ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2753

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 9, 2026

      The Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2753.

      As amended, this bill directs the Department of Agriculture (department), in consultation with the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety (director) and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (chief administrator), to create, publish, and update on the department’s Internet website and any official department social media accounts informational materials about motorists approaching farm equipment on public highways.  The informational materials are to include, but are not to be limited to, a video informing motorists of the risks of attempting to pass farm equipment on public highways.  This bill further requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to publish on its Internet website and on any official social media accounts, and to post in all physical locations throughout the State, and update as appropriate, the informational materials created by the department.  The department is also required to place additional emphasis on highway safety involving farm equipment during National Farm Safety and Health Week, which is the third week of September of each year.

      This bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the director and the chief administrator, to issue a report to the Governor and to the Legislature that includes, at a minimum: an assessment of the safety risks of motorists attempting to pass farm equipment on public highways; a list of potential remedies for the State to pursue to mitigate or eliminate the safety risks identified; and an estimate of the funding required to implement the remedies identified.

      Lastly, this bill amends current law to include safely sharing the roadway with farm equipment in curriculum guidelines for classroom driver education courses and informational brochures provided to the parents and guardians of beginning drivers under the age of 18.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  require the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to publish on its Internet website and on any official social media accounts, and to post in all physical locations throughout the State, the informational materials created by the Department of Agriculture; and

      (2)  make certain technical updates to underlying law.