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S3854 • 2026

Requires State parks, forests, State-owned beaches, and MVC offices to remain open to public if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution.

Requires State parks, forests, State-owned beaches, and MVC offices to remain open to public if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution.

Budget
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
2026-03-10
Official status
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation 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 State parks, forests, State-owned beaches, and MVC offices to remain open to public if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution.

Requires State parks, forests, State-owned beaches, and MVC offices to remain open to public if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires State parks, forests, State-owned beaches, and MVC offices to remain open to public if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution.
  • Topic: State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Fiscal note: This bill has not 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. 2026-03-10 New Jersey Legislature

    Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee

Official Summary Text

Requires State parks, forests, State-owned beaches, and MVC offices to remain open to public if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution.
Topic:
State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation
Fiscal note:
This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
S3854

SENATE, No. 3854

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires State parks, forests, State-owned beaches,
and MVC offices to remain open to public if emergency is declared due to
failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
con
cerning the continued operation of certain
State facilities under certain circumstances, and supplementing Titles 13 and
39 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� In the event that a
state of emergency is declared due to the failure to enact a general
appropriation law by the deadline prescribed by Article VIII, Section II,
paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution, the operation of all State parks
and forests and State-owned beaches shall continue and all such locations shall
be open to the public.� During this period, the State shall not charge or
collect fees for parking at State parking areas serving State parks and forests
and State-owned beaches.� All State employees that have been designated as
necessary to provide for the government services at each State park and forest
and State-owned beach area shall be considered essential personnel.

���� 2.��� In the event that a
state of emergency is declared due to the failure to enact a general
appropriation law by the deadline prescribed by Article VIII, Section II,
paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution, the operation of all New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Commission agencies, regional service centers, and inspection
facilities, and the offices of any other State agency that directly support the
operation of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agencies, regional service
centers, or inspection facilities, shall continue and all such locations shall
be open to the public.� All State employees or contracted employees that have
been designated as necessary to provide for the government services at each New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agency, regional service center, inspection
facility, or supporting agency office shall be considered essential personnel.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill would provide that
in the event that a state of emergency is declared due to the failure to enact
a general appropriation law by the deadline prescribed by Article VIII, Section
II, paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution, the operation of all State
parks and forests and State-owned beaches will continue and will be open to the
public.� Under the bill, during this period, the State would be prohibited from
charging or collecting any fees for parking at State parking areas serving
State parks and forests and State-owned beaches.� All State employees that have
been designated as necessary to provide for the government services at each
State park and forest and State-owned beach area would be considered essential
personnel.

���� The bill would also provide
that in the event that a state of emergency is declared due to the failure to
enact a general appropriation law by the constitutionally imposed deadline, the
operation of all New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agencies, regional service
centers, and inspection facilities, and the offices of any other State agency
that directly support the operation of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
agencies, regional service centers, or inspection facilities, would continue
and all such locations would be open to the public.� Under the bill, all State
employees or contracted employees that have been designated as necessary to
provide for the government services at each New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
agency, regional service center, inspection facility, or office or supporting
agency office would be considered essential personnel.