---
type: "Bill"
title: "Provides diamondback terrapins protection as nongame indigenous species."
description: "Provides diamondback terrapins protection as nongame indigenous species."
jurisdiction: "us/states/nj"
legislature: "New Jersey Legislature"
session: "217"
identifier: "A 2949"
citation: "New Jersey A 2949 (217)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["FISH"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Andrzejczak, Bob", "Gordon, Robert M.", "Gusciora, Reed", "Houghtaling, Eric", "Land, R. Bruce", "Moriarty, Paul D.", "Van Drew, Jeff"]
version_count: 1
action_count: 7
vote_count: 3
first_action: "2016-02-16T05:00:00+00:00"
last_action: "2016-07-15T04:00:00+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/857d9efb-2224-4a8c-be69-080b9f51f02c"
source_url: "http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/downloads.asp"
source_hash: "4f58e3e23f5df1e0ad7ec28c61595f9cbd7c6ff044509d0a8f9d5c1957ec1457"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-nj"]
---

# New Jersey A 2949 (217) — Provides diamondback terrapins protection as nongame indigenous species.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced Version** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2016/Bills/A3000/2949_I1.HTM)

## Votes

- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **71–0** (pass) · legislature
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **37–0** (pass) · legislature
- Reported favorably out of committee — **5–0** (pass) · legislature

## Sponsors

- Andrzejczak, Bob — primary (person)
- Gordon, Robert M. — primary (person)
- Gusciora, Reed — primary (person)
- Houghtaling, Eric — primary (person)
- Land, R. Bruce — primary (person)
- Moriarty, Paul D. — primary (person)
- Van Drew, Jeff — primary (person)
- Benson, Daniel R. — cosponsor (person)
- Conaway, Herb — cosponsor (person)
- Downey, Joann — cosponsor (person)
- Eustace, Tim — cosponsor (person)
- Spencer, L. Grace — cosponsor (person)
- Whelan, Jim — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2016-02-16T05:00:00+00:00** Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee `introduction, referral-committee`
- **2016-03-03T05:00:00+00:00** Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading `committee-passage`
- **2016-04-07T04:00:00+00:00** Passed Assembly (71-0-0) `passage`
- **2016-04-18T04:00:00+00:00** Received in the Senate without Reference, 2nd Reading
- **2016-05-26T04:00:00+00:00** Substituted for S1625
- **2016-05-26T04:00:00+00:00** Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (37-0) `passage`
- **2016-07-15T04:00:00+00:00** Approved P.L.2016, c.17. `executive-signature`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/857d9efb-2224-4a8c-be69-080b9f51f02c`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official New Jersey legislature records).