This bill mandates the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop and implement an artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to predict and map flood risks across the state. The tool will leverage satellite imagery, historical and projected rainfall data, and climate models to identify high-risk flood zones at a granular level, such as blocks or neighborhoods. Additionally, it will incorporate various data sources, including river height monitoring devices and meteorological sensors, to enhance its accuracy. The DEP is required to make this AI tool accessible to municipalities, county planning agencies, emergency management officials, and the public, while also ensuring ongoing updates and performance improvements through continuous data collection.

To facilitate the development and deployment of the AI tool, the bill allows the DEP to enter into agreements with public and private entities, including educational institutions, through a competitive bidding process. It also establishes a grant program to fund contributions of technical expertise, data, or infrastructure relevant to the AI tool, with all agreements and awards needing to be publicly disclosed. Furthermore, the DEP is authorized to adopt necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this act, aiming to enhance the state's capacity to predict and mitigate flood risks using advanced technology and collaborative efforts.