Requires DOT to consult Department of Agriculture and County Agriculture Development Boards when developing transportation capital project list.

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

The bill requires DOT to consult annually with agricultural groups and embed agricultural needs into its project evaluation tools to guide the Transportation Capital Program.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

Purpose and intent

The bill requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) to ensure that agricultural interests are considered when developing the annual Transportation Capital Program.

It aims to protect and enhance transportation infrastructure around farmland to support farmland productivity and the broader agricultural economy.

Key provisions

1) Mandatory consultation with agricultural entities
- DOT must annually consult with:
- the Department of Agriculture (DOA), and
- County Agriculture Development Boards (established under statute P.L.1983, c.32).
- The consultation occurs during the development of the Annual Transportation Capital Program (the state’s core transportation investment plan).

2) Development of a dedicated methodology
- DOT must create a methodology to identify and quantify the transportation infrastructure needs of the agricultural community.
- This methodology must be incorporated into DOT’s infrastructure management systems (the analytic tools used to evaluate and prioritize transportation projects).
- The goal is to ensure agricultural needs are reflected when identifying potential projects for inclusion in the Annual Transportation Capital Program.

3) Effective date
- The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

DOT: Responsible for implementing the consultation process and developing the new methodology.

DOA (Department of Agriculture): Provides agricultural input and needs assessments.

County Agriculture Development Boards: Serve as local advisory bodies representing agricultural stakeholders to inform project prioritization.

Agricultural sector (and farmland infrastructure): Potentially benefits from transportation investments that improve access, efficiency, and sustainability of farm operations (e.g., roads, bridges, and any transit/terminal improvements around farming areas).

Procedural and timeline aspects

Process: Annual consultation aligned with the development of the Annual Transportation Capital Program.

Implementation: DOT must embed the identified agricultural needs into its project evaluation framework, ensuring ongoing consideration in project selection.

Timing: Immediate effect means the requirements apply to the next cycle of the annual transportation program after enactment, with ongoing yearly application.

Potential impact and rationale

The bill formalizes a channel for agricultural concerns to influence statewide transportation planning.

By integrating agricultural needs into DOT’s analytic tools and project prioritization, investments may better support farming operations, preserve farmland viability, and contribute to the broader economy.

Supports ongoing farmland preservation efforts by improving surrounding infrastructure critical to farm productivity and market access.

Note: The bill is sponsored by Assembly members Dawn Fantasia and Alex Sauickie, with the bill introduced in March 2026 and referred to the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Bill