Establishes "Jersey Craft Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program" in EDA.

S1082 TR

SENATE, No. 1082

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Turner, Johnson and Beach

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes "Jersey Craft Beverage Retailer
Promotion and Grant Program" in EDA.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As reported by the Senate Economic Growth Committee
with technical review.

��

An Act
concerning the promotion of craft beverages produced in
New Jersey, and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� a. The New Jersey
Economic Development Authority, in conjunction with the Division of Travel and
Tourism in the Department of State, shall develop and implement a �Jersey Craft
Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program� to encourage, advertise, and promote
craft alcohol beverages manufactured in the State and those State retailers who
promote and sell craft alcohol beverages within the State of New Jersey.

���� b.��� The Jersey Craft
Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program shall:

���� (1)�� increase consumer
awareness of the New Jersey craft alcohol beverages made by the holder of a
limited brewery license, restricted brewery license, farm brewery license,
cidery and meadery license, or craft distillery license;

���� (2)�� increase consumer
awareness of State holders of a plenary retail consumption license, seasonal
retail consumption license, or plenary retail distribution license, that
regularly promote and sell products manufactured by the holder of a limited
brewery license, restricted brewery license, farm brewery license, cidery and
meadery license, or craft distillery license;

���� (3)�� organize advertising
campaigns and create marketing programs that promote craft alcohol beverages
manufactured in the State and those State retailers who promote and sell New
Jersey craft alcohol beverages in the State;

���� (4)�� disseminate information
about the variety and availability of craft alcohol beverages produced in the
State; and

���� (5)�� create a �Certified
Jersey Craft Alcohol Beverage Retailer� signage program to be used by the
holder of a plenary retail consumption license, seasonal retail consumption
license, or plenary retail distribution license where at least 10 percent of
the annual sales revenue is derived from alcohol beverage sales from products
manufactured by the holder of a limited brewery license, restricted brewery
license, farm brewery license, cidery and meadery license, or craft distillery
license.

����
c.���� (1) The
New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall establish a �Certified Jersey
Craft Alcohol Beverage Retailer Grant Program.� The program shall provide
grants to the holders of a plenary retail consumption license, seasonal retail
consumption license, or plenary retail distribution license, that are qualified
as a �Certified Jersey Craft Alcohol Beverage Retailer� pursuant to subsection
b. of this section, to provide support for the increased retail sale of craft
alcohol beverages produced in the State.� The maximum award to a grantee under
the program shall not exceed $2,500 annually.

���� (2)�� In establishing the
grant program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall:

���� (a)�� develop guidelines,
procedures, and timelines for application submissions by holders of a limited
brewery license, restricted brewery license, farm brewery license, cidery and
meadery license, or craft distillery license for the grant program and approvals
thereof, as well as for the reporting measures associated with grant
activities;

���� (b)�� establish criteria for
holders of a plenary retail consumption license, seasonal retail consumption
license, or plenary retail distribution license, that are qualified as a
�Certified Jersey Craft Alcohol Beverage Retailer� to qualify for a grant from
the program; and

���� (c)�� designate acceptable
uses for the grants, including, but not limited to capital improvements or the
purchase of goods and services that support the promotion and sales of New
Jersey craft alcohol

beverages, and funding for the purchase, installation,
construction, repair or reconditioning of equipment and facilities on a
licensed premises utilized to serve, refrigerate, store or display New Jersey
craft alcohol beverages.

���� d.��� The New Jersey Economic
Development Authority shall establish a "New Jersey Certified Jersey Craft
Alcohol Beverage Retailer Fund."� All monies in the fund shall be
expended by the authority for issuing grants pursuant to subsection c. of this
section.�� The fund shall be credited annually, in an appropriation
by law, with an amount equal to 50 percent of revenues derived from the tax,
pursuant to R.S.54:43-1, on all sales of beer, cider, mead, and liquors sold by
the holder of a limited brewery license, restricted brewery license, farm
brewery license, cidery and meadery license, or craft distillery license during
the preceding taxable year.� The fund shall also be credited with any
monies made available from the General Fund or any non-State public or private
source.� The authority shall include with the annual budget request for the
authority a request for funds sufficient to carry out the purposes of this act.

���� e.���� The New Jersey Economic
Development Authority, in consultation with the Division of Travel and Tourism,
shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act,"
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to implement the provisions
of this section.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.