S3974 • 2026

Prohibits municipalities from enacting or enforcing certain ordinances that prohibit certain lawful fish, game, wild bird, and animal activities.

Energy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Space, Parker
Last action: 2026-03-19
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.

Prohibits municipalities from enacting or enforcing certain ordinances that prohibit certain lawful fish, game, wild bird, and animal activities.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits municipalities from enacting or enforcing certain ordinances that prohibit certain lawful fish, game, wild bird, and animal activities.
Topic: Environment and Energy 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

2026-03-19 New Jersey Legislature
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee

Official Summary Text

Prohibits municipalities from enacting or enforcing certain ordinances that prohibit certain lawful fish, game, wild bird, and animal activities.
Topic:
Environment and Energy
Fiscal note:
This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S3974

SENATE, No. 3974

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� PARKER SPACE

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

SYNOPSIS

���� Prohibits municipalities from enacting or enforcing
certain ordinances that prohibit certain lawful fish, game, wild bird, and
animal activities.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning the enactment and enforcement of
municipal ordinances regarding fish, game, wild birds, and animal activities
and supplementing Title 23 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no municipality
shall enact or enforce any ordinance that expressly prohibits or has the effect
of prohibiting any activity authorized pursuant to Title 23 of the Revised Statutes
that takes place on private property or any land not owned or leased by the
municipality.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill would prohibit
municipalities from enacting or enforcing any ordinances that expressly
prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting any activity authorized pursuant to
Title 23 of the Revised Statutes that takes place on private property or any land
not owned or leased by the municipality.� Title 23 of the Revised Statutes
pertains to fish and game, wild birds, and animals. Specifically, Title 23
includes provisions of law related to hunting, fishing, and wildlife
conservation.