ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, No. 47

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 5, 1996

      The Assembly Agriculture and Waste Management Committee favorably reports Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 47.

      This proposed amendment to the Constitution would require the Legislature to permit municipalities to adopt ordinances that would value land that is associated with a dwelling house and farm buildings and is a constituent part of land that has received a farmland assessment for local tax purposes, at the value the land has for agricultural or horticultural purposes, under certain circumstances. These circumstances are: (1) the dwelling house is occupied by the owner; (2) the owner operates the property of which the land associated with the dwelling house and farm buildings is a constituent part for agricultural or horticultural purposes; (3) the owner has agreed to retain the property in agricultural or horticultural production for at least eight years; and (4) other standards contained in a municipal ordinance have been met, which standards shall be prescribed by the Legislature to effectuate the purposes of this paragraph. Under current law, land that is associated with a dwelling house and farm buildings and is a constituent part of land that has received a farmland assessment, is valued at full market value.

      This concurrent resolution was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996-1997 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.