This bill amends existing legislation regarding grants for soil and water conservation projects on preserved farms in New Jersey. It clarifies that applications for these grants must be submitted to a county agriculture development board (CADB) only when the county is contributing funding; otherwise, applications will be submitted solely to the local soil conservation district, which will then forward them to the State Soil Conservation Committee. Additionally, the bill introduces a provision requiring grant recipients to repay funds if they fail to maintain the project for the agreed duration, with exceptions for circumstances such as bankruptcy, death, or extreme weather events.

Furthermore, the bill eliminates the previous requirement for landowners to provide 50% of project costs, thereby removing the statutory cost-share requirement for these grants. This change aims to streamline the application process and make it easier for landowners to access funding for soil and water conservation projects, which are essential for sustainable agricultural practices and environmental stewardship under the Preserve New Jersey Act.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4:1C-24