Assemblyman Alex Sauickie’s bill protecting farmers from increasing meritless nuisance lawsuits was signed into law by the governor on Thursday. The law, Sauickie says, recognizes that high-density housing mandates in established farming communities lead to more complaints about accepted agricultural operations. 

“As New Jersey mandates more and more residential development in traditionally rural areas, complaints over noise or other aspects of farming operations will continue to rise. The financial costs of defending against these claims can be very hard on farmers. This is a much-needed law that will strengthen protections for farmers and preserve the future of farming in the Garden State,” Sauickie said. 

The legislation (A4603) allows commercial farmers to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees associated with bad faith lawsuits by enhancing New Jersey’s 1983 Right to Farm Act. The act affirms that accepted commercial farming practices and operations do not constitute a public or private nuisance.

The law takes effect immediately.