TRENTON, N.J. — The Senate Economic Growth Committee has passed a bill sponsored by Senator Parker Space (R-24) aimed at strengthening legal protections for commercial farmers under New Jersey’s Right to Farm Act.
The legislation would allow farmers who face nuisance complaints to seek recovery of legal costs if the complaints are found to be made in bad faith. Senator Space said the bill is intended to reduce unnecessary legal burdens on farmers and protect New Jersey’s agricultural industry.
“It’s hard enough to make a living farming the land so it’s especially costly for farmers to have to deal with nuisance complaints,” Space said. “Preserving land alone won’t save farming, preserving farmers’ way of life has an even greater impact.”
Process established for bad-faith complaint rulings
Under the proposed measure, farmers would submit their claims to the county agriculture development board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC). If these entities determine by a preponderance of evidence that the complaint was made in bad faith, they would order the complainant to pay reasonable legal costs and fees incurred by the farmer.
The bill is designed to discourage frivolous or retaliatory legal actions that often place financial strain on farmers while reinforcing the protections offered under the Right to Farm Act.
The legislation now moves forward for consideration by the full Senate.
The committee’s approval signals growing support to shield New Jersey farmers from costly legal disputes threatening their livelihood.
