Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee Statement to Assembly, No. 6278 (January 5, 2026)

Summary

A committee statement to the New Jersey Assembly, No. 6278, from the Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee, dated January 5, 2026, reporting Assembly Bill No. 6278 favorably and with committee amendments. As amended, the bill would establish the "Farmland and Woodland Tax Assessment Integrity and Investment Act" and would remove the ability of a municipality to impose a fee for the on-site inspection of land. It raises the civil penalty for misrepresentation on an application for valuation, assessment, and taxation of land to $15,000 for a second offense and up to $20,000 for a third or subsequent offense. The committee amended the bill to remove the application fee of $100 for each parcel of land.

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ASSEMBLY COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
           AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

                           STATEMENT TO

                      ASSEMBLY, No. 6278
                          with committee amendments



       STATE OF NEW JERSEY
                           DATED: JANUARY 5, 2026

          The Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and
      Agriculture Committee reports favorably and with committee
      amendments Assembly Bill No. 6278.
          As amended, this bill would establish the “Farmland and
      Woodland Tax Assessment Integrity and Investment Act,” which
      would require the State Farmland Evaluation Committee (committee)
      to adjust the minimum gross sales, payments, fees, and imputed
      income requirements, and the anticipated yearly gross sales, payments,
      fees, and imputed income requirements necessary to deem land, five
      acres in area and over five acres, to be actively devoted to agricultural
      and horticultural use.
          This bill further removes the ability of a municipality to impose a
      fee for the on-site inspection of land, as required by law, as part of the
      application process for the valuation, assessment, and taxation of the
      land. In addition, this bill raises the civil penalty for second and
      subsequent offenses of gross and intentional misrepresentation on an
      application for valuation, assessment, and taxation of land in
      agricultural and horticultural use to $15,000 for a second offense and
      up to $20,000 for a third or subsequent offense, and ensures that any
      civil penalties collected will be retained by the municipal, county, or
      State entity to which it was allocated.
          This bill establishes an application portal through which taxpayers
      may apply for the valuation, assessment, and taxation of land in
      agricultural and horticultural use. Furthermore, this bill includes the
      State Forester, selected from the list of Approved Consulting Foresters
      maintained by the Department of Environmental Protection, as a
      member of the committee, and requires the committee to prepare an
      annual report to the Governor and State Board of Agriculture.

      COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
         The committee amended the bill to remove the application fee of
      $100 for each parcel of land.


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