The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey bill transfers Food and Nutrition Division to Human Services and appropriates $128.241 million for farmland preservation
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources CommitteeSponsors: Gary Schaer and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
Assembly Bill 625 transfers the Division of Food and Nutrition from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Human Services and appropriates $128.241 million for farmland preservation projects and administrative costs. The measure provides $115.091 million for acquiring farmland s and s, along with grants for local governments and nonprofits, taking effect immediately upon enactment.
Local governments, qualifying nonprofits, and agricultural landowners across New Jersey will see administrative shifts in food assistance oversight and access to $128.241 million in state funding for land acquisition, grants, and operational expenses.
- The State Agriculture Development Committee administers New Jersey's farmland preservation programs, utilizing dedicated state revenues and bond funds to protect agricultural land from development. context
- The Division of Food and Nutrition administers federal and state nutrition programs such as the National School Lunch Program and emergency food assistance across New Jersey. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Agriculture
Loses administrative control and oversight of the Division of Food and Nutrition.
Department of Human Services
Assumes administrative control and oversight of the Division of Food and Nutrition.
State Agriculture Development Committee
Receives multi-million dollar appropriations to acquire farmland development easements and fee simple titles.
Counties and Municipalities
Eligible to receive grants for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquiring fee simple titles to farmland.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state department will oversee food and nutrition programs under this bill?
How much money is appropriated for farmland preservation purposes in total?
What conditions apply to farmland acquired in fee simple using these funds?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Consolidation of Food Assistance Oversight
The legislation shifts oversight of nutrition assistance programs from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Human Services.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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