Requires DEP to establish resident-only priority registration period for sale of permits at Island Beach State Park before opening sales to non-residents.

A4779

ASSEMBLY, No. 4779

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblyman� KEVIN P. EGAN

District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)

Assemblyman� PAUL KANITRA

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires DEP to establish resident-only priority
registration period for sale of permits at Island Beach State Park before
opening sales to non-residents.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning registration� for certain State park permits
and supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this act:

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

���� �Eligible permit� means any
annual, seasonal, or short-term mobile sport fishing vehicle permit,
beach-driving permit, or other motor-vehicle access permit issued by the
department for use at Island Beach State Park.

���� �Priority registration period�
means the time period established by the department during which only residents
may apply for or purchase eligible permits.

���� �Resident� means a person
legally domiciled within the State of New Jersey for a minimum period of six
months.

���� b.� The department shall
establish, for each permit issuance cycle for Island Beach State Park, a
priority registration period during which only residents may apply for or
purchase eligible permits.

���� c.� The department shall
determine a reasonable length and start date for the priority registration
period.

���� d.� During the priority
registration period, the department shall:

���� (1) restrict access to online
and in-person eligible permit application systems exclusively to residents;

���� (2) require proof of residency
at the time of application or purchase, in the form of a New Jersey driver�s
license or other State-issued identification; and

���� (3) deny, defer, cancel, or
void any application submitted by a non-resident during the priority
registration period.

���� e.� Upon conclusion of the
priority registration period, any remaining eligible permits shall be made
available to non-residents under the same procedures used by the department for
general permit sales.

���� 2.��� The Commissioner of
Environmental Protection shall, in accordance with the "Administrative
Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and
regulations as necessary to implement this act.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill would require the
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a priority
registration period during which only New Jersey residents may apply for or
purchase certain Island Beach State Park motor-vehicle access permits,
including mobile sport fishing and beach-driving permits.

���� During the priority
registration period for eligible permits, the DEP would be required to restrict
permit application systems exclusively to State residents and verify residency
through a New Jersey driver�s license or other State-issued identification.�
Any applications submitted by non-residents during this period would be denied,
deferred or voided.� After the priority registration period ends, any remaining
permits are to be made available to non-residents under existing permit
application procedures.