This bill amends the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) to establish clear procedures for identifying and preserving abandoned cemeteries. It introduces a definition for "abandoned cemetery," which refers to burial sites not owned by public agencies or religious organizations, where fewer than 10 percent of interments occurred after 1971. The bill modifies existing language to clarify the act's context and mandates that municipal master plans include the locations of these cemeteries, even if they lack visible markers. This ensures that abandoned cemeteries are recognized in municipal planning and development processes.

Additionally, the bill places the responsibility for the protection and perpetual care of identified abandoned cemeteries on municipalities. It allows them to use funds from the "Municipal Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund" or other lawful sources for this purpose, while prohibiting the imposition of additional fees for cemetery care. The overall aim of the bill is to enhance the preservation of New Jersey's historical resources, particularly those related to the state's significant role during the American Revolutionary War.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40:55D-3, 40:55D28, 40:55D-32, 40:55D44