ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT AND SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1873

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 19, 2026

      The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1873.

      This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide additional priority points to certain applicants that seek funding for Blue Acres projects and for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects.

      Under the bill’s provisions, projects that include or allow for a flood mitigation project to occur onsite would receive additional priority points in the ranking for funding pursuant to the respective program.  The DEP would factor these additional points into its calculations when establishing:  (1) the list of projects eligible to receive “Blue Acres funding”; (2) the “clean water project priority list,” pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-20); and (3) the “drinking water project priority list,” pursuant to section 24 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-20.1).

      As used in the bill, “Blue Acres project” means any project of the State or a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization to acquire, for recreation and conservation purposes, lands that have been damaged by, or may be prone to incurring damage caused by, storms or storm-related flooding, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.