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S3721 • 2026

Requires installation of Type IV flotation devices at certain lakes, ponds, and rivers.

Requires installation of Type IV flotation devices at certain lakes, ponds, and rivers.

Energy
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Bucco, Anthony M.
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Requires installation of Type IV flotation devices at certain lakes, ponds, and rivers.

Requires installation of Type IV flotation devices at certain lakes, ponds, and rivers.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires installation of Type IV flotation devices at certain lakes, ponds, and rivers.
  • Topic: Environment and Energy Fiscal note: This bill has been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 New Jersey Legislature

    Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee

Official Summary Text

Requires installation of Type IV flotation devices at certain lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Topic:
Environment and Energy
Fiscal note:
This bill has been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S3721

SENATE, No. 3721

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires installation of Type IV flotation devices at
certain lakes, ponds, and rivers.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning personal flotation devices, supplementing
P.L.1983, c.324 (C.13:1L-1 et seq.) and Title 40 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.� a.� The department shall
install a Type IV personal flotation device approved for use by the United
States Coast Guard at each lake, pond, or river located in a State park or
forest at which swimming, boating, or ice-skating is permitted.� The flotation
device shall be permanently installed near the water and shall be equipped with
a sign that clearly indicates the presence of the flotation device.

���� b.�
Nothing
in this section shall be deemed to impose any liability upon or to give rise to
a cause of action against the department or any other State agency.

���� 2.� a.�� A county or
municipality shall install a Type IV personal flotation device approved for use
by the United States Coast Guard at each lake, pond, or river located in a park
owned by the county or municipality at which swimming, boating, or ice-skating
is permitted. �The flotation device shall be permanently installed near the
water and shall be equipped with a sign that clearly indicates the presence of
the flotation device.

���� b.�
Nothing
in this section shall be deemed to impose any liability upon or to give rise to
a cause of action against a municipality or county.

���� c.� (1)
A county may use funds from a �County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain
Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund� created pursuant
to subsection c. of section 2 of P.L.1997, c.24 (C.40:12-15.2) in order to
implement the provisions of this section.

���� (2) A
municipality may use funds from a �Municipal Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain
Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund� created pursuant
to subsection c. of section 7 of P.L.1997, c.24 (C.40:12-15.7) in order to
implement the provisions of this section.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill would require the
Department of Environmental Protection, and counties and municipalities, to
install a Type IV personal flotation device at each lake, pond, or river
located in a public park or State forest at which swimming, boating, or
ice-skating is permitted.� The bill would allow counties and municipalities to
draw on funds in their respective �Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain
Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds� in order to pay
for the flotation devices and installation costs.