Bill
Bill > A3580
NJ A3580
NJ A3580Permits municipalities to issue additional retail alcoholic beverage licenses regardless of population limitation.
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 allows municipalities to issue additional plenary retail consumption licenses, by resolution, at public sale to the highest qualified bidder in a manner consistent with current law. A plenary retail consumption license is an alcoholic beverage retail license issued for use by bars and restaurants that allows consumption of alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises. Under current law, a municipality may issue plenary retail consumption licenses until the combined total number in the municipality is fewer than one license for each 3,000 persons. Because of these restrictions, there is a shortage of these licenses in some municipalities. This bill addresses this shortage by allowing a municipality to issue additional licenses through a public bidding process. Under the bill, fifty percent of the fee paid by the highest qualifying bidder would be paid to the municipality that issued the license and the remaining fifty percent would be divided equally among and paid to the plenary retail consumption licensees in the municipality in which the licensed premises is located.
AI Summary
This bill allows municipalities to issue more retail alcoholic beverage licenses for bars and restaurants, known as plenary retail consumption licenses, even if they have already reached the current limit based on population. Currently, a municipality can only issue one such license for every 3,000 residents, which has led to a shortage in some areas. This bill permits municipalities to bypass that population restriction and issue additional licenses through a public auction process, where the highest qualified bidder wins. The money generated from these auctions will be split, with 50% going to the municipality that issued the license and the other 50% being divided equally among existing plenary retail consumption licensees in that municipality who obtained their licenses before this bill becomes law.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations 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/A3580 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A4000/3580_I1.HTM |
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