Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk.
This bill would allow restaurants and licensed alcoholic beverage retailers (including bars, wineries, breweries, and distilleries) to operate in designated outdoor spaces adjacent to their business premises, including on public sidewalks. It creates a "premises expansion permit" process requiring applications to either the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (for licensed businesses) or municipal zoning officers (for restaurants without alcohol licenses), with requirements for security plans and property descriptions. Municipalities may regulate hours of operation but must allow outdoor service outside specific hours (10pm-11am on Sundays-Wednesdays, and 12am-11am on Thurs-Sat), and cannot prohibit outdoor service for businesses already operating under legal or disciplinary restrictions. The bill specifies that State-owned rights-of-way require separate approval from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, with setback requirements for roads intersecting state highways.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2024
Committee Review
Oct 2024
Senate Passage
Oct 2024
General Assembly Passage
Oct 2024
Signed into Law
Nov 2024
Introduced Sep 19, 2024
Signed Nov 25, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Oct 28, 2024 · General Assembly Oct 28, 2024
How they voted
40–0
Passed
Total votes 40
Oct 28, 2024
D
Democratic25
100% Yea
R
Republican15
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
10
Key actions
6
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Nov 25, 2024
Signed into law
Approved P.L.2024, c.95.
executive
Oct 28, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (39-0)
upper
Oct 28, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (75-0-0)
lower
Oct 28, 2024
Lower · Passed
Assembly Floor Amendment Passed (Freiman) (Voice)
lower
Oct 28, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (40-0)
upper
Oct 7, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
upper
Sep 19, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
upper
5 primary · 22 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Barbara McCann Stamato
DDemocratic
P
Mitchelle Drulis
DDemocratic
P
Paul Sarlo
DDemocratic
P
Roy Freiman
DDemocratic
P
Vince Polistina
RRepublican
Co
Alex Sauickie
RRepublican
Co
Angela McKnight
DDemocratic
Co
Carmen Amato
RRepublican
Co
Chris DePhillips
RRepublican
Co
Claire Swift
RRepublican
Co
Dawn Fantasia
RRepublican
Co
Declan O'Scanlon
RRepublican
Co
Gerry Scharfenberger
RRepublican
Co
Jim Beach
DDemocratic
Co
John Allen
DDemocratic
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