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Bill > A5689

NJ A5689

NJ A5689
Establishes minimum acreage goal and schedule for prescribed burns in pinelands area and Statewide.

summary

Introduced
05/15/2025
In Committee
05/15/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection, within one year of the bill's enactment, to ensure that prescribed burns are conducted annually on certain minimum acreage in the pinelands area, and elsewhere in the State. The prescribed burns are to take place on minimum acreage beginning with 25,000 acres in the pinelands area and an additional 10,000 acres Statewide and increasing over a period of six years to a final total of 50,000 acres in the pinelands area and 20,000 acres Statewide. A prescribed burn may be conducted by the State, the federal government, or a landowner or lessee with approval by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to existing law. The bill would also require all relevant State agencies involved in environmental planning and land use management to incorporate the Statewide prescribed burn goal into all plans, programs, and surveys, whether they are Statewide or local initiatives, or undertaken in conjunction with the federal government. The bill would require all prescribed burns throughout the State to occur between the months of November and March. According to the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service, prescribed burns are generally conducted during late winter months to reduce the amount of smoke produced and because weather conditions tend to be more predictable for safer controlled fires. Under this bill, prescribed burns would be required to be conducted and completed prior to prime wildfire season, which is typically during the months of April and May in New Jersey. A prescribed burn is the deliberate ignition and controlled open burning of wildland fire fuels to attain resource management objectives, such as public safety, wildfire control, ecological, silvicultural, agricultural, or other natural resource management goals.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a structured, six-year plan for increasing prescribed burns (controlled fires deliberately set to manage wildland vegetation and reduce wildfire risks) in New Jersey's pinelands area and statewide. The Department of Environmental Protection is required to ensure an escalating number of acres are burned annually, starting with 25,000 acres in the pinelands and 10,000 additional acres statewide in the first year, and gradually increasing to 50,000 pinelands acres and 20,000 statewide acres by the sixth year. These prescribed burns can be conducted by the state, federal government, or landowners with proper approvals, and must occur between November and March to minimize smoke and take advantage of more predictable winter weather conditions, which occur before the prime wildfire season of April and May. The bill also mandates that all relevant state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, and Pinelands Commission, incorporate these prescribed burn goals into their environmental and land management plans, ensuring a comprehensive approach to vegetation management and wildfire prevention across the state.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee (on 05/15/2025)
(1 Companion Bills)

bill text

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5689
BillText https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6000/5689_I1.HTM
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