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Bill

S 4893

Relates to school safety measures

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 3 co-sponsors

Shifts 3 sportsmen seats to 3 animal-welfare reps on the 11-member Fish and Game Council, broadening wildlife policy input while keeping farmer seats and the council's mandate.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · S 4893

S 4893 — Summary

Note: The title of the bill references school safety measures, but the introduced text provided for S 4893 concerns changes to the membership of the Fish and Game Council within the Division of Fish and Wildlife. This summary reflects the introduced content as written.

Purpose and intent

  • To revise the composition of the Fish and Game Council (11 members) without changing the council’s size or overall mandate.
  • The bill shifts the balance among certain seat categories to incorporate more animal welfare representation alongside sportsmen.

Key provisions

  • The Fish and Game Council remains within the Division of Fish and Wildlife and continues to have 11 members.
  • Appointment process unchanged: members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
  • Membership composition changes:
    • Replaces three of the six sportsmen seats with three seats for individuals recommended by animal welfare organizations in New Jersey.
    • Maintains three farmer representatives.
    • Maintains one member who is the chair of the Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee (or equivalent reference).
    • Maintains one member who is knowledgeable in land use management and soil conservation practices.
  • Geographic representation remains, with specified counties for farmer, sportsman, and animal welfare seats:
    • Counties including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren
    • Counties including Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Union
    • Counties including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem
  • Definitions:
    • “Animal welfare organization” means a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization primarily focused on animal welfare, protection, humane treatment, or advocacy.
  • Terms: Each council member serves a four-year term and continues until their successor is appointed and qualified.

Impacted parties

  • Stakeholders who previously held seats as sportsmen representatives (three seats) will now be complemented by three animal welfare representatives.
  • Farmers remain represented (three seats).
  • The council’s advisory mix may broaden perspectives on wildlife conservation and animal welfare in policy discussions and decisions.

Procedural and timing details

  • Status: Referred to Education
  • Introduced: November 20, 2025
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment
  • Legislative actions listed: Referred to Education (multiple entries in 2025), with introduction in Senate noted under a different committee context (Senate Economic Growth Committee)

Related legislation

  • Companion and related bills noted: A 6055 (companion), A 6733 (companion), and several prior-session/S bills (e.g., S 8381, S 1330, S 4286, S 6148).

Summary of potential effects

  • Governance: Potential shift in policy emphasis toward animal welfare considerations within fish and wildlife stewardship.
  • Representation: Broader range of stakeholder input while maintaining overall council size, possibly affecting resource allocation and regulatory priorities.
  • Implementation: Requires coordination with existing Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee and land-use expertise representation.

If you’d like, I can add a side-by-side comparison of the current council composition vs. the proposed composition for quick reference.

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

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