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Assembly Commerce and Economic Development committee releases three business-related bills
Summary
The committee advanced three bills: AB 798 to offer optional electronic notices to businesses, AB 2078 to create a registry of out-of-state contractors awarded public-works contracts, and AB 3955 ordering a study of vacant commercial spaces; all were released by committee votes.
TRENTON — The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee on an undisclosed date advanced three business-related bills, voting to release each from committee for further consideration.
The committee released Assembly Bill 798, which would require state entities to offer an optional service allowing businesses to receive certain notices electronically. Supporters who registered in favor included Mary Ellen Papart of the New Jersey Food Council, Christopher Emerholtz of NJVIA, Laura Gunn of Katz Government Affairs and Michael Egington of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce; none elected to testify. The committee recorded one recorded no vote (Assemblyman Bergen) and a majority of recorded yes votes; the bill was released.
The committee also released Assembly Bill 2078, which would establish a registry of out-of-state contractors who are awarded public-works contracts. Lori Buckalew of the New Jersey League of Municipalities was recorded in opposition but did not testify. The committee vote on the motion to release recorded one no vote (Assemblyman Bergen) and multiple yes votes; the bill was released.
Assembly Bill 3955, which would require a study of vacant commercial spaces to help small businesses, passed as amended. Committee amendments require that the report include a survey of business owners and prospective business owners focused on the methods they use to identify vacant properties, rather than measuring satisfaction with private real estate services. Supporters who registered in favor included Adam Gudjiecki, Christopher Imholt (NJVIA) and Michael Egington (New Jersey Chamber of Commerce); none testified. On the motion to amend and release, Assemblyman Bergen said, "I was gonna be a yes, but since the new guy was so late, no." The transcript does not record Assemblywoman Begoli’s vote on this motion; the committee announced the bill was released as amended.
Votes and procedure: Each bill was moved and put to a voice roll call; the transcript records Assemblyman Bergen voting no on each motion while other named members voted yes. Where a vote by a named member was not recorded in the transcript (AB 3955, Assemblywoman Begoli), the committee’s announcement that the bill was released is the official outcome recorded in the proceedings.
What’s next: The committee released all three bills for further legislative action; no dates for subsequent hearings or floor consideration were provided in the transcript. The meeting adjourned shortly after the last vote.
