New Jersey A 5139: Makes persons with New Jersey National Guard service and NGB 22 form eligible for certain veterans benefits.

Bill Text

A5139 

ASSEMBLY, No. 5139 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED MAY 28, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblywoman� ANDREA KATZ

District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Increases allowable amount of farmland preservation 
grants to nonprofit organizations. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning certain grants for farmland 
preservation projects and amending P.L.1999, c.152.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 37 of P.L.1999, 
c.152 (C.13:8C-37) is amended to read as follows:

���� 37.� a.� Moneys appropriated 
from the Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to the State Agriculture 
Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes shall be used by the 
committee to:

���� (1)� Provide grants to local 
government units to pay up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of 
development easements on farmland, and to qualifying tax exempt nonprofit 
organizations to pay up to [50] 80 
percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland as 
provided in section 39 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-39), or to provide grants to 
local government units or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to pay 
up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on 
woodlands, as provided in section 1 of P.L.2025, c.287, provided that any funds 
received for the transfer of a development easement shall be dedicated to the 
future purchase of development easements on farmland and the State's pro rata 
share of any such funds shall be deposited in the Garden State Farmland 
Preservation Trust Fund to be used for the purposes of that fund and provided 
that the terms of any such development easement to be acquired by a qualifying 
tax exempt nonprofit organization shall be approved by the committee;

���� (2)� Provide grants to local 
government units to pay up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee 
simple titles to farmland from willing sellers only, and to qualifying tax 
exempt nonprofit organizations to pay up to [50] 80 
percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland from 
willing sellers only as provided in section 39 of this act, which shall be 
offered for resale or lease with agricultural deed restrictions, as determined 
by the committee, and any proceeds received from a resale shall be dedicated 
for farmland preservation purposes and the State's pro rata share of any such 
proceeds shall be deposited in the Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust 
Fund to be used for the purposes of that fund;

���� (3)� Pay the cost of 
acquisition by the State of development easements on farmland, or on woodlands, 
as provided in section 1 of P.L.2025, c.287, provided that any funds received 
for the transfer of a development easement shall be deposited in the Garden 
State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to be used for the purposes of that 
fund; and

���� (4)� Pay the cost of 
acquisition by the State of fee simple titles to farmland from willing sellers 
only, which shall be offered for resale or lease with agricultural deed 
restrictions, as determined by the committee, and any proceeds received from a 
resale or lease shall be deposited in the Garden State Farmland Preservation 
Trust Fund to be used for the purposes of that fund.

���� b.��� Moneys appropriated from 
the fund may be used to match grants, contributions, donations, or 
reimbursements from federal aid programs or from other public or private 
sources established for the same or similar purposes as the fund.

(cf:� P.L.2025, c.287, s.3)

���� 2.��� This act shall take 
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill increases the amount 
of a cost share grant paid by the State Agriculture Development Committee 
(SADC) to a nonprofit organization for the acquisition of a development 
easement on farmland or fee simple title on farmland, from 50 percent to 80 percent. 
�Under current law, the SADC pays up to 80 percent of the cost of development 
easement acquisition or fee simple title, on farmland, by local government 
units, but only pays 50 percent of these acquisitions to non-profits. �This 
bill would establish the same rate of 80 percent for all cost-share grants. �Farmland 
acquired pursuant to a fee simple title would be resold or leased with an 
agricultural deed restriction, as determined by the SADC.