New Jersey Senate Bill S845

New Jersey 2026-2027 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/13/26

Caption

Establishes EDA grant program to support increased business expenses incurred by certain businesses impacted by certain public highway projects; appropriates $1 million.

Summary

This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to create and run a grant program for certain retail businesses that are negatively affected by public highway projects. The program is intended to reimburse eligible businesses for increased operating expenses incurred during the period when a highway, road, or street project is underway and traffic or access is disrupted. The bill defines key terms such as “public highway project,” “impacted construction zone,” “relief period,” and “small business,” and limits eligibility to independently owned New Jersey businesses with no more than 50 full-time employees and no outstanding State tax delinquencies. To receive a grant, an applicant must document its normal business expenses before the project and its increased expenses during the project, using equal numbers of business days for comparison. The EDA would review applications on a rolling basis and award grants equal to the difference between the applicant’s regular expenses and the increased expenses directly caused by the highway project, subject to available funding. The Commissioner of Transportation must notify the EDA when projects begin or end, and must also identify ongoing projects within 30 days after the act takes effect. The bill also allows the EDA to adopt temporary rules immediately to implement the program.

Impact

The bill would add a new business assistance program to New Jersey law under Title 34, administered by the EDA, and would create a new state-funded reimbursement mechanism for retail businesses affected by transportation construction. It would also require coordination between the Department of Transportation and the EDA for identifying qualifying projects and affected areas. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to support administration of the grant program, which would be available subject to program funds and rolling approval of applications.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears designed as targeted economic relief for small retail businesses facing temporary losses or higher costs because of public infrastructure work. The overall framing is remedial and supportive of local businesses rather than regulatory or punitive.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to be eligibility limits, proof requirements, and funding adequacy. The bill restricts aid to small, independently owned retail businesses with fixed locations, which could exclude larger businesses or other affected enterprises such as restaurants, service providers, or non-retail firms. It also requires applicants to prove that increased expenses were directly caused by the highway project and to compare equal business-day periods, which may be administratively burdensome. Finally, because grants are subject to available funds and the bill appropriates only $1 million, there may be concern about whether the program can meet demand if multiple projects affect many businesses.