Bill
Bill > A5685
NJ A5685
NJ A5685Directs Department of Agriculture to designate Jersey Fresh funding for New Jersey liquors, beers, and wines; appropriates $100,000.
summary
Introduced
05/15/2025
05/15/2025
In Committee
05/15/2025
05/15/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill would direct the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (department) to designate Jersey Fresh funding for New Jersey liquors, beers, and wines. Jersey Fresh currently features several New-Jersey-crafted alcoholic products on their website, such as wine, beer, cider, and liquor. In the interest of the promotion of various State alcoholic products, this bill would provide for an established and designated funding source for alcohols produced in the State that are made from agricultural commodities cultivated in the State. The Jersey Fresh Program is a marketing and quality grading program used by the department to advertise and promote the availability of fruit and vegetable commodities produced in the State. This bill would expand the Jersey Fresh Program to officially include marketing for liquor, beer, and wine products generated in the State, from products cultivated in the State. The bill would require the department to implement a quality grading and rating system which are consistent with the quality grading system used by the department to measure the quality of other agricultural commodities for the Jersey Fresh Program. This bill would provide for an annual appropriation of $100,000 in each fiscal year following enactment of the bill, to facilitate the marketing and promotion of liquor, beer, and wine products under the "Jersey Fresh" program.
AI Summary
This bill expands New Jersey's existing Jersey Fresh Program, which currently promotes agricultural commodities, to include marketing and quality grading for New Jersey-produced alcoholic beverages, specifically liquor, beer, and wine products. The bill defines these products precisely: beer as fermented grain beverages, liquor as distilled spirits from fermented grains or produce, and wine as fermented grape beverages. The Department of Agriculture will develop a quality grading and rating system for these alcohol products that mirrors their existing agricultural commodity evaluation methods. To support this expansion, the bill appropriates $100,000 annually from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture specifically for advertising and promoting these state-produced alcoholic beverages. This funding will help the Jersey Fresh Program showcase and potentially boost New Jersey's alcohol production industry by creating a standardized method of highlighting locally produced drinks, similar to how the program currently promotes fruits and vegetables. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee (on 05/15/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5685 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6000/5685_I1.HTM |
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