Summary — S-3353 (P.L.2025, c.55)

Title: Provides an exemption for the sale and installation of residential and commercial geothermal heat pump systems equipment (bill caption as filed)

(Note: substantive text actually amends the "Right to Farm Act" to allow housing for resident farm employees on commercial farms and related protections.)

Main purpose

To add on‑farm housing for full‑time resident farm employees as a permissible agricultural activity under New Jersey’s Right to Farm Act (P.L.1983, c.31), and to make such housing eligible for the Act’s statutory protections when constructed and operated consistent with an agricultural management practice adopted by the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC).

Key provisions

• Amends definitions and permissible activities in P.L.1983, c.31 (C.4:1C‑3 and C.4:1C‑9):
  • Defines “resident farm employee” as a person employed by the owner/operator of a commercial farm to perform full‑time agricultural production on the farm. The term excludes:
  • full‑time, year‑round equine‑related employees;
  • the farm owner; and (by floor amendment) any lineal descendant of the owner.
  • Explicitly makes housing for resident farm employees a permissible activity on commercial farms and eligible for Right to Farm Act protections (i.e., protections for generally accepted agricultural operations and practices).
• Directs the SADC to adopt an agricultural management practice permitting resident farm employee housing and to require that the amount of housing correlate to the labor needs of the farm.
• Floor amendments require:
  • Compliance of constructed housing with the New Jersey Seasonal Farm Labor Act (P.L.1945, c.71) and the federal Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (29 U.S.C. §1801 et seq.);
  • Prohibit charging rent to resident farm employees living in that housing.

Who is affected

• Commercial farms (as defined under the existing statute thresholds) that employ full‑time resident agricultural workers and wish to provide on‑site housing.
• Resident farm employees who may obtain employer‑provided housing subject to applicable labor and housing laws (including state and federal worker protection statutes).
• Municipalities and local land‑use authorities: on‑farm employee housing, where consistent with the SADC practice and statutory criteria, would be treated as a permitted agricultural activity and receive Right to Farm Act protections.

Procedural / timeline highlights

• Introduced in the Senate: June 3, 2024; referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee.
• Senate amended (12/19/2024), passed Senate: Jan 30, 2025 (34–2).
• Received/considered in Assembly and reported out of committee: Feb 20, 2025.
• Substituted for A4501 and passed Assembly: Mar 24, 2025 (71–4–0).
• Enacted into law as P.L.2025, c.55: May 9, 2025.
• Primary sponsor: Senator James Sanders Jr.; multiple cosponsors listed; companion bill A4501.