Bill Text: NJ S4427 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Appropriates $3,479,032 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-08 - Reported from Senate Committee, 2nd Reading [S4427 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S4427-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Senator DOUGLAS J. STEINHARDT
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Appropriates $3,479,032 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act appropriating $3,479,032 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to the State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 37 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-37) to the contrary, there is appropriated to the State Agriculture Development Committee the sum of $3,479,032 from dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund," established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), for the purpose of providing grants to qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations listed in subsection b. of this section for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland or for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland for resale or lease with agricultural deed restrictions approved by the committee.
b. The following projects are eligible for funding with the monies appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section:
|
Applicant (Project) |
Farm |
County |
Municipality |
Amount of Grant Not to Exceed
|
|
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey |
Baran, Frank, & Irene
|
Warren |
Blairstown Twp. |
$1,344,422 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey |
Mastrogiovanni, Tyler Drew
|
Warren |
Blairstown Twp. |
$509,842 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey |
RDA Properties, LLC
|
Warren |
Blairstown Twp. |
$1,363,958 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey |
Dugan, Brian P., & Sueanne L. |
Warren |
Harmony Twp. |
$260,810
|
2. There is appropriated
from the General Fund to the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund,"
established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016,
c.12 (C.13:8C-50), the sum of $3,479,032 to
implement the provisions of this act.
3. The expenditure of the sums appropriated by this act is subject to the provisions and conditions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et seq.), and P.L.1983, c.32 (C.4:1C-11 et seq.), as appropriate.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would appropriate $3,479,032 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for farmland preservation purposes. Specifically, the bill would appropriate funds for grants to one qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization, the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, for projects at four farms.
The provisions of section 37 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-37) state the grants provided by the SADC for farmland preservation purposes are for up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland for farmland preservation purposes, or up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland for resale or lease with agricultural deed restrictions approved by the SADC. This bill would allow the grants provided by the SADC for farmland preservation purposes to cover up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland for farmland preservation purposes, or up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland for resale or lease with agricultural deed restrictions approved by the SADC.
The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act."
The allocations and projects listed in this bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust.
