This bill prohibits municipalities, school districts, and State departments and agencies in New Jersey from purchasing, installing, or using artificial turf for new or existing fields. It allows for the continued use of any artificial turf fields that have already been installed but mandates that they cannot be replaced with artificial turf. The legislation highlights the numerous health and environmental hazards associated with synthetic turf, including harmful chemicals such as carcinogens, neurotoxicants, and endocrine disruptors, as well as microplastics and PFAS, which are known to accumulate in the human body and pose various health risks.

The bill emphasizes that natural grass does not carry the same health and environmental risks as synthetic turf and advocates for the use of organic maintenance practices to mitigate any potential hazards. It argues that despite claims of synthetic turf being cost-effective and low-maintenance, the associated risks significantly outweigh these perceived benefits, urging municipalities and agencies to invest in safe, non-toxic natural grass playing fields instead.