Extends initial and renewal terms of certain property agreements between local governments and nonprofit organizations for recreation and conservation purposes.

A4046

ASSEMBLY, No. 4046

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Extends initial and renewal terms of certain property
agreements between local governments and nonprofit organizations for recreation
and conservation purposes.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning the
lease of municipal land for recreation and conservation purposes and
supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� a.� As defined in this
section:

���� �Acquire� means the same as
that term is defined in section 1 of P.L.1997, c.24 (C.40:12-15.1).

���� �Charitable conservancy� means
the same as that term is defined in section 1 of P.L.1997, c.24 (C.40:12-15.1).

���� �Department� means the
Department of Environmental Protection.

���� �Local government unit� means
a municipality, county, or other political subdivision of the State.

���� �Recreation and conservation
purposes� means the same as that term is defined in section 1 of P.L.1997, c.24
(C.40:12-15.1).

���� b.� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, any lease or
agreement that a local government unit enters into with a charitable
conservancy or other tax exempt nonprofit organization to acquire and hold, on
behalf of the local government unit, real property, or any interest therein,
for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2005,
c.108 (C.40:12-15.10) shall have an initial term of no more than seven years,
except as provided in subsections d. and e. of this section.

���� c. �Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, if a local
government unit, with approval from the department, opts to renew a lease or
agreement entered into pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the renewal
term shall be no more than seven years, except as provided in subsections d. and
e. of this section.

���� d.� Any lease or agreement
entered into pursuant to subsection b. of this section or renewed pursuant to
subsection c. of this section may be provided a longer initial lease term or
renewal term of less than 25 years if good cause is provided in accordance with
N.J.A.C. 7:36-25.13, or any successor regulation adopted by the department.

���� e.� Any lease or agreement
entered into pursuant to subsection b. of this section or renewed pursuant to
subsection c. of this section may be provided a longer initial lease term or
renewal term of 25 years or more if approval is granted by the Commissioner of
Environmental Protection and the State House Commission in accordance with subchapter
26 of chapter 30 of Title 7 of the New Jersey Administrative Code, or any
successor regulation adopted by the department.

���� 2.� This act shall take effect
immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would provide that
any lease or agreement that a local government unit enters into with a
charitable conservancy or other tax exempt nonprofit organization to acquire
and hold, on behalf of the local government unit, real property, or any
interest therein, for recreation and conservation purposes would have an
initial term of no more than seven years.� The bill would also provide that if
a local government unit, with approval from the Department of Environmental
Protection, opts to renew a lease or agreement entered into pursuant to the
bill�s provisions, the renewal term would be no more than seven years.

���� Under current regulations
adopted pursuant to current law, these types of leases are generally provided
an initial term and renewal term of no more than five years.� This bill would
extend the initial and renewal lease terms to seven years.� This bill would
also codify existing regulations that provide that for good cause shown,
initial leases and renewal lease terms may be provided for up to 25 years, and
that with approval from the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the
State House Commission, initial and renewal lease terms may be provided for
greater than 25 years. �