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S309 FISCAL ESTIMATE
LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
SENATE, No. 309
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
DATED: MARCH 5, 2026
SUMMARY
Synopsis:
Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain
State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs.
Type of Impact:
Two-year State expenditure increase.
Agencies Affected:
Department of Environmental Protection.
Fiscal Impact
Two-Year Period Following Enactment�
State Expenditure Increase
$900,000 to $3.6
million
�
The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that this bill
would result in a State expenditure increase between $900,000 and $3.6 million
within two years following enactment for the Department of Environmental
Protection to provide for the construction of public boat access to State- and
county-owned lakes and reservoirs, as well as to identify the lakes and
reservoirs at which it is not feasible to construct public boat access.
BILL DESCRIPTION
����� This bill would require the department to construct,
or cause to be constructed, or enter into long-term contracts with owners of
private marinas to provide for, public boat access to any State-owned or
county-owned lake or reservoir at which boats with or without onboard motors
are allowed.� Any contract entered into with an owner of a private marina would
be subject to a public bidding process.
����� The department would have until two years following
the date of enactment to construct public boat access points, or establish long-term
contracts for construction of public boat access at private marinas. �If the
department is unable to facilitate public boat access, the Commissioner of
Environmental Protection is required to submit a report to the Governor and
Legislature to identify the lakes and reservoirs at which it is not feasible to
construct public boat access and provide reasons therefor.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
����� None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
����� The OLS estimates that this bill would result in a
State expenditure increase between $900,000 and $3.6 million within two years
following enactment for the department to provide for the construction of
public boat access to State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs, as well as
to identify the lakes and reservoirs at which it is not feasible to construct
public boat access.
����� For context, the department�s Division of Fish and
Wildlife accounts for over 400 publicly accessible lakes, ponds, and reservoirs
in the State. �This list does not include privately-owned marinas.� One hundred
and fifty-six of the bodies of water enumerated by the division are State- or
county-owned.� Ninety-nine of these State- or county-owned lakes, ponds, and
reservoirs do not currently provide access to a boat launch or a boat ramp.� Assuming
that all 99 of the State-and county-owned lakes, ponds, and reservoirs without
public boat access allow the use of boats, the cost of building boat access at
all of these would be between $500,000 and $3.0 million.
����� A basic boat ramp may cost between $5,000 and $30,000
depending on ramp size, construction type, and additional features. �Certain
regions with sensitive aquatic species may also be regulated by the department
as a �special area� and may require additional construction permitting or
considerations in advance of installing a public access point.� The department
may experience incidental costs to renovate public access ramps or docks every
several years.
����� The OLS finds that the department may incur additional
staffing costs between $400,000 and $600,000 in order to meet the requirements
of the bill.
Section:
Environment, Agriculture, Energy, and Natural
Resources
Analyst:
Anna Heckler
Assistant Fiscal Analyst
Approved:
Thomas Koenig
Legislative Budget and Finance Officer
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the
Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to
respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980,
c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).