TRENTON, N.J. – A new proposal before the New Jersey Legislature seeks to establish a permanent funding stream dedicated to restoring and preserving the Barnegat Bay estuary and its watershed, one of the state’s most sensitive and studied coastal ecosystems.
The measure, titled the “Barnegat Bay Protection Act,” would create the Barnegat Bay Protection Fund, a special, non-lapsing account within the Department of the Treasury. The fund would receive revenue from several sources, including one percent of the state sales tax collected on fertilizer sales, proceeds from the sale of new Protect Barnegat Bay specialty license plates, and voluntary donations collected through various channels such as boat registrations, personal watercraft licenses, and beach badge purchases across New Jersey.
Money deposited into the fund would be used exclusively for the preservation, protection, and remediation of the Barnegat Bay estuary watershed. Allowable uses could include restoration projects, pollution mitigation, and public education campaigns designed to raise awareness about the ecological importance of the bay and the measures needed to sustain it.
Under the bill, the State Treasurer—working in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection—would oversee the fund’s expenditures and submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing revenue and spending. The legislation also authorizes the state to accept donations or bequests from individuals, businesses, or organizations seeking to support bay protection efforts.
The bill’s license plate provision would enable New Jersey drivers to show support for Barnegat Bay restoration. The design, to be chosen by the Motor Vehicle Commission in coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection, would carry a $50 initial fee and a $10 annual renewal surcharge, both directed to the protection fund.
In addition, municipalities that sell beach badges or tags would be permitted to offer beachgoers the option to contribute to the fund at the time of purchase. Those who choose not to donate would not be denied a badge or tag.
Sponsors of the legislation said the initiative is intended to create a sustainable, statewide mechanism to finance the long-term health of Barnegat Bay through public participation and dedicated environmental funding.
A proposed “Barnegat Bay Protection Act” would establish a dedicated fund supported by license plates, fertilizer taxes, and donations to restore and preserve the iconic coastal estuary.