Requires State agencies to vacate certain property in Trenton; allows EDA to offer incentives to private entities to locate to that property.

S3778

SENATE, No. 3778

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires State agencies to vacate certain property in
Trenton; allows EDA to offer incentives to private entities to locate to that
property.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning the vacating of State offices on certain property and certain
Economic Development Authority programs and supplementing P.L.1974, c.180
(C.34:1B-1 et seq.).

����
Be It Enacted

by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Any State department or
agency with offices located at 300 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, or 400 Riverview
Plaza, Trenton, shall relocate its offices from 300 Riverview Plaza, Trenton,
and 400 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, to new locations within the city of Trenton as
expeditiously as is reasonably possible.� Upon the effective date of this act,
the department or agency shall pursue all legal and reasonable means available
to terminate the leases for the Riverview properties, and shall cooperate with
the landlord of each property to fill any space that becomes vacant as a result
of the lease termination and relocation with new tenants as quickly as possible.�
The new location of a department or agency shall be suitable to the needs of
the department or agency.� Relocation from a building shall occur upon
conclusion of an agreement to terminate the lease for that building with the
landlord of that building.

���� 2.� a. �The New Jersey
Economic Development Authority shall take an active role in the redevelopment
of the Delaware River waterfront of the city of Trenton, which shall include,
but not be limited to, seeking to attract private entities to occupy any office
space vacated or to be vacated by a State agency pursuant to section 1 of
P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

���� b.��� The authority shall give
priority consideration for eligibility of any authority-administered business
assistance program to a private entity seeking to occupy any office space
vacated or to be vacated by a State agency pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

���� c.���� The authority, with the
approval of the State Treasurer, shall modify its existing business assistance
programs, where permissible by law, to give bonuses or other enhanced
incentives to a private entity that locates to an office space vacated or to be
vacated by a State agency pursuant to section 1 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill).� Business assistance programs
that may be modified may include, but are not limited to, the Grow New Jersey
Assistance Program established pursuant to P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-242 et
seq.) and the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program established
pursuant to P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489a et al.).

���� d.��� The authority is
authorized to request assistance from any department, authority, commission,
board, office, division, or agency of the State to provide any information,
resources, or other assistance deemed necessary to discharge their
responsibilities under P.L. , c. (C.�������
) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), including, but not be limited
to: the Department of Treasury for assistance with business funding assistance
programs; the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for assistance in
developing workforce development strategies; the Department of Transportation
and the New Jersey Transit Corporation for assistance in enhancing public
transportation networks and infrastructure; the Department of State to assist
in business attraction efforts and advising on smart growth development
strategies; and the Department of Community Affairs for assistance in expanding
housing opportunities and the coordination with the Urban Enterprise Zone
program.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill would require State
departments and agencies with offices located at the Riverview Plaza in the
city of Trenton to relocate to other suitable locations within the city of
Trenton. Currently, the Department of Education maintains offices at Riverview
Plaza. Riverview Plaza is centrally located with access to both the Delaware
river and Route 29. �Significant business and recreational attractions could
develop there. �Relocation of State departments and agencies from Riverview
Plaza will enhance the redevelopment potential of this prime real estate.

���� Additionally, this bill would
require the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to take an active
role in the redevelopment of the Delaware river waterfront of the city of
Trenton. �The bill specifically requires EDA to seek to attract private
entities to occupy office space at Riverview Plaza buildings which will be
vacated by the State pursuant to this bill.

���� The bill requires EDA to give
priority consideration for eligibility of any EDA-administered business
assistance program to a private entity seeking to occupy office space vacated
by the State pursuant to the bill. �The bill authorizes EDA to modify its
business assistance programs, where permissible by law, to give bonuses or
other enhanced incentives to private entities that occupy this office space. �The
bill also authorizes EDA to seek assistance from other State entities that it
deems necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this bill.