NJ A4459

State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) must survey and identify within two years all farmland in each county that qualifies for farmland assessment tax benefits but fails to meet county minimum acreage requirements for farmland preservation programs.

SADC must notify identified farmland owners in writing of state eligibility criteria for farmland preservation and invite them to apply for preservation through sale of development easements or fee simple title.

Farms meeting income requirements for farmland assessment automatically satisfy income requirements for state farmland preservation applications, removing a barrier that previously disqualified some small farms.

SADC must process preservation applications in submission order consistent with its priority system, contingent on available funding and eligibility criteria.

SADC must report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of completing all county surveys, detailing the number of properties identified and the status of preservation applications received.