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Bill

A 3477

Establishes fund in DEP for Blue Acres acquisition and relocation projects; appropriates $25 million.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Danielsen and 6 co-sponsors

New Jersey bill creates $25M fund within DEP to acquire flood-prone properties and relocate homeowners through the Blue Acres program, addressing climate adaptation and repetitive flood damage.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee
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Bill Summary · A 3477

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 3477 creates a dedicated fund within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to finance the Blue Acres program, which acquires flood-prone properties and assists owners in relocating. The bill appropriates $25 million in initial funding for these acquisition and relocation projects.

Why is this important

As climate change increases flooding frequency and severity, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas, managing flood risk through voluntary property acquisition and relocation has become a critical infrastructure adaptation strategy. The Blue Acres program directly addresses repetitive flood damage by removing at-risk properties from the development cycle, reducing future disaster recovery costs and protecting residents from repeated losses.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding sustainability: $25 million is a one-time appropriation that may prove insufficient given New Jersey's extensive flood-prone areas; questions about long-term funding mechanisms and whether this represents adequate state commitment
  • Participant equity and fairness: Concerns about property valuation methods, whether compensation fairly reflects market value or creates resentment among non-participating neighbors, and potential disparities in how different communities benefit
  • Land use and tax base: Removing properties from the tax rolls and converting land to open space may affect municipal revenues and economic development priorities, particularly in lower-income communities reliant on property tax bases

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

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