SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 743

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 12, 2026

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 743.

      As amended, this bill would appropriate $111.6 million in dedicated natural resource damages revenues, collected from various legal actions enumerated in the bill, to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for certain habitat restoration and enhancement projects, land acquisition projects, restoration oversight activities, and administrative costs.  The bill would authorize the DEP to utilize the funds for State costs, as grants or loans to local governments, or as grants or loans to nonprofit organizations.

      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.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments to the bill:

      (1) increase the total amount appropriated by the bill to $111.6 million;

      (2) add a legal action from which the funds appropriated by the bill are to be collected;

      (3) increase the amount appropriated for “Habitat Restoration and Enhancement/ Land Acquisition in the Lower Delaware Water Region” by $49.255 million;

      (4) increase the amount appropriated for administrative expenses by $4.2 million; and

      (5) revise the bill’s title and synopsis.