Excludes farmland from definitions of "redevelopment area" and "rehabilitation area" in "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Fantasia and 1 co-sponsor

Excludes farmland actively used for agriculture and valued under the Farmland Assessment Act from being designated as redevelopment or rehabilitation areas in LRHL plans.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

Purpose and intent

The bill amends the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (LRHL), P.L.1992, c.79, to explicitly exclude farmland that is actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use (and valued, assessed, and taxed under the Farmland Assessment Act) from being designated as a redevelopment area or a rehabilitation area.

Rationale presented in accompanying material: designating productive farmland as a redevelopment or rehabilitation area could harm New Jersey’s agricultural economy and undermine the state’s role as an agricultural state (The Garden State).

Key provisions and changes

Definition change: The bill modifies the LRHL’s definitions of:

“Redevelopment area” (area in need of redevelopment): Shall not include land actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use that is farmland assessed under the Farmland Assessment Act.
“Rehabilitation area” (area in need of rehabilitation): Shall not include land actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use that is farmland assessed under the Farmland Assessment Act.

The amendment applies to redevelopment plans adopted after the act’s effective date.

Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to redevelopment plans adopted after the effective date.

Who and what would be affected

Farmland owners and agricultural land: Productive farmland currently subject to LRHL redevelopment or rehabilitation designations would no longer be eligible for inclusion as a redevelopment or rehabilitation area, provided the land is actively used for agricultural/horticultural purposes and qualifies for Farmland Assessment.

Municipalities, redevelopment entities, housing authorities: These entities would need to exclude qualifying farmland from LRHL redevelopment or rehabilitation area designations when planning or implementing projects after the act takes effect.

Agricultural economy considerations: By preventing farmland from being classified as redevelopment/rehabilitation areas, the bill aims to reduce risk of speculative or disruptive redevelopment on productive farmland.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduced: January 13, 2026

Committee referrals: Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

Sponsor details: Primary sponsor not listed; co-sponsors are Dawn Fantasia and Erik Peterson

Effective date: Immediate upon enactment

Applicability: Applies to redevelopment plans adopted after the act’s effective date; does not retroactively alter plans already adopted

Additional notes

The bill retains existing LRHL definitions for many terms (e.g., bonds, housing projects, redevelopment plans, zero-emission infrastructure) but narrows the scope of what land can be designated as redevelopment or rehabilitation areas.

The text references farmland protections consistent with preserving agricultural land and supporting New Jersey’s standing as a major agricultural economy.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison table of current LRHL language vs. bill A-177 language for quick reference.

Bill