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A 4816

Authorizes certain continuing education courses to be completed online

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kwani O'Pharrow

Prohibits municipalities from charging beach tags for access to the wet sandy area below the mean high tide line for recreational use, effective immediately.

PRINT NUMBER 4816A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 4816

Summary — A4816 (Print 4816A)

Title: Authorizes certain continuing education courses to be completed online (bill caption appears inconsistent with content; actual bill text concerns beach access)

Note: The bill text and committee statement for A4816 concern beach access. This summary follows the reported/amended bill text (A4816A) dated February 13–26, 2025.

Main purpose

A4816 (as amended) prohibits New Jersey municipalities from requiring a municipal beach tag or similar admission pass for individuals who access the wet sandy beach below the mean high tide line for recreational purposes. The intent is to ensure that people entering the shoreline area seaward of the mean high tide line for recreation (e.g., surfing, fishing, swimming, wading) cannot be charged a municipal beach admission fee solely for that access.

Key provisions

  • Amends Title 40 of the Revised Statutes by adding a provision that:
    • Prohibits a municipality from requiring a municipal beach tag or similar admission pass for access to the wet sandy beach below the mean high tide line, for any individual accessing the ocean below that line for recreational purposes.
  • Committee amendments broaden the original draft:
    • Original introduced text referred specifically to “a surfer or a fisherman for the exclusive purpose of surfing or fishing.”
    • Amended version applies to any individual accessing the ocean below the mean high tide line for recreational purposes.
  • Effective date: the act would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Municipalities that currently require beach tags, admission passes, or similar fees to access beach areas. They would be barred from imposing such charges on people entering the wet sandy area below the mean high tide line for recreation.
  • Recreational users of the shoreline (surfers, anglers, swimmers, waders and similar users) who use the wet sandy beach below the mean high tide line.
  • Potentially local beach-management budgets that rely on tag revenue tied to shoreline users; the bill does not address other charges (e.g., parking, boardwalk access, facilities) or private property rights.

Limits and clarifications

  • The prohibition applies specifically to the wet sandy beach below the mean high tide line; it does not explicitly prohibit municipalities from charging for use of dry-sand beach areas, boardwalks, parking, concessions, or non-recreational uses.
  • The bill addresses municipal requirements; it does not purport to change private property rights or state-level shore management beyond Title 40 supplementation.
  • The measure applies to access “for recreational purposes” — enforcement and precise legal definitions (e.g., of mean high tide line, “recreational purpose”) could be relevant in implementation.

Legislative status & timeline

  • Introduced in the Assembly: September 19, 2024.
  • Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee.
  • Reported out of committee with amendments: February 13, 2025 (committee amendments broadened coverage).
  • Print number assigned: 4816A (February 26, 2025).
  • Additional referrals recorded to the Assembly Economic Development Committee (February 6 and February 26, 2025) and actions indicating amendment and recommitment.
  • If enacted, the law would take effect immediately.

Sponsors & related bills

  • Document sponsors include Assemblywoman Margie Donlon (District 11). Legislative metadata lists Kwani O’Pharrow as a primary sponsor. (Record shows co-sponsor Assemblyman Torrissi.)
  • Related/companion legislation: S4158 and S5429 (Senate), prior-session analogues A2984 and A9822.

Potential impacts (policy considerations)

  • Could reduce local revenue collected via beach tags for persons who go directly to the wet-sand shore for recreation.
  • May require municipal adjustments to how lifeguard, maintenance, and beach-operations costs are funded.
  • Supports public access to the foreshore area traditionally associated with public trust and tidal boundaries; may prompt legal and administrative clarifications about feeable areas and enforcement.

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

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