Committee releases bill to move New Jersey Historic Trust to DCA amid preservation concerns

The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee voted to release Assembly bill A4053 and its Senate counterpart S1447, which would transfer the New Jersey Historic Trust from the Department of State to the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) and alter trustee powers.

John Anderson of Mount Holly testified in opposition, recounting long experience in New Jersey historic preservation and arguing the transfer would concentrate control of grants and fundraising under DCA and "allow putting a person on New Jersey's DCA heritage board ... with a professional background of redevelopment as basically putting a fox in the hen house." Anderson said the move risks political patronage and could reduce public access to historic sites. "This legislation will remove public access to New Jersey's culture, history, and heritage," he said.

Committee members urged Anderson to share his written remarks with bill sponsors. The committee recorded and read the names of the assembly sponsors as Assemblywoman Lopez and Assemblywoman Spate. After brief discussion the committee moved and voted to release the bills for further legislative consideration.

The vote was recorded as yes from Assemblywoman Swift, Assemblywoman Donlin, Assemblyman Allen, Assemblyman Hutchison, and the chair; the chair announced the bills were released. No amendments or conditions were recorded in committee.

Next steps: the bills were released from committee and will proceed through the legislative process; proponents and opponents may submit further testimony on subsequent committee calendars.