Bill > A682

This bill establishes a new program within the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for acquiring development easements on privately-owned woodlands. The program aims to preserve and protect forested lands by preventing future development on qualifying woodland properties. To be eligible, woodland must be at least 20 acres in size, either devoted to agricultural or forest product production, and managed according to an approved forest stewardship or management plan. The SADC can use constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues or other farmland preservation funds to purchase these development easements, which permanently restrict the land's potential for non-agricultural development. The bill requires the SADC to coordinate with federal agencies like the US Forest Service to pursue additional funding sources and to develop comprehensive rules and regulations for the program within one year of the bill's enactment. Any development easement acquired under this program must be filed with the municipal tax assessor and recorded with the county clerk. The bill also makes technical amendments to existing law to incorporate references to this new woodland preservation initiative, expanding the definition of qualifying tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and updating provisions related to farmland preservation funding.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A682