SENATE ECONOMIC GROWTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4067

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 9, 2021

      The Senate Economic Growth Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 4067.

      As amended and reported, this bill amends the “Local Redevelopment and Housing Law,” P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.), to specify that certain farmland cannot be included in a redevelopment area, an area in need of redevelopment, a rehabilitation area, or an area in need of rehabilitation under that law.  Specifically, this bill amends the definitions of “redevelopment area” and “rehabilitation area” used in the law to specifically exclude any land actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use that is valued, assessed, and taxed pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.1 et seq.), except when the site is subject to remediation and clean up of environmentally hazardous materials or contaminants in accordance with State and federal law.

      The committee amended bill to make additional changes to the definitions of “redevelopment area” and “rehabilitation area” to include an exception for environmental site remediation and clean up to the farmland exclusion.