Governor Murphy recently signed legislation requiring that members of Historic Preservation Committees complete training to serve on the committees. P.L. 2025, c. 149 will take effect on November 30.
The new law requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to prepare and offer a one-day course with no more than five hours of scheduled instruction in historic preservation planning. The standards for the curriculum and administration of the course will be in conjunction with DCA, New Jersey Historic Trust, and New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office.
Starting after the first date in which the course is offered, regular, alternate, and prospective members of a Historic Preservation Committee must complete the course within 18 months of assuming committee membership. Existing members must complete the course within 18 months of the first course offering. Licensed professional planners and those offering proof of completing a more extensive training course are exempted from the new training requirements.
A hearing or proceeding held or decisions or recommendations made by the Historic Preservation Committee are not invalidated if a member participating in the hearing, proceeding, decision-making, or recommendations has not completed the historic preservation planning course required by the new law.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.