Establishes grant program in Department of State for preservation of certain Revolutionary War sites; appropriates funds.

S4376

SENATE, No. 4376

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 1, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

Senator� JAMES BEACH

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Diegnan

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes grant program in Department of State for
preservation of certain Revolutionary War sites; appropriates funds.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing a grant program in the Department of State
for the preservation, extension, and management of certain Revolutionary War
sites, and making an appropriation.

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

���� 1.��� a.� The Department of
State shall establish a program to provide grants to local government units and
qualifying tax exempt not for profit entities to support the preservation,
extension, and management of Revolutionary War Battlefields, encampments, and
skirmish sites in New Jersey that are endangered due to development.

���� b.� In establishing the grant
program pursuant to this section, the department shall:

���� (1)� develop guidelines and
procedures for submission of grant applications, and criteria for the
evaluation of such applications;

���� (2)� establish terms and
conditions for the awarding of a grant under this section, and monitor grant
recipients� compliance with the terms and conditions; and

���� (3)� require the recipient of
a grant to report to the department information relating to its use of grant
funds under the program.

���� c.� Grants shall be awarded on
a competitive basis based upon the following criteria:

���� (1)� submission of specific
plans and objectives for the preservation, expansion, or management of the
Revolutionary War Battlefield, encampment, or skirmish site, including a
statement of public benefit and the need for the work proposed; and

���� (2)� demonstration by the
applicant of administrative capabilities to carry out the proposed plans
required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.

���� d.� (1)� Within 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this act, and not withstanding the provisions of
the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the
contrary, the Department of State shall adopt, immediately upon filing proper
notice with the Office of Administrative Law, the rules and regulations
prepared by the department necessary to establish and implement the grant
program.

���� (2)� The rules and regulations
adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be in effect for a
period not to exceed one year after the date of the filing.� These rules and
regulations shall thereafter be adopted, amended, or readopted by the
Department of State in accordance with the requirements of the �Administrative
Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

���� 2.� There is appropriated
$50,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of State to implement the
provisions of section 1 of P.L.� , c. (C.� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this act).

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill would require the
Department of State to establish a program to provide grants to local
government units and qualifying tax exempt not for profit entities to support
the preservation, expansion, and management of Revolutionary War Battlefields,
encampments, and skirmish sites in New Jersey that are endangered due to
development.� Under the bill, the department is to develop criteria for
evaluating applications and award grants to applicants who submit specific
plans and objectives for the preservation, expansion, or management of
Revolutionary War Battlefields, encampments, or skirmish sites in New Jersey
that are endangered due to development.�

���� The bill also appropriates $50
million from the General Fund to the Department of State to implement the
provisions of the bill.

���� According to the United
States� National Park Service, New Jersey hosted more battles and skirmishes
during the American Revolution than any of the other 13 original states.� New
Jersey�s Revolutionary War heritage is a source of pride for its residents and
the nation. The State�s Revolutionary War Era battlefields, encampments, and
skirmish sites deserve every protection possible so that future generations may
continue to celebrate and gain inspiration from our history.