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 encourage more participation in soil and water conservation efforts. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the effectiveness of conservation projects while ensuring accountability among grant recipients.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4:1C-24