Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes New Jersey minority, women, and under-served farmer registry.

Highlights:

• Establishes that the Department of Agriculture shall create a New Jersey Minority, Women, and Underserved Farmer Registry (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the department shall (Sec. 1):

• Coordinate outreach to minority, women, disabled, LGBTQIA+, socially disadvantaged, and other farmers in the State who have been historically underserved and provide them with farming loans and other business assistance;

• Automatically register minority, women, disabled, LGBTQIA+, socially disadvantaged, and historically underserved farmers to receive notification of opportunities to apply for and participate in farm loan assistance and business assistance programs;

• Ensure that the criteria for inclusion in the Minority, Women, and Underserved Farmer Registry is the same as the criteria for inclusion in the federal USDA register;

• Provide farmers who are minorities, women, disabled, LGBTQIA+, or socially disadvantaged with information and the opportunity to register with the federal USDA; and

• Notify and encourage farmers who are minorities, women, disabled, LGBTQIA+, or socially disadvantaged to register with the federal USDA register.

Full Bill Text