Limits speculative development of warehouses until 500,000 acres of farmland are preserved under farmland preservation programs.

This bill (A3349) prohibits local governments from approving new warehouse construction on active farmland until New Jersey preserves 500,000 acres of farmland through existing preservation programs. It specifically targets "speculative development" (warehouses built without tenant or buyer commitments) and requires developers seeking approval to instead commit to preserving farmland equal in size to their proposed development. The State Agriculture Development Committee must track progress toward the 500,000-acre goal and report to the Governor and Legislature upon reaching it. The bill expires immediately after that report is submitted. As of January 2023, only 248,009 acres had been preserved under these programs.