Establishes Watershed Council in DEP.

A4380

ASSEMBLY, No. 4380

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes Watershed Council in DEP.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing a Watershed Council in the Department of
Environmental Protection and supplementing Title 58 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� a.� There is established
a Watershed Council in the Department of Environmental Protection.� The purpose
of the council shall be to analyze flooding and other environmental issues
affecting the State�s watersheds.� The council shall assess the effectiveness
and efficiency of the department�s Watershed and Land Management programs for planning,
permitting, mitigation, and restoration of impacts to New Jersey�s watersheds,
analyze the programs� effectiveness in preserving plant and animal life,
protecting residents from flooding risks, managing stormwater runoff,
preserving and enhancing water quality, and make recommendations.�

���� b.� The council shall consist
of 21 members to be appointed by the Governor in consultation with The
Watershed Institute and other State-wide and regional watershed and
environmental groups, no later than 60 days after the effective date of this
act.� Each of the members shall represent the watershed management area in
which the member resides, thereby representing each of the 21 watershed
management areas in the State.� The members appointed pursuant to this act
shall have, to the maximum extent practicable, expertise, knowledge, or
experience in environmental issues, flood matters, or land use.

���� c.� Each member shall serve
for a term of three years, except that, of the members first appointed, seven
shall be appointed for a one-year term, seven shall be appointed for a two year
term, and seven shall be appointed for a three year term.� Vacancies on the
council shall be filled for the unexpired terms in the same manner as original
appointments.� Members of the council shall be eligible for reappointment to
the council.

���� d.� The council shall organize
as soon as practicable following the appointment of a majority of its members
and shall select a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members. �The
council shall meet, at the call of the chairperson, on at least a quarterly
basis thereafter.� A majority of the voting members of the council shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of council business.

���� e.� The Department of
Environmental Protection shall provide primary staff support to the council.

���� f.� Within 12 months of the
council�s organizational meeting, and at least annually thereafter, the council
shall prepare and submit a written report to the Commissioner of Environmental
Protection, the Governor, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164
(C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, summarizing its work in the prior year,
which report may include recommendations for legislative or regulatory action,
to improve, promote, and protect the health and well-being of the State�s
residents, and to improve and increase the preservation of water quality, and
plant and animal life.

���� g.� The council shall be
entitled to the assistance and service of the employees of any State, county,
or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or agency as it
may require and as may be available for its purposes.

���� h.� Members of the council
shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary and
reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of
the council, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available
to the council for its purposes.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes a
Watershed Council within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).� The
purpose of the council is to analyze flooding and other environmental issues
affecting the State�s watersheds.� The council is directed to assess the effectiveness
and efficiency of the DEP�s programs for planning, permitting, mitigation, and
restoration of impacts to New Jersey�s watersheds, analyze the programs�
effectiveness in preserving plant and animal life, protecting residents for
flooding risks, preserving and enhancing water quality, and managing stormwater
runoff, and make recommendations.� Under the bill, the council is to consist of
21 members, each member representing one of the State�s watershed management
areas, with expertise in environmental issues, flooding, or land use.� The
Governor, in consultation with the Watershed Institute and other state-wide
environmental groups, is required to appoint each of the members for a term of
three years, with the exception of the initial members who are to have
staggered terms.� Within 12 months of the council�s organizational meeting, and
annually thereafter, the council is required to prepare and submit a report to
the DEP commissioner, the Governor, and the Legislature with recommendations
for legislative or regulatory action, to improve, promote, and protect the
health and well-being of the State�s residents, and to improve and increase the
preservation of water quality, and plant and animal life.