Bill Text: NJ A4902 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Clean Oceanfronts, Amusements, Safety, and Tourism Act" and appropriates $2.5 million.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-05-07 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee [A4902 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A4902-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MAUREEN ROWAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Clean Oceanfronts, Amusements, Safety, and Tourism Act" and appropriates $2.5 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the "Clean Oceanfronts, Amusements, Safety, and Tourism Act" to promote public safety, environmental stewardship, tourism, and hospitality along New Jersey's coastal regions in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by creating the "COAST Fund", supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes, and appropriates $2.5 million.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Clean Oceanfronts, Amusements, Safety, and Tourism Act" or the "COAST Act."
2. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted in part in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium, is projected to attract over one million visitors to this State, which in turn is estimated to generate $3 billion in revenue through tourism, hospitality, and other related activities.
b. New Jersey's beaches, boardwalks, and oceanfronts in coastal areas within Atlantic County, Cape May County, Monmouth County, and Ocean County serve as vital attractions for residents and visitors by offering amusements, dining, and recreational opportunities which directly supports local economies.
c. The anticipated influx of domestic and international tourists necessitates enhanced measures to ensure public safety, protect the coast, and create a welcoming, family friendly atmosphere to maximize economic benefits and preserve the natural beauty of the Jersey Shore.
d. The enhanced measures also advance core values of public safety, environmental conservation, aesthetic preservation, tourism promotion, hospitality industry growth, job creation in coastal communities, and family-oriented recreation.
e. A targeted public awareness campaign, including bilingual signage, educational resources, and support for lifeguards, can reinforce existing laws, promote responsible behavior, and position New Jersey as a premier, sustainable destination.
3. As used in this act:
"Bilingual signs" or "bilingual signage" means signs with verbiage written in both English and Spanish.
"Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.
"Eligible coastal municipality" means a municipality located in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Monmouth County, or Ocean County that has publicly accessible beaches or boardwalks directly adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.
"World Cup" means the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament.
4. a. There is established in the Department of the Treasury a special, non-lapsing fun to be known as the "COAST Fund." Monies from the "COAST Fund" shall solely be dedicated to the public awareness campaign described in section 5 of this act.
5. a. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State and the Department of Health shall establish a public awareness campaign to enhance beach safety, environmental protection, tourism promotion, and hospitality in eligible coastal municipalities in anticipation of the World Cup.
b. The public awareness campaign shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) the promotion of beach safety by posting bilingual signage to remind visitors of safe swim practices, water safety tips, and emergency procedures and the provision of lifeguard support by allocating additional resources to hire and train more lifeguards during peak tourist season;
(2) the promotion of environmental protection and the cleanliness of local beaches by posting bilingual signage reminding visitors of smoking prohibitions under the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act", P.L. 2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.), bilingual signage banning the smoking of cannabis on beaches and other public places including boardwalks under the "New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act", P.L. 2021, c.16 (C. 24:6I-31 et seq.), and anti-littering bilingual signage;
(3) the promotion of tourism by creating a welcoming environment and posting bilingual signage welcoming visitors at major beach and amusement access points and initiating digital and print campaigns to link the Jersey Shore to World Cup events to encourage exploration of local businesses and boost local economic activity;
(4) a focus on hospitality and family-friendly activities by promoting inclusive, accessible experiences and partnering with local chambers of commerce to highlight hospitality offerings; and
(5) an emphasis on public health and community engagement by promoting awareness of sun safety, hydration and crowd management, utilizing community outreach programs to involve residents in stewardship efforts, and fostering a sense of pride to ensure long-term benefits beyond the World Cup.
c. The department shall seek partnerships with private entities, nonprofit organizations, and tourism grants to supplement funds from the "COAST Fund" to maximize impact. These supplemental funds shall be deposited into the "COAST Fund" and used to carry out the objectives of the public awareness campaign pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
d. The department submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), evaluating the effectiveness of the public awareness campaign through metrics such as visitor surveys, litter reduction rates, incident reports, and tourism revenue data. The department shall submit the first report no later than one year after the World Cup with subsequent reports following annually from that first submission date.
6. The sum of $2,500,000 is appropriated to the "COAST Fund" for the department to carry out the purposes of this act as described in subsection b. of section 5 of this act. Any unexpended balances at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse but shall be carried forward for the same purposes. At the expiration of this act, all unexpended funds from the "COAST Fund" shall revert to the General Fund.
7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire two years after the conclusion of the World Cup. The campaigns and any installed resources may continue as deemed necessary by the department.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the "Clean Oceanfronts, Amusements, Safety and Tourism Act" to prepare New Jersey's coastal regions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The "COAST Fund" established under this act is appropriated $2,500,000. The funds shall be used for public awareness campaign focused on beach safety, environmental protection, tourism promotion, and hospitality. The campaign targets coastal municipalities in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Monmouth County, and Ocean County with beaches or boardwalks. By emphasizing bipartisan priorities such as public safety, ecological preservation, economic growth through tourism and jobs, and family-friendly environments, the bill aims to ensure a welcoming, sustainable Jersey Shore that benefits residents and visitors alike, yielding long-term returns on investment.
