This bill mandates the Director of the Division of Housing and Community Resources in the Department of Community Affairs to establish a sandbag reserve program aimed at assisting local governments in mitigating flooding damage. The program will involve the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of sandbags. To inform the program's implementation, the director, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, is required to conduct a study assessing the prevalence of flooding in the state. This study will analyze various factors, including historical flooding data, geographic information, and environmental changes that may influence flooding likelihood.

Local governments wishing to participate in the program must submit an application detailing the proposed locations for sandbag placement, the quantity of sandbags requested, and relevant historical flooding information. The director will prioritize sandbag distribution based on the findings of the flooding study and the applications received. Additionally, within one year of the program's establishment, the director must report to the Governor and the Legislature on the program's implementation and its effectiveness in mitigating flooding. Annually, the Department of Community Affairs will also include information regarding the program's needs in its budget requests.