Bill
Bill > A1657
NJ A1657
NJ A1657Prohibits Fish and Game Council and Division of Fish and Wildlife from requiring, for deer management plans, written consent of private landowners located in, or within 2,000 feet of, deer management area.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Existing law requires a deer management plan, adopted by a county board of agriculture, a county governing body, a municipal governing body, or the owner or operator of an airport, to document the written consent of all private landowners affected by the deer management plan, in order to authorize access to their private lands for the purposes of local deer management activities. This bill would amend the law to eliminate this consent requirement. The bill would further specify that, notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, neither the Fish and Game Council nor the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection may require a county board of agriculture, a county governing body, a municipal governing body, or the owner or operator of an airport, as part of a community based deer management plan, to obtain the written consent of the owners of private lands situated in, or within 2,000 feet of, the designated special deer management area, in order to for a law enforcement officer, an animal control officer, an agents thereof, or another authorized person to access or enter upon such private lands for the purposes of retrieving a deer darted for sterilization, or for other purposes associated with the authorized implementation of the deer management plan.
AI Summary
This bill removes the requirement for written consent from private landowners whose property is located within or near a designated deer management area for the implementation of deer management plans. Specifically, the Fish and Game Council and the Division of Fish and Wildlife (part of the Department of Environmental Protection) will no longer be able to mandate that local governments or airport operators obtain permission from landowners within 2,000 feet of a special deer management area to allow authorized personnel, such as law enforcement or animal control officers, to access their land for purposes like retrieving darted deer for sterilization or other activities related to the approved deer management plan. This change aims to streamline deer management efforts by eliminating a potential barrier to accessing private property when necessary for authorized control methods.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A1657 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A2000/1657_I1.HTM |
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