Updates in 2026:

• A1917 [LS] Establishes New Jersey Healthy Soils Program; establishes grant program for soil testing of urban agriculture sites; establishes Urban Agriculture Site Soil Testing Fund
• A4795 [LS] Changes certain allocations and amounts of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for Fiscal Year 2026 and thereafter; authorizes Garden State Preservation Trust and local governments to acquire lands in urban areas for agricultural or horticultural purposes; includes establishment of “”Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Stewardship Grant Program” for the purpose of providing grants to qualified applicants for stewardship activity projects, including, but not limited to, projects that improve soil health, climate resiliency, and erosion and sediment control, on land that has been acquired by the trust and preserved for agricultural and horticultural purposes”

Updates in 2025:

• A5627/S4350 [LS/LS] Changes certain allocations and amounts of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for Fiscal Year 2026 and thereafter; authorizes Garden State Preservation Trust and local governments to acquire lands in urban areas for agricultural or horticultural purposes; Reallocates constitutionally dedicated corporate‑business‑tax revenue to create a Preserve NJ Urban Agriculture & Horticulture Fund; establishes grants for urban agricultural projects that improve soil health, climate resilience and erosion control – in committee at adjournment
• S1040 [LS] Exempts community gardens composting on-site from certain DEP permits under certain conditions; Exempts community gardens using on-site composting systems from obtaining certain permits under New Jersey’s environmental laws, provided they meet criteria: compost must be vegetative, produced by the garden, and used only on-site. Allows DEP to intervene if pollution is detected. Defines compost as a soil amendment that builds soil health. Amends permitting exemptions under the Solid Waste Management Act, Air and Water Pollution Control Acts, and the Recycling Act; reinforces state definitions of composting and supports community soil-building efforts. – amended in Senate

Updates in 2024:

• A1846 [LS] Establishes New Jersey Healthy Soils Program; establishes grant program for soil testing of urban agriculture sites; establishes Urban Agriculture Site Soil Testing Fund; as drafted, is essentially a soil testing program. – carry over of A3017, in committee at adjournment

Updates in 2023:

• A3017 [LS] Establishes New Jersey Healthy Soils Program; establishes grant program for soil testing of urban agriculture sites; establishes Urban Agriculture Site Soil Testing Fund; as drafted, is essentially a soil testing program – stalled in Senate committee
• A3444 [LS] Establishes Organic Farming Board in Department of Agriculture; includes that board “develop, administer, and oversee programs” for organic and regenerative farming. Defines “Regenerative farming” as “farming and grazing practices that (a) prioritize soil health and ecosystem health, (b) reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, (c) reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter, sequestering carbon, and restoring degraded soil biodiversity, and (d) engage in conservation practices to ensure the long-term health of the farm’s ecosystem, among many benefits.” – signed and enacted 1/10/2023

Updates in 2022:

• AR52 [LS] Urges NJ to join United States Climate Alliance Natural and Working Lands challenge; “The NWL challenge encourages its participants to consider, and, as appropriate, adopt practices that increase long-term carbon sequestration in forests, protect existing natural and working lands from conversion, support healthy soils on farms and ranches, restore coastal wetlands and sub-tidal habitats that protect shorelines from sea level rise, restore ecosystems and protect open space watersheds, and grow the urban forest and other greenspace to improve health and livability.” (further legislation probably needed to achieve the goals of the NWL challenge) – stalled in committee

Updates in 2021:

• A5631 [LS] Establishes New Jersey Healthy Soils Program; establishes grant program for soil testing of urban agriculture sites; establishes Urban Agriculture Site Soil Testing Fund; as drafted, is essentially a soil testing program.