Establishes "Clean Oceanfronts, Amusements, Safety, and Tourism Act" and appropriates $2.5 million.

A4902

ASSEMBLY, No. 4902

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� MAUREEN ROWAN

District 2 (Atlantic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes �Clean Oceanfronts, Amusements, Safety,
and Tourism Act� and appropriates $2.5 million.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

establishing the �Clean Oceanfronts, Amusements,
Safety, and Tourism Act� to promote public safety, environmental stewardship,
tourism, and hospitality along New Jersey's coastal regions in preparation for
the 2026 FIFA World Cup by creating the �COAST Fund�, supplementing Title 13 of
the Revised Statutes, and appropriates $2.5 million.�

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

���� 1.��� This act shall be known
and may be cited as the �Clean Oceanfronts, Amusements, Safety, and Tourism
Act� or the �COAST Act.�

���� 2.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that:

���� a.� The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to
be hosted in part in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium, is projected to attract
over one million visitors to this State, which in turn is estimated to generate
$3 billion in revenue through tourism, hospitality, and other related activities.

���� b.� New Jersey�s beaches,
boardwalks, and oceanfronts in coastal areas within Atlantic County, Cape May
County, Monmouth County, and Ocean County serve as vital attractions for
residents and visitors by offering amusements, dining, and recreational
opportunities which directly supports local economies.

���� c.� The anticipated influx of
domestic and international tourists necessitates enhanced measures to ensure
public safety, protect the coast, and create a welcoming, family friendly
atmosphere to maximize economic benefits and preserve the natural beauty of the
Jersey Shore.

���� d.� The enhanced measures also
advance core values of public safety, environmental conservation, aesthetic
preservation, tourism promotion, hospitality industry growth, job creation in
coastal communities, and family-oriented recreation.

���� e.� A targeted public
awareness campaign, including bilingual signage, educational resources, and
support for lifeguards, can reinforce existing laws, promote responsible
behavior, and position New Jersey as a premier, sustainable destination.

���� 3.��� As used in this act:

���� �Bilingual signs� or
�bilingual signage� means signs with verbiage written in both English and
Spanish.

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

���� �Eligible coastal
municipality� means a municipality located in Atlantic County, Cape May County,
Monmouth County, or Ocean County that has publicly accessible beaches or
boardwalks directly adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.

���� �World Cup� means the 2026
FIFA World Cup soccer tournament.

���� 4.��� a.� There is established
in the Department of the Treasury a special, non-lapsing fun to be known as the
�COAST Fund.� Monies from the �COAST Fund� shall solely be dedicated to the
public awareness campaign described in section 5 of this act.�

���� 5.��� a.� The Commissioner of
Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Division of Travel and
Tourism in the Department of State and the Department of Health shall establish
a public awareness campaign to enhance beach safety, environmental protection,
tourism promotion, and hospitality in eligible coastal municipalities in
anticipation of the World Cup.

���� b.��� The public awareness
campaign shall include, but not be limited to, the following:�

���� (1) �the promotion of beach safety
by posting bilingual signage to remind visitors of safe swim practices, water
safety tips, and emergency procedures and the provision of lifeguard support by
allocating additional resources to hire and train more lifeguards during peak
tourist season;

���� (2) �the promotion of
environmental protection and the cleanliness of local beaches by posting bilingual
signage reminding visitors of smoking prohibitions under the �New Jersey
Smoke-Free Air Act�, P.L. 2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.), bilingual signage banning
the smoking of cannabis on beaches and other public places including boardwalks
under the �New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and
Marketplace Modernization Act�, P.L. 2021, c.16 (C. 24:6I-31 et seq.), and
anti-littering bilingual signage;

���� (3)� the promotion of tourism by
creating a welcoming environment and posting bilingual signage welcoming
visitors at major beach and amusement access points and initiating digital and
print campaigns to link the Jersey Shore to World Cup events to encourage
exploration of local businesses and boost local economic activity;�

���� (4) �a focus on hospitality
and family-friendly activities by promoting inclusive, accessible experiences
and partnering with local chambers of commerce to highlight hospitality
offerings; and�

���� (5) �an emphasis on public health
and community engagement by promoting awareness of sun safety, hydration and
crowd management, utilizing community outreach programs to involve residents in
stewardship efforts, and fostering a sense of pride to ensure long-term
benefits beyond the World Cup.��

���� c.���� The department shall seek
partnerships with private entities, nonprofit organizations, and tourism grants
to supplement funds from the �COAST Fund� to maximize impact.� These
supplemental funds shall be deposited into the �COAST Fund� and used to carry
out the objectives of the public awareness campaign pursuant to subsection b.
of this section. ��

���� d.��� The department submit
annual reports to the Governor and Legislature pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), evaluating the effectiveness of the public
awareness campaign through metrics such as visitor surveys, litter reduction
rates, incident reports, and tourism revenue data.� The department shall submit
the first report no later than one year after the World Cup with subsequent
reports following annually from that first submission date.�

���� 6.��� The sum of $2,500,000 is
appropriated to the �COAST Fund� for the department to carry out the purposes
of this act as described in subsection b. of section 5 of this act.� Any
unexpended balances at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse but shall be
carried forward for the same purposes.� At the expiration of this act, all
unexpended funds from the �COAST Fund� shall revert to the General Fund.

���� 7.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall expire two years after the conclusion of the World
Cup.� The campaigns and any installed resources may continue as deemed
necessary by the department.�

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the �Clean
Oceanfronts, Amusements, Safety and Tourism Act� to prepare New Jersey's
coastal regions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.� The �COAST Fund� established
under this act is appropriated $2,500,000.� The funds shall be used for public
awareness campaign focused on beach safety, environmental protection, tourism
promotion, and hospitality. �The campaign targets coastal municipalities in
Atlantic County, Cape May County, Monmouth County, and Ocean County with
beaches or boardwalks. �By emphasizing bipartisan priorities such as public
safety, ecological preservation, economic growth through tourism and jobs, and
family-friendly environments, the bill aims to ensure a welcoming, sustainable
Jersey Shore that benefits residents and visitors alike, yielding long-term
returns on investment.