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CA

Bill

S 4812

Requires DCA to resume Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation program with remaining funds for unmet recovery and rebuilding needs for Superstorm Sandy-impacted homeowners.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Carmen Amato and 1 co-sponsor

New Jersey bill reactivates Sandy disaster recovery funding program to assist homeowners with unfinished rebuilding, elevation, and mitigation needs over a decade later.

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
#disasters
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4812

Legislative bill overview

S 4812 directs New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to restart the DREAM (Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation) program using remaining funds to assist homeowners still recovering from Superstorm Sandy's devastation in 2012. The bill addresses unmet recovery and rebuilding needs for eligible residents who may not have received full assistance through previous program iterations.

Why is this important

Superstorm Sandy caused approximately $70 billion in damage across the Northeast, with thousands of New Jersey homeowners still facing long-term recovery challenges more than a decade later. Reactivating this program could provide critical financial assistance for home repairs, elevation projects, and mitigation measures for vulnerable residents who may have fallen through gaps in prior relief efforts.

Potential points of contention

  • Statute of limitations concerns: Nearly 13 years post-disaster raises questions about program eligibility criteria, documentation preservation, and whether funds should be redirected to newer disaster relief needs
  • Funding allocation and scope: Ambiguity about what "remaining funds" constitute and how to prioritize claims among potentially thousands of unmet needs without clear caps or benefit limits
  • Administrative feasibility: Restarting an inactive program requires significant DCA resources, staffing, and infrastructure while other state priorities compete for budget attention

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

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