A 4229 New Jersey General Assembly · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Requires NJEDA to establish loan program to assist beginning farmers in financing capital purchases.

This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to create a loan program helping beginning farmers purchase essential farming capital like land, farm buildings, and equipment. Beginning farmers are defined as New Jersey residents with low or moderate net worth who are actively farming or planning to start farming. To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria including New Jersey residency, property location within the state, relevant farming experience, and plans for active farm operation. Loans would be issued by NJEDA with terms and interest rates set by the agency, and borrowers may need to provide financial statements to ensure business viability.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2024
Committee Review
Jan 2025
General Assembly Passage
Dec 2024
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced May 2, 2024 Last action Jan 14, 2025
Floor votes · General Assembly Dec 19, 2024

How they voted

720
Passed · 8 other
Total votes 80
Dec 19, 2024
D Democratic52
45 Yea 7
86% Yea
R Republican28
27 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee
upper
Dec 19, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (73-0-0)
lower
Dec 16, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading
lower
Jun 3, 2024
Committee
Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
lower
May 2, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee
lower
3 primary · 11 co-sponsors

Sponsors