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Bill

S 2299

Creates Highlands Conservation Trust to preserve land in Highlands Region, and authorizes Highlands conservation license plate to raise revenue therefor.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by John McKeon

New Jersey bill establishes Highlands Conservation Trust funded by specialty license plate sales to preserve land in environmentally sensitive Highlands Region.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee
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Bill Summary · S 2299

Legislative bill overview

S 2299 establishes a Highlands Conservation Trust in New Jersey designed to acquire and preserve land within the Highlands Region. The bill also authorizes the creation of a specialized conservation license plate, with revenues generated from plate sales dedicated to funding the trust's land preservation activities.

Why is this important

The Highlands Region spans approximately 860,000 acres across northern New Jersey and provides critical ecosystem services including water supply for millions of residents, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. This bill creates a dedicated funding mechanism and institutional framework to protect remaining undeveloped land in this environmentally sensitive area from development pressures.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding mechanism limitations: License plate revenue may be insufficient for significant land acquisition; critics may argue dedicated general fund appropriations or bonds are needed for meaningful conservation impact
  • Land acquisition scope and priorities: Disagreement over which properties the trust should prioritize, potential conflicts between agricultural landowners, developers, and conservation advocates regarding buyout programs
  • Government efficiency concerns: Questions about whether a new trust entity is necessary versus leveraging existing conservation programs and whether administrative costs will reduce actual land protection spending

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

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