Bill
S 742
Reappropriates leftover 1989 bridge bond funds to DOT to finance emergency and routine bridge rehabilitation and repairs for state, county, and municipal structures, with redistrib
Note on source materials
- The Bill Information header you provided (title: “Relates to coverage for prenatal vitamins”) does not match the text and committee reports included below. The legislative documents supplied concern reappropriation of unexpended bond funds for bridge rehabilitation and related transportation work in New Jersey. The summary below is based on the actual statute text and legislative reports provided (an act reappropriating unexpended funds from the New Jersey Bridge Rehabilitation and Improvement and Railroad Right‑of‑way Preservation Bond Act of 1989).
Summary — S-742 (reappropriation of 1989 bond funds for bridge repairs)
- Purpose: Reappropriate remaining unexpended funds from the New Jersey Bridge Rehabilitation and Improvement and Railroad Right‑of‑way Preservation Bond Act of 1989 (P.L.1989, c.180) to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) to pay for bridge rehabilitation, improvement, inspection, and repair — with an emphasis on emergency repairs — and to redistribute unspent funds to counties if not used within a defined period.
Key provisions
- Source of funds: Any remaining unexpended funds from the 1989 Bond Act that were previously appropriated under section 2 of P.L.1991, c.271, and those appropriated under section 3 of P.L.1991, c.271 and section 2 of P.L.2000, c.11, are reappropriated to DOT.
- Uses (two categories):
- State‑owned/State‑highway bridges: Reappropriated funds may be used to offset costs (eligible under P.L.1989, c.180) for rehabilitation, improvement, inspection, and repair of bridges carrying State highways and bridges owned or maintained by the State; DOT may allocate funds for emergency repairs in various counties at the Commissioner of Transportation’s discretion.
- County/municipal bridges: Reappropriated funds may be used for similar rehabilitation, inspection, improvement, and repair of bridges on county and municipal roads; allocation for emergency repairs in counties and municipalities is at the Commissioner’s discretion.
- Redistribution rule: Any funds under the county/municipal allocation that are not expended or obligated within two years of the act’s effective date must be consolidated into a single account and redistributed to each county on a formula basis to be established by DOT. Funds not yet obligated but required to complete a project under development are nevertheless subject to consolidation and redistribution.
- Administration: DOT administers the reappropriated funds and applies existing eligibility and use rules under the 1989 Bond Act. The Commissioner of Transportation has discretion over emergency allocations.
- Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Who is affected
- New Jersey Department of Transportation — receives authority to administer reappropriated funds.
- State agencies responsible for State‑owned bridges and highways — may receive emergency funding for bridge work.
- Counties and municipalities — may receive redistributed funds for county/municipal bridge projects under DOT’s formula if funds remain unspent after two years.
- Projects and contractors involved in bridge rehabilitation, inspection and emergency repair work may see additional funding opportunities.
Procedural/timeline notes and fiscal impact
- Legislative action: The bill was reported favorably by multiple committees and enacted. (Documented approval appears as P.L.2025, c.42; the act states it takes effect immediately.)
- Two‑year timeline for consolidation/redistribution: funds in the county/municipal account not expended or obligated within two years must be consolidated and redistributed.
- Fiscal note: Committee reports state the bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note; the measure reuses existing bond proceeds rather than authorizing new spending or bond issuance.
Context and effect
- This law repurposes leftover bond proceeds from a 1989 transportation bond program to accelerate and fund bridge rehabilitation and emergency repairs across State, county, and municipal systems while establishing a back‑stop redistribution to counties if funds are unused. It centralizes DOT administration and gives the Commissioner discretion to target emergency needs.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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