This bill establishes a program within the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) focused on acquiring development easements for privately-owned woodlands, with the goal of preserving these lands for agricultural, silvicultural, and horticultural uses. To be eligible for the program, woodlands must be a minimum of 20 acres, dedicated to agricultural production or the sale of tree or forest products, and managed according to an approved forest stewardship plan. The bill outlines the appraisal process for these easements and allows the SADC to utilize dedicated tax revenues and other appropriated funds for their acquisition.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing legislation to clarify definitions and funding mechanisms related to the acquisition of development easements. It specifies that funds from the Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund can be used to provide grants to local government units and qualifying nonprofit organizations, covering up to 80 percent of the costs associated with acquiring development easements on woodlands. The bill also modifies provisions regarding the acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland, stating that these can only be purchased from willing sellers and must include agricultural deed restrictions for resale or lease, with proceeds directed towards farmland preservation and a portion deposited into the Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13:8C-3, 13:8C-37