The Garden State Liquor Retailers’ Association is an organization committed to protecting and promoting the interests of family-owned businesses, many of which are minority and immigrant entrepreneurs in the liquor retail industry. We stand for social justice and equity and are committed to preserving the Main Street values that make our communities strong and vibrant.

Old Legislature Wraps Up with Passage of Modified Liquor License Reform Bill!

The 220th legislative session ended on January 8th with a flurry of activity. In the final weeks, the New Jersey Legislature considered over 300 bills including a heavily negotiated bill that makes some changes to New Jersey’s liquor license laws. Frustrated by the Legislature’s refusal to move key pieces of his proposals almost a full year later, the Governor attempted to leverage the power of his office by conditionally vetoing a bill (S-3038) designed to help the state’s breweries that passed both houses unanimously. The Governor’s conditional veto added language to the brewery bill that provided for an unlimited number of new licenses and set the price at $25,000 for each new license. While support for existing license holders remains strong in the Legislature, the Governor made it clear that he is willing to hold up some of the Legislature’s priority issues to force changes to liquor license laws.

After several weeks of negotiation, the Legislature passed a compromise bill (S-4265) in the final days of the Legislative session that included an expansion of permitted activities for breweries, a new “farm-brewery license” which allows a person who produces hops and other essential materials to produce malt alcoholic beverages and sell up to 2,500 barrels per year of that beverage produced off premises, a new section that allows for limited transfers of inactive plenary retail consumption licenses in certain circumstances and a new section to allow for special licenses in certain municipalities with shopping malls. The Governor signed this bill on January 16th despite the fact that key parts of his reform package were left out.

And the New Legislature Begins!

On January 9th, the 221st Legislature officially reorganized and swore in newly elected members. Senate President Nicholas Scutari was re-elected for a second term as Senate President, and Speaker Craig Coughlin was sworn into his fourth term as Assembly Speaker, making him the longest-serving Assembly Speaker in New Jersey history. Republicans elected Senator Anthony Bucco who will take over the helm as Senate Minority Leader, and Assemblyman John DiMaio begins his second term as Assembly Minority Leader.

In total, 37 new legislators were sworn in. That’s about 1/3 of the entire Legislature. We welcome 10 new Senators of which 7 of them moved up from the Assembly. And 27 new faces in the Assembly. Democrats maintained a 25-15 majority in the Senate and picked up 6 seats in the Assembly for a 52-38 majority. MBI has compiled a summary of the legislators new to this session. Get to know them here and view the full list of towns represented by each legislative district here.

Senate Committee Membership can be found here.

Assembly Committee Membership can be found here.