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Bill

A 4817

Allows for exclusion of certain properties from Highlands preservation area.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Fantasia and 1 co-sponsor

A-4817 would create a process to exclude specific parcels from New Jersey’s Highlands preservation area under defined criteria and safeguards.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee
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Bill Summary · A 4817

Summary of Bill A-4817 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Basic information

  • Jurisdiction: New Jersey
  • Bill number: A-4817
  • Session: 222
  • Current status: Introduced and referred to the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee (as of 2026-05-04)
  • Sponsors:
    • Primary sponsor: (not listed in provided text)
    • Co-sponsors: Dawn Fantasia, Mike Inganamort

Purpose and intent

A-4817 would authorize the exclusion of certain properties from the Highlands preservation area. The Highlands Preservation Area is a designated land-use and environmental protection region in New Jersey intended to preserve the natural, scenic, and water resource values of the Highlands region. This bill seeks to create a mechanism by which specific parcels of property can be removed from that preservation designation under defined conditions.

Key provisions and changes (as inferred from the title and summary)

  • Exclusion mechanism: Establishes a process by which property owners or interested parties could petition to exclude particular properties from the Highlands preservation area.
  • Criteria for exclusion: While details are not provided in the summary, such bills typically specify eligibility criteria (e.g., environmental impact, land use changes, lack of Highlands resources on the parcel, or compliance with local planning) and the standards the petition must meet.
  • Approval process: Likely involves evaluation by relevant state agencies and possibly local authorities, public notice requirements, and opportunities for public comment or hearings.
  • Conditions and safeguards: The bill may include conditions to mitigate potential environmental or watershed impacts, ensuring that excluding a parcel does not adversely affect water quality, habitat, or watershed protection goals.
  • Administrative and regulatory adjustments: The exclusion could necessitate amendments to official maps, registries, or regulatory frameworks governing Highlands protections.

Potential impact

Affected entities

  • Property owners and developers: Owners of parcels within the Highlands area who seek to have their property excluded may gain greater flexibility for development, sale, or re-use of land not constrained by Highlands preservation requirements.
  • Local governments: Municipalities containing parcels proposed for exclusion might face planning and zoning implications, as well as coordination with state agencies.
  • State environmental agencies: Agencies responsible for Highlands protections would review exclusion petitions and ensure consistency with environmental safeguards and watershed protection goals.

Environmental and regional considerations

  • Environmental protections: Exclusions could alter protections related to water resources, forests, and biodiversity if not carefully implemented. The bill would presumably include safeguards to prevent negative impacts on the Highlands' environmental objectives.
  • Watershed and land-use planning: Changes to the preservation area could influence regional land-use plans, infrastructure planning, and development density within the Highlands region.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: Bill introduced and referred to the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee (2026-05-04).
  • Next steps: The committee would likely hold hearings, gather testimony, and assess the bill's merits and potential environmental/economic impacts. If advanced, the bill would move to broader Assembly consideration and potentially to the Senate, with further votes and potential amendments.
  • Effective date: Not specified in the provided information. Any enacted provisions would typically specify effective dates or phased implementation.

What to watch for

  • Specific eligibility criteria for exclusion (e.g., parcel size thresholds, mapping amendments, and environmental criteria).
  • Public notice and comment requirements, and any opportunities for affected landowners to participate in the process.
  • Safeguards or conditions intended to prevent adverse effects on the Highlands watershed and ecological resources.
  • Whether exclusions are reversible or subject to future reevaluation.

This summary focuses on the bill’s stated aim to allow exclusions from the Highlands preservation area and outlines the typical structural elements such bills contain, noting that the exact text would provide precise criteria, procedures, and safeguards.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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