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Bill > A1269
NJ A1269
NJ A1269Expands scope of New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act dealing with economic impact of rules on small businesses.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill makes changes to the "New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act" in order to expand the scope of the law with regard to small businesses, defined as businesses that employ fewer than 100 full-time employees or having gross annual sales of less than $6 million. The bill requires an agency to use, when developing rules, the consolidation or simplification of a compliance or reporting requirement for small businesses as an approach to minimize the rule's impact on small businesses, so long as the public health, safety, or general public welfare is not endangered. Under the bill, an agency seeking to continue in effect an expiring rule by duly proposing for re-adoption the rule, with amendment, prior to its expiration, is to consider a series of factors, as part of the regulatory flexibility analysis, which are set forth in the bill. This review is to be conducted by the agency at the time a rule is proposed for re-adoption (which is generally every seven years), to ensure that the rule continues to have a minimal impact on small businesses. The bill establishes a process by which a small business that is adversely affected economically or aggrieved by final rule-making action may file a petition with the agency objecting to all or a part of a rule subject to regulatory flexibility analysis. For cases in which the agency rejects the petition, this process addresses concerns about frivolous appeals without creating unprecedented procedures with respect to the courts. Specifically, the bill: (1) establishes a petition process as a prerequisite for a court appeal; (2) requires the appeal petition to be filed within 90 days after final rule-making action; (3) creates an optional summary disposition process based on affidavits; (4) sets sanctions for frivolous appeals; and (5) places a restriction on appeals based on compliance with the regulatory flexibility process.
AI Summary
This bill expands the New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act to provide greater protections for small businesses, which are defined as entities with fewer than 100 full-time employees or less than $6 million in gross annual sales. When creating new rules, state agencies must now consider consolidating or simplifying compliance and reporting requirements for these small businesses, as long as public health and safety are not compromised. The bill also mandates that agencies review existing rules nearing expiration or re-adoption (typically every seven years) to ensure they continue to minimize adverse economic impacts on small businesses by considering factors like the rule's necessity, public complaints, complexity, overlap with other regulations, and changes in technology or economic conditions. Furthermore, it establishes a formal process for small businesses to petition an agency if they believe a rule has negatively impacted them economically, requiring the agency to respond within 45 days. If the agency denies the petition or fails to act, the small business can then seek judicial review, but this must be preceded by the agency petition and filed within 90 days of the final rule-making action. The bill also introduces an optional summary disposition process based on affidavits to handle appeals more efficiently and includes provisions for sanctions against frivolous appeals, while limiting appeals based on whether the agency followed the regulatory flexibility process.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee (on 01/13/2026)
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/2026/A1269 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A1500/1269_I1.HTM |
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