A 3955 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires study of vacant commercial space for small businesses.

This bill (A3955) requires New Jersey's Business Action Center to study vacant commercial real estate and its impact on small businesses. The study must examine how local governments track vacancies, assess existing programs aiding vacant space, survey business owners' experiences finding space, and recommend improvements. The report must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within one year of the bill's effective date. This bill does not create new programs but mandates a review to inform future policy decisions. It directly affects small businesses seeking commercial space and local governments managing vacant properties.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

General Assembly Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 2, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 3 edits

MINOR

Bill A3955 moved from its introduced version to a first reprint after being reported by the Assembly Commerce and Development Committee on February 12, 2026, with amendments. The main substantive change revised the survey requirement in subsection (d), shifting it from asking about business owners' satisfaction with private real estate resources to asking about the methods they use to identify vacant properties more broadly. Additional sponsors were added, including Assemblyman Calabrese and several others.

Scope change

The survey requirement in subsection (d) was broadened from specifically asking about satisfaction with private real estate resources to asking about all methods business owners use to identify vacant properties, making the study more comprehensive.

REQUIREMENT

The survey required under subsection (d) was changed from a survey of business owners 'and their satisfaction with using private real estate resources to identify vacant commercial real estate' to a survey 'concerning the methods by which business owners and prospective business owners identify vacant properties.' This broadens the scope of the survey beyond just private real estate resources to all identification methods.

SCOPE

Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese (District 36, Bergen and Passaic) was added as a sponsor, and the co-sponsor list expanded to include Assemblywomen Rowan, Carter, Drulis, Brennan, Peterpaul and Assemblyman Freiman.

TECHNICAL

The bill's statement section (a summary of the bill's requirements appended at the end) was removed, which is standard practice after a committee report.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the General Assembly by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed by the Assembly (74-5-0)

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee

lower

3 primary · 7 co-sponsors