TRENTON, N.J. – A New Jersey Senate panel has advanced legislation that would give shore towns the option to waive or reduce beach badge fees for teenagers and all honorably discharged veterans, expanding who can receive discounted access to the state’s beaches.
The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee voted February 5 to approve Senate Bill 1533, which allows municipalities, by ordinance, to charge no fee or a reduced beach fee for children aged 12 to 17. Current law already permits towns to exempt younger children, but the new measure extends that discretion to older teens, a group that often pays full price for access despite limited income.
The bill would also broaden eligibility for veterans’ beach fee discounts. Under existing law, only veterans who served at least 90 days of active duty or were discharged due to a service-connected injury or disability qualified for free or reduced-rate beach badges. The new proposal removes those restrictions, allowing all honorably discharged veterans, regardless of length of service or disability status, to receive the benefit if their municipality adopts such an ordinance.
Expanding local flexibility on beach access
Supporters say the measure gives municipalities greater flexibility to support local families and recognize veterans’ service without mandating statewide fee changes. Each town could choose whether to offer the discounts and determine the level of reduction.
Lawmakers noted that the change would also streamline enforcement at local beach checkpoints by eliminating the need to verify veterans’ service duration or disability records.
Broader effort to make the Jersey Shore more accessible
The proposal reflects a growing effort among legislators to make the Jersey Shore more affordable and accessible to residents, particularly families and veterans. Many coastal municipalities have independently introduced reduced-fee programs in recent years, but current law limited how widely they could apply.
Senate Bill 1533 was prefiled for the 2026–2027 session, and technical revisions were completed before the committee’s approval. The measure now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
If enacted, the bill would take effect immediately, granting towns the authority to implement the expanded fee exemptions ahead of the 2026 summer season.
