Senate Commerce Committee Statement to Senate, No. 1788 (March 16, 2026)

Summary

Statement to Senate, No. 1788, with committee amendments, from the Senate Commerce Committee of the State of New Jersey, dated March 16, 2026, reporting Senate Bill No. 1788 favorably. The statement says the bill establishes a fee refund program for individuals and businesses applying for permits, licenses, or certifications, and requires the Governor's office to establish recommended application processing times within 180 days after enactment. It states that a State entity that exceeds 15 days past the recommended time after receiving a completed application will refund the application fee to the extent permitted by law, unless the delay is due to the fault of the applicant.

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     SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

                     STATEMENT TO

                   SENATE, No. 1788
                    with committee amendments



 STATE OF NEW JERSEY
                     DATED: MARCH 16, 2026

    The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably and with
committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1788.
    As amended, this bill establishes a fee refund program for
individuals and businesses applying for permits, licenses, or
certifications in this State.
    This bill requires State entities that issue permits, licenses, or
certifications to individuals and businesses to compile a catalog of
the types of permits, licenses, or certifications it issues and submit
that catalog to the Governor. This bill establishes information to be
included in the catalog.
    This bill requires the Governor’s office to establish, within 180
days after enactment of the bill, recommended application processing
times for the various types of permits, licenses, and certifications.
    Any State entity that exceeds 15 days past the recommended
application processing time as established under this bill after having
received a completed application will refund the amount of the
application fee to the extent permitted by law. The refund will have
no bearing on the disposition of the underlying application. A State
entity is not required to refund an application fee if a delay in
processing an application is due to the fault of the applicant.
    This bill defines “State entity” as a State department or agency,
board, commission, corporation, or authority.
    This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session
pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes
required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
    The committee amended the bill to:
    (1) clarify the provisions of the bill impact individuals and
businesses;
    (2) require the Governor’s office to establish application processing
times for State entities within 180 days of the enactment of the bill;
    (3) establish a 15-day grace period within which State entities are to
issue refunds;
                                   2

    (4) exempt State entities from the refund requirement if it is
determined that a delay in processing an application was the fault of an
applicant; and
    (5) make a technical update.


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