Senate Commerce Committee Statement to Senate, No. 1788 — State of New Jersey (March 16, 2026)

Summary

A Senate Commerce Committee statement to the Senate on Senate Bill No. 1788 with committee amendments, State of New Jersey, dated March 16, 2026, reporting the bill favorably. As amended, the bill establishes a fee refund program for individuals and businesses applying for State permits, licenses or certifications. State entities must catalog the permits, licenses and certifications they issue for the Governor, whose office is to set recommended application processing times within 180 days after enactment. A State entity that exceeds the recommended time by more than 15 days after receiving a completed application will refund the application fee to the extent permitted by law, unless the delay is the applicant's fault.

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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;

(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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