S 3608 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

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

400
Passed
Total votes 40
Oct 28, 2024
D Democratic25
25 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican15
15 Yea
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