The bill amends existing legislation to enhance funding prioritization for land acquisition and environmental infrastructure projects, particularly those that incorporate flood mitigation strategies. It establishes the Office of Green Acres within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which will be responsible for administering funding and evaluating project applications. A key provision of the bill mandates that the Office prioritize Blue Acres projects that facilitate onsite flood mitigation when assessing applications for constitutionally dedicated funding.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the criteria for the clean water and drinking water project priority lists, requiring the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to assign additional priority points to projects that include flood mitigation components and employ local residents. This change aims to ensure that funding is directed towards initiatives that improve water quality and supply while also enhancing flood resilience and supporting local economic development. Additionally, the bill requires the trust to submit an annual report detailing financed water supply projects, and it is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13:8C-24, 58:11B-20, 58:11B-20.1