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Bill > S498


NJ S498

NJ S498
Provides that lease renewal for farming of farmland is exempt from public bidding requirements if tenant under prior lease has farmed land for at least 10 years.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.), certain contracts may be awarded by the governing body of a local contracting unit without public advertising and bidding. This bill provides that the continuation of a lease to farm farmland is exempt from the public advertising and bidding requirements if the farmland was condemned and taken by the contracting unit and the contracting unit seeks to continue to lease the farmland to a tenant farmer who has farmed that farmland for at least 10 years prior to the taking.

AI Summary

This bill amends the Local Public Contracts Law to exempt lease renewals for farmland from public bidding requirements under specific circumstances. The exemption applies when a local government entity, referred to as a "contracting unit," has previously acquired farmland through condemnation (eminent domain) and wishes to continue leasing it to a tenant farmer who has actively farmed that specific land for at least 10 consecutive years prior to the government taking ownership. This provision aims to provide continuity for experienced farmers on land that has been taken for public purposes, allowing for lease renewals without the usual competitive bidding process.

Committee Categories

Housing and Urban Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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