The bill establishes an exemption to the current prohibition on the importation of woodchucks into New Jersey, allowing for the importation of a woodchuck to replace a deceased groundhog for Groundhog Day celebrations in counties or municipalities. This exemption applies only when efforts have been made to source a replacement woodchuck from within the state or from a state where a variant of rabies other than raccoon rabies is not endemic.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Division of Fish and Wildlife notify all counties and municipalities about this exemption, provide guidelines for the replacement process, and establish procedures for relocating a woodchuck from within the state or authorizing its importation if necessary. The division is also tasked with setting requirements for the proper housing and handling of the woodchuck in the custody of the respective county or municipality.