S 4425 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Appropriates $64,787,327 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and other farmland preservation funds to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes.

This bill appropriates approximately $64.8 million from various constitutionally dedicated funds to the State Agriculture Development Committee in New Jersey to support farmland preservation. The money will be used to purchase development easements or full ownership of farmland, provide grants to counties and municipalities for up to 80 percent of acquisition costs, and offer grants to non-profit organizations for up to 50 percent of such costs. Additionally, the legislation allocates $2.7 million specifically for stewardship activities like soil and water conservation and deer fencing on preserved lands. Any farmland bought with these funds must be resold or leased with agricultural restrictions to ensure it remains used for farming purposes.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jun 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Jun 4, 2026 Last action Jun 18, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee (first reprint). The most significant policy change expands the use of a $3,000,000 appropriation: it can now reimburse local governments and nonprofits for the actual cost of acquiring development easements on farmland, not just administrative expenses. Co-sponsors were added and the explanatory statement section was removed from the document format.

FISCAL

The $3,000,000 appropriation from the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund was expanded in scope. Previously it could only reimburse administrative expenses associated with acquiring development easements and fee simple titles on farmland. Now it can also reimburse the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland itself, significantly broadening what local governments and nonprofits can be reimbursed for.

TECHNICAL

Co-sponsors were added: Senators Wimberly, Testa, Steinhardt, Henry and Tiver.

The entire explanatory STATEMENT section (which provided background on the funding sources and purposes) was removed from the reprint document format. This is a presentation change, not a policy change.

Floor votes