A state constitutional amendment sponsored by Senator Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth) to provide incentives for property owners with developable land to preserve their parcels as open space has cleared its first legislative hurdle.

The resolution, SCR-38, which would ask voters to authorize property tax reductions for privately held lands that are permanently preserved as open space, was approved by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. The resolution is a companion to legislation, also sponsored by Senator Beck, that was passed by the Senate earlier this year to crack down on abuse of the state’s farmland assessment program.

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