LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
SENATE, No. 359
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: JUNE 5, 2024
SUMMARY
Synopsis: Requires notice of motor vehicle safety recalls upon inspection and
registration of motor vehicle.
Type of Impact: Annual State expenditure increases.
Agencies Affected: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
Office of Legislative Services Estimate
Fiscal Impact Annual
State Expenditure Increase Indeterminate
 The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission will incur an indeterminate increase in annual expenditures to provide notice of
open recalls to owners of motor vehicles that are being inspected or registered. The OLS is
unable to quantify the increase in State costs because it is unclear whether the commission will
need to hire additional staff or make changes to its computer programing or technology to
check information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
concerning open recalls and to provide written notice of such recalls.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill requires an official motor vehicle inspection facility or licensed private inspection
facility to provide written notice to the owner of a motor vehicle being inspected of all open recalls
applicable to the motor vehicle at the time the motor vehicle is inspected. The bill also requires
the commission to, at the time a vehicle is registered or upon mailing a motor vehicle’s registration
renewal notice, provide written notice to the owner of a motor vehicle of all open recalls applicable
to the motor vehicle. In both cases, the recall notice is required to include: a description of each
open recall and a statement that each open recall may be repaired by certain motor vehicle dealers
at no cost to the owner, except in certain circumstances.
Office of Legislative Services Legislative Budget and Finance Office
State House Annex Phone (609) 847-3105
P.O. Box 068 Fax (609) 777-2442
Trenton, New Jersey 08625 www.njleg.state.nj.us
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FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS concludes that the commission will incur an indeterminate increase in annual
expenditures to provide notice of open recalls applicable to motor vehicles that are being inspected
or registered in the State. The OLS is unable to quantify the increase in State costs because it is
unclear whether the commission will need to hire additional staff or make changes to its computer
programing or technology to check information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration concerning open recalls and to provide written notice of such recalls. However,
the administration maintains a website that allows a person to search for open recalls by submitting
a motor vehicle’s vehicle identification number. Accordingly, any costs to the commission to
check information concerning open recalls and to provide notice of those recalls to vehicle owners
may be marginal.
Section: Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications
Analyst: Michael D. Walker
Assistant Fiscal Analyst
Approved: Thomas Koenig
Legislative Budget and Finance Officer
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the
failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).