Bill > S2068

Introduced Session

This bill requires all revenue generated by the casino hotel facility room occupancy fee to be made available to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). Current law imposes a fee of $3.00 per day on the occupancy of a hotel room by a guest in a casino hotel facility, whether for consideration or as a complimentary item. P.L.2004, c.129 required the CRDA to issue up to $62 million in bonds to finance investments in eligible expansion projects at casino hotel facilities approved by the CRDA and up to $31 million in bonds to finance investments in projects located in the North and South Jersey, also approved by the authority. P.L.2004, c.129 pledged the revenues generated by the casino hotel room facility occupancy fee towards the payment of the principal and interest on the bonds. The CRDA issued $93 million in Hotel Room Fee Revenue Bonds, Series 2004, in October 2004. The final debt service payment on the bonds was made on January 1, 2025. Current law requires the revenue derived from $1.00 of the casino hotel room facility occupancy fee to be deposited into a special fund held by the State Treasurer and made available for the use of the CRDA. The revenue derived from the remaining $2.00 of the casino hotel room facility occupancy fee is deposited into the Casino Revenue Fund. The Casino Revenue Fund receives the revenues generated by the taxes imposed on casinos, internet gaming, sports wagering, and other related activities. Moneys in the Casino Revenue Fund are required to be appropriated to support reductions in property taxes, utility charges, and other specified expenses of eligible senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Under the bill, the revenue derived from $2.00 of the casino hotel room facility occupancy fee currently deposited into the Casino Revenue Fund would instead be deposited into a special fund held by the State Treasurer and made available for the use of the CRDA beginning in State fiscal year 2026. Thus, all revenues generated by the casino hotel room facility occupancy fee would be made available to the CRDA. Revenues from the casino hotel facility room occupancy fee would no longer be deposited into the Casino Revenue Fund. This bill also amends current law to remove an outdated reference to a provision of law that imposed a 4.25 percent tax on complimentary rooms, food, beverages, or entertainment provided by casino licensees at no cost or a reduced price. This provision of law was repealed by P.L.2011, c.19.

AI Summary

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Vince Polistina (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document