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

Summary

An Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee statement to Assembly, No. 6278, State of New Jersey, dated January 5, 2026, reporting the bill favorably with committee amendments. The bill would establish the "Farmland and Woodland Tax Assessment Integrity and Investment Act," requiring the State Farmland Evaluation Committee to adjust the gross sales and income requirements for land to be deemed actively devoted to agricultural and horticultural use. Municipalities could no longer charge a fee for the required on-site inspection, and civil penalties for misrepresentation on an application would rise to $15,000 for a second offense and up to $20,000 for a third or subsequent offense. The amendments removed an application fee of $100 for each parcel.

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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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