All Roll Calls
Yes: 150 • No: 1
New JerseyS3906220th Legislature (2024-2025)SenateWALLET
Revises "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act" to provide enforcement and penalty provisions.
Sponsored By: Clinton Calabrese (Democratic), Joseph A. Lagana (Democratic), Paul A. Sarlo (Democratic), Alex Sauickie (Republican), Gerry Scharfenberger (Republican)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Tree-care businesses face stronger enforcement
Beginning January 20, 2026, New Jersey's tree-care licensing board and environmental department can order compliance with tree-care licensing laws and rules. The department acts in coordination with the board. Orders can deny, suspend, or revoke licenses or business registrations and must give notice of hearing rights. The board or environmental commissioner can seek court orders to stop violations temporarily or permanently. Courts can require payment of investigation, inspection, monitoring, and cleanup costs, plus damages for natural-resource losses and other actual harm. Courts can also require restoration as fully as practical and feasible.
Tree-care violators face daily financial penalties
Beginning January 20, 2026, the board can assess $1,000 per tree-care violation, or $2,500 for a second or later violation. Courts can impose penalties up to those amounts; each continuing day counts separately under both penalty systems. Court penalties also cover violations of administrative or court orders and failure to fully pay a board penalty. Board penalty notices must arrive by certified mail or personal service and state the violated rule, facts, amount, and hearing rights. Recipients have 20 days after receiving notice to deliver a written hearing request to the board. Without a request, the notice becomes final after 20 days; payment is due when the notice or post-hearing order becomes final. The board can agree to reduce penalties. Courts can also collect costs and the actual financial gain from a violation. These enforcement tools can be combined, and paying a board penalty does not prevent other enforcement.
Transportation workers get tree-care licensing exemption
Beginning January 20, 2026, New Jersey Department of Transportation employees and contractors are exempt from the tree-care licensing act. The exemption applies only while they are actually performing the duties they were hired or contracted to do.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Clinton Calabrese
Democratic • House
Joseph A. Lagana
Democratic • Senate
Paul A. Sarlo
Democratic • Senate
Alex Sauickie
Republican • House
Gerry Scharfenberger
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Benjie E. Wimberly
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 1/12/2026
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 73 • No: 1
Senate vote • 1/12/2026
CONCUR ASMB AMEND
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 6/2/2025
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 38 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor — P.L.2025, c.310.
1/20/2026GovernorPassed Senate, PBH — (39-0)
1/12/2026SenateReceived in Senate, 2RSC
1/12/2026SenatePassed Assembly — (73-1-0)
1/12/2026HouseSubstituted for A5012 (2R)
1/12/2026HouseREP/ACA, 2nd Reading in Assembly
1/8/2026HouseREP/ACA, Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
1/5/2026HouseTRANS Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee
1/5/2026HouseReceived in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee
6/12/2025HousePassed Senate — (38-0)
6/2/2025SenateReported, 2nd Reading in Senate
3/17/2025SenateReferred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
2/10/2025SenateREP/SCA, 2nd Reading in Senate
2/10/2025SenateIntroduced, 1st Reading in Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee
12/5/2024Senate
Bill Text
Version PL2025
6/22/2026
Version AL2025
6/15/2026
1/15/26;3R
1/15/2026
Assembly Appropriations (1/8/26 3R)
1/13/2026
Assembly Appropriations Substitute (1/8/26 2R)
1/9/2026
Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture (1/5/26 2R)
1/6/2026
Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Substitute (1/5/26 1R)
1/6/2026
3/18/25; 1R
3/18/2025
Senate Budget and Appropriations Substitute (3/17/25 1R)
3/18/2025
Senate Commerce (2/10/25 1R)
3/18/2025
Senate Commerce Substitute (2/10/25)
3/4/2025
As Introduced
12/6/2024
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