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Bill

S 3254

Prohibits expenditure of Green Acres funds for purchase, use, installation, or replacement of artificial turf fields.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Greenstein and 1 co-sponsor

The bill bans using Green Acres funds to purchase, install, replace, or use artificial turf fields.

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
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Bill Summary · S 3254

Summary of New Jersey Bill S 3254 (Session 222)

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill prohibits the use of Green Acres funds to purchase, use, install, or replace artificial turf fields. It is framed as protecting public health and the environment by restricting expenditures on synthetic turf given concerns about chemical exposure, microplastics, PFAS, heat, and related health risks.

Key Provisions

  1. Findings and Declarations

    • The bill lays out several concerns about artificial turf, including:
      • Synthetic turf infill often contains rubberized pellets from used tires and various chemicals (carcinogens, neurotoxicants, endocrine disruptors).
      • Large turf fields contain substantial plastic content (around 500,000 pounds) that can shed microplastics/nanoplastics into runoff.
      • PFAS (forever chemicals) are commonly found in installed turf and may have long-term health effects.
      • Heat risks: surface temperatures on sunny days can be up to 72 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than natural grass, increasing dehydration, heat stress, and potential injuries.
      • Turf may cause abrasions (turf burns); natural grass with organic maintenance is presented as safer.
      • Overall, the bill argues environmental, health, and safety risks outweigh benefits often claimed for synthetic turf.

  2. Funding Prohibition

    • Section 2: Amends or supplements Green Acres law to explicitly prohibit the use of funds deposited in the Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund (and any other Green Acres Fund) for:
      • Purchase
      • Use
      • Installation
      • Replacement of artificial turf fields.

  3. Effective Date

    • Section 3: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Affected Entities and Stakeholders

  • Funding Source Affected: Green Acres funds, including the Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund (and related Green Acres Funds) that are used for land conservation, park development, and related recreation projects.
  • Projects Affected: Any current or prospective projects involving artificial turf fields that rely on Green Acres funding, including school, municipal, county, or state recreation and open-space developments.
  • General Public/Stakeholders: Communities and organizations planning or operating athletic facilities that might prefer artificial turf due to maintenance costs, water-savings claims, or playability considerations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral: Introduced in the Senate on February 2, 2026 and referred to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
  • Sponsor Information: Main sponsor with co-sponsors Linda Greenstein and Raj Mukherji.
  • Next Steps (likely): If advanced, the bill would proceed through committee hearings, potential amendments, and up to floor votes in the Senate and General Assembly, followed by the governor’s consideration. Immediate effective date means any enacted provisions would apply without a delayed phase-in.

Practical Implications

  • Projects funded entirely or in part by Green Acres funds would need alternative funding or approaches that do not involve artificial turf.
  • Local governments, school districts, and state agencies would need to reassess plans for fields previously envisioned to be installed or replaced with synthetic turf if those plans relied on Green Acres funding.
  • The bill does not ban artificial turf outright; it bans the use of designated Green Acres funds for turf-related expenditures, shifting funding strategies toward natural grass or other non-Green Acres-supported options.

Note

  • The bill emphasizes health, environmental, and safety concerns associated with artificial turf and promotes investment in natural grass playing fields funded by non-Green Acres sources.

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

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