Appropriates $15,546,575 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Tennille McCoy

Funds $15.5M from CBT revenues to grant nonprofits for acquiring or developing lands for recreation and conservation, with some DEP admin costs.

Substituted by A5333

Summary of Bill A 5333 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Purpose and intent

The bill proposes appropriating $15,546,575 from constitutionally dedicated Community-Based Tax (CBT) revenues held by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fund grants and certain administrative expenses.

The primary aim is to support acquisition or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, via grants to designated nonprofit entities.

Key provisions

Funding source: $15,546,575 drawn from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues within DEP. This reflects funds that are specifically restricted by the constitution for particular purposes, limiting use to the intended programs.

Recipients and use of funds:

Grants to certain nonprofit entities.
Eligible activities include the acquisition or development of lands intended for recreation and conservation.

Administrative expenses: A portion of the appropriation may be allocated to DEP administrative costs related to administering the grant program (e.g., program management, compliance, reporting).

Project scope: The funding is targeted toward land protection and ecosystem or recreation-related projects rather than general DEP operations.

Nonprofit eligibility (implied): While not fully enumerated in the summary, the bill specifies grants to “certain nonprofit entities,” which typically refers to organizations with missions aligned to land acquisition, conservation, or recreation. Specific eligibility criteria would be defined in the bill’s text (e.g., nonprofit status, matching funds, project type, geographic considerations).

Who is affected

Nonprofit organizations pursuing land acquisition or development for recreation and conservation may be eligible for grants.

DEP would administer the program, distributing funds, monitoring compliance, and handling reporting.

Public stakeholders/landowners and communities could benefit from newly acquired or improved recreation and conservation lands resulting from grant-supported projects.

Procedural and timing considerations

Legislative action required: As a bill, it would need passage by the New Jersey Legislature and approval by the Governor to become law.

Budget implications: The appropriation uses constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues, so it draws from a restricted funding stream. This may be subject to budgetary controls or constitutional provisions governing CBT funds.

Program timeline (to be determined in bill/text): The specific timing for grant rounds, eligibility windows, and project deadlines would be defined in the enacted text or subsequent DEP grant rules. The bill would likely outline spending deadlines or project milestones to ensure timely use of the funds.

Potential impacts

Enables targeted conservation and public-recreation land projects that may not otherwise receive funding.

Supports nonprofit partners in acquiring or developing lands, potentially accelerating land protection and access improvements.

Adds a defined administrative mechanism within DEP to manage and oversee grant distribution and project oversight.

Note: For precise eligibility criteria, grant amounts per project, matching requirements, reporting standards, and any sunset or renewal provisions, refer to the full text of the bill and any accompanying committee statements.