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Bill > S4353
NJ S4353
NJ S4353Directs Dept. of Agriculture to establish "Urban Gardening Pilot Program"; appropriates $100,000.
summary
Introduced
05/12/2025
05/12/2025
In Committee
05/12/2025
05/12/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
The bill establishes in the Department of Agriculture, the "Urban Gardening Pilot Program," to provide grants to three qualified applicants to establish an urban garden in a low-income area of the State. The bill requires the department to award three qualified applicants a grant of up to $35,000 each, which the applicant will use for an urban garden for the three-year pilot program. The goal of the urban garden is to improve the local neighborhood conditions and integrate residents of diverse communities. The bill requires an agronomist or a qualified individual from the New Jersey Cooperative Extension Service to teach local residents how to plant and cultivate fresh produce or other agricultural products for consumption as food in the urban garden. Within three years after the effective date of this bill, the Secretary of Agriculture would be required to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature summarizing the activities and findings of the program. The report would provide information on whether the program provided benefits to the local communities, evaluate the effectiveness of urban gardening in low-income areas as a means of improving the neighborhood and integrating residents of different ethnic backgrounds, and provide recommendations for legislative action, including whether or not to make the program permanent. The bill appropriates $100,000 to the Department of Agriculture from the General Fund in order to provide grants to three qualified applicants as required under the bill.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Urban Gardening Pilot Program within the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, designed to provide grants of up to $35,000 each to three qualified applicants in low-income areas to create urban gardens. The program aims to improve neighborhood conditions and foster community integration by supporting gardening projects in urban areas, which are defined broadly to include various city types and neighborhoods eligible for state aid. Applicants must demonstrate access to an urban area, locate the garden in a low-income area (defined as a census tract with at least 20% poverty rate or median family income below 80% of state/metro median), and have an agronomist or Cooperative Extension Service professional who will teach local residents gardening skills. The department will evaluate applicants based on their potential to advance community goals and integrate residents from different ethnic backgrounds, and will seek additional funding through partnerships with local agencies and organizations. After three years, the Secretary of Agriculture must submit a comprehensive report to the Governor and Legislature assessing the program's community benefits, effectiveness, and potential for permanence. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to support the program, with up to 5% allowed for administrative costs, and will expire after the final report is submitted.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 05/12/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S4353 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/S4500/4353_I1.HTM |
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