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Bill > A6035
NJ A6035
NJ A6035Revises certain requirements concerning grants to fund soil and water conservation projects on preserved farms.
summary
Introduced
11/17/2025
11/17/2025
In Committee
11/17/2025
11/17/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill would revise certain requirements concerning grants to fund soil and water conservation projects on preserved farms. Specifically, the bill would clarify that an application for a soil and water conservation project grant would be required to be submitted to a county agriculture development board (CADB) only when the county is providing a share of the funding. If a county is not providing a share of the funding, the grant application would only be required to be submitted to the local soil conservation district, which would forward the application to the State Soil Conservation Committee. The bill would also establish provisions that would require grant recipients to pay back grant funding to a CADB or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), in the event that the recipient did not maintain the project for the agreed upon time. The bill would establish exceptions in the case of the bankruptcy, death, or incapacitating illness of the owner, or as the result of a documented extreme weather event. Finally, the bill would also eliminate the statutory cost-share requirement for grants for soil and water conservation projects. Under current law, the landowner is required to provide 50 percent of the project costs. Soil and water conservation projects are considered "stewardship activities" under the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.) and are thus eligible to receive corporation business tax (CBT) funds that are constitutionally dedicated to farmland preservation. In order to obtain a soil and water conservation grant, landowners apply to local soil conservation districts, which assist in developing farm conservation plans and ensure projects are necessary and feasible. Applications are then forwarded to the State Soil Conservation Committee, which recommends projects to the SADC for funding approvals.
AI Summary
This bill revises the requirements for soil and water conservation project grants on preserved farms, making several key changes to existing law. The bill clarifies the grant application process by specifying that applications only need to be submitted to a county agriculture development board (CADB) when the county is providing funding; otherwise, applications will be submitted to the local soil conservation district. The bill eliminates the previous requirement that landowners must provide 50 percent of project costs, making grants potentially more accessible. Additionally, the bill establishes new provisions for grant repayment, stipulating that recipients may be required to pay back grant funds if they fail to maintain the project for the agreed-upon term, with exceptions for circumstances such as bankruptcy, death, incapacitating illness, or extreme weather events. The bill streamlines the application review process by allowing local soil conservation districts to review and forward applications to the State Soil Conservation Committee, which will then certify the land's eligibility and make a final determination on the grant. These changes aim to simplify the grant process for soil and water conservation projects on preserved farmland while providing flexibility for landowners facing unexpected challenges.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee (on 11/17/2025)
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/A6035 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6500/6035_I1.HTM |
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