in the Department of Transportation.  The OLS is unable to determine the magnitude of the spending increase because the number of projects and the scale of each project remains unknown.

·       Additionally, the OLS concludes that the bill may result in annual local revenue increases of an indeterminate magnitude associated with any grant money provided by the State to municipalities for their role in abandoned mine identification and project delivery. 

·       The State may experience potential annual revenue increases from any federal grant money secured by the department that is to be used for mine reclamation projects. 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill establishes the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program in the Department of Transportation and directs the department to develop a Statewide plan for the reclamation of abandoned mines. The bill establishes minimum requirements for the contents of the plan, including a ranked order of the mine reclamation projects designed to reclaim, backfill, stabilize, or otherwise render safe all mine voids present in the State.  After the department completes the plan, the bill directs the department to begin implementing it by carrying out the mine reclamation projects, contracting with private construction firms, or distributing grants to local governments or private property owners to carry out the projects. 

      Additionally, the bill requires the department to make reasonable efforts to notify property owners before entering the property and implementing the plan.  Under the bill, the department is required to provide reasonable accommodations concerning the time, date, and manner of entry, at the request of the property owner.  The bill provides that any entry by the department is to be construed as an exercise of the State’s police power and is not to be construed as an act of condemnation or trespass.

      The bill establishes the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Fund in the department to serve as the repository for federal grant monies secured by the department, State funds, or other monies which are to be used for mine reclamation projects.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received. 

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds that this bill will result in increased annual expenditures of an indeterminate magnitude for the State attributable to the establishment of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program in the department.  Additionally, the OLS concludes that the bill may result in annual local revenue increases of an indeterminate magnitude associated with grant money provided by the State to municipalities for their role in abandoned mine identification and project delivery.  Notably, the OLS estimates that the State may experience potential annual revenue increases attributable to possible federal grant money secured by the department that is to be used for mine reclamation projects. 

      The department will incur administrative and planning costs for hiring and assigning staff, site identification, and drafting and finalizing the Abandoned Mine Reclamation program as outlined in the bill.  Once the plan is completed, the department will incur additional expenditures in completing each reclamation project as directed by the bill.  The OLS is unable to determine the magnitude of the increase in State expenditures because the number of projects and the scale of each project remains unknown. 

      To carry out the completion of the identified projects, the department may provide grants from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Fund to local municipalities to perform necessary duties up to and including project completion.  These grants would represent revenue increases to participating municipalities.

 

Section:

Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications.

Analyst:

Michael D. Walker

Associate Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).