Permits municipalities to issue additional retail alcoholic beverage licenses regardless of population limitation.

This bill allows New Jersey municipalities that have reached the current population-based limit for retail alcohol licenses (one license per 3,000 residents) to issue additional licenses through a public bidding process. The highest bidder for a new license pays a fee, with half going to the municipality and half distributed equally to existing license holders in that municipality. It directly affects municipalities facing license shortages and current bar/restaurant licensees. The bill does not change the population cap but provides a new mechanism to increase license availability beyond the existing limit.