ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 111

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 13, 2022

      The Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 111, with committee amendments.

      This bill, as amended, would provide that any farmstand or location on a farm, or location used by a farm or other agricultural operation, to sell firewood obtained from property other than the seller’s land would not be considered a lumber yard under municipal land use regulations or for other regulatory purposes. The bill, as amended, also prohibits any firewood obtained from outside of the State to be sold or offered for sale at any farmstand or location on a farm, or location used by a farm or other agricultural operation, in the State unless it is heat treated and certified as heat treated and pest free by the state of origin of the firewood.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2022-2023 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amendments prohibit any firewood obtained from outside of the State to be sold or offered for sale at any farmstand or location on a farm, or location used by a farm or other agricultural operation, in the State unless it is heat treated and certified as heat treated and pest free by the state of origin of the firewood.