Bill Text: NJ AR113 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to permit sale of fruits and other agricultural products from Puerto Rico on United States mainland.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-02-19 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [AR113 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-AR113-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to permit sale of fruits and other agricultural products from Puerto Rico on United States mainland.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to allow fruits and other agricultural products from Puerto Rico to be sold on the United States mainland.
Whereas, The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service prohibits or restricts the movement of many agricultural products from Puerto Rico to the United States mainland; and
Whereas, These products include most fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, pork, and pork products; and
Whereas, The reasons cited for these restrictions include the risk of invasive pests and other diseases that can be transmitted to plants grown in the contiguous United States; and
Whereas, Those who travel between the United States mainland and Puerto Rico must have their bags inspected prior to their departure to the mainland to ensure no prohibited items are being carried and those who fail to declare the items are subject to fines up to $1000; and
Whereas, Currently, those who wish to bring prohibited items into or through the United States mainland on their way to another country will need a transit permit and to comply with federal regulations restricting how the items are packaged and stored; and
Whereas, Certain provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly referred to as the "Jones Act", require that shipping between two United States ports be with ships built and registered in the United States, owned by American companies, and manned by a crew of United States citizens or permanent residents; and
Whereas, These additional requirements increase shipping costs for Puerto Rican producers as goods are primarily transported by sea; and
Whereas, A series of natural disasters has impacted agricultural lands in Puerto Rico reducing the amount of produce the island is able to produce for themselves and export to other nations; and
Whereas, These changes to agricultural lands simultaneously increased Puerto Rico's imports to the island, which also increased expenditures; and
Whereas, Allowing Puerto Rican agricultural products to be sold to the United States mainland could support economic recovery while maintaining appropriate plant and agricultural protections; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully
urges Congress to allow fruits and other agricultural products from Puerto Rico
to be sold in the United States.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
Currently, the United States bans the movement of fresh fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products from Puerto Rico to the mainland to be sold. The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service conducts baggage checks for travelers to ensure the banned items are not brought to the United States mainland. Those who wish to send prohibited items to the United States mainland are required to obtain permits and comply with storage regulations and shipping laws.
Natural disasters in Puerto Rico have diminished their farmland's capacity to produce fruits and other resources. The shipping restrictions in effect increase shipping costs for Puerto Rican farmers who export their goods. Lifting the prohibition on Puerto Rico's ability to sell fruits and other agricultural products on the United States mainland could support their economic recovery while maintaining appropriate plant and agricultural protections.
