Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish Wine and Grape Education Grant Program; appropriates $1.5 million.

A4383

ASSEMBLY, No. 4383

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblywoman� HEATHER SIMMONS

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

SYNOPSIS

���� Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish
Wine and Grape Education Grant Program; appropriates $1.5 million.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing a grant program to provide opportunities
for education in the wine and grape industry at four-year public institutions
of higher education and making an appropriation.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� The Secretary of
Higher Education shall establish a four-year �Wine and Grape Education Grant
Program.� The program shall provide grants to four-year public institutions of
higher education to establish or expand degree-granting or certificate programs
in wine and grape science including grape growing, wine making, and business
operations.

���� b.� The secretary shall
determine the allowable uses for grant funds prior to accepting applications to
participate in the grant program and shall describe the allowable uses in a
notice of grant opportunity.

���� c.� A four-year public
institution of higher education that wants to participate in the grant program
shall submit an application to the secretary in a form and manner prescribed by
the secretary. The application shall include:

���� (1) the institution�s plan for
the establishment or expansion of wine and grape education programs;

���� (2) the institution�s plan to
ensure students attain real-world knowledge and experience in the wine and
grape industry including, but not limited to, the availability of partnerships
with nonprofit organizations and local wineries;

���� (3) the number of students
able to be supported by the grant funding and the number of students expected
to participate; and

���� (4) any other information the
secretary deems necessary.

���� d.� After reviewing the
applications submitted pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the secretary
shall select three four-year public institutions of higher education to
participate in the grant program. The three institutions selected by the secretary
shall include one institution in each of the southern, central, and northern
regions of the State. The secretary shall award a grant in an amount not to
exceed $500,000 to each grant recipient.

���� e.� In addition to the funds
appropriated to the program pursuant to section 3 of this act, the secretary
may accept and allocate funds made available to the program by contribution,
gift, donation, or any other sources for the purpose of the program.

���� 2.��� a.� A four-year public
institution of higher education receiving a grant under the Wine and Grape
Education Grant Program established pursuant to section 1 of this act may
permit a student who is under the age of 21 to enroll in a degree-granting or
certificate program in wine and grape science provided that the student shall
not be permitted to enroll in any coursework or attend any event where
alcoholic beverages are to be consumed or where the student would otherwise be
required to be 21 years of age in accordance with any other law, rule, or
regulation.

���� b.� As used in this section,
�alcoholic beverage� means the same as that term is defined in R.S.33:1-1.

���� 3.��� The Secretary of Higher
Education shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than six
months prior to the conclusion of the Wine and Grape Education Grant Program
established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The report shall include, but
not be limited to, information on the implementation of the grant program, the
number of students supported by the grant program, and any recommendations
concerning the continuation or expansion of the grant program.

���� 4.��� There is appropriated $1,500,000
from the General Fund to the Secretary of Higher Education for the
implementation of the Wine and Grape Education Grant Program established
pursuant to section 1 of this act.

���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect on July 1 next following the date of enactment, except that the
Secretary of Higher Education may take any anticipatory action, in advance of
the effective date, as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this
act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill directs the
Secretary of Higher Education to establish a four-year Wine and Grape Education
Grant Program. The program is to provide grants to four-year public
institutions of higher education to establish or expand degree-granting or
certificate programs in wine and grape science including grape growing, wine
making, and business operations.

���� To be eligible for
consideration of a grant award, a four-year public institution of higher
education is required to submit an application to the Secretary of Higher
Education in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary. A grant application
is required to include: the institution�s plan for the establishment or
expansion of wine and grape education programs; the institution�s plan to
ensure students attain real-world knowledge and experience in the wine and
grape industry including, but not limited to, the availability of partnerships
with nonprofit organizations and local wineries; the number of students able to
be supported by the grant program and the number of students expected to
participate; and any other information the secretary deems necessary.

���� Under the bill, the secretary
is to select three four-year public institutions of higher education, including
one institution in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the
State, for participation in the grant program. An institution selected to
participate is to receive a grant in an amount not to exceed $500,000.

���� The provisions of the bill
stipulate that a four-year public institution of higher education that receives
a grant under the program may permit a student who is under the age of 21 to
enroll in a degree-granting or certificate program in wine and grape science
provided that the student is not to be permitted to enroll in any coursework or
attend any event where alcoholic beverages are to be consumed or where the
student would otherwise be required to be 21 years of age in accordance with
any other law, rule, or regulation.

���� Additionally, the bill
requires the secretary to submit a report on the grant program to the Governor
and the Legislature no later than six months prior to the conclusion of the
program.