This bill aims to facilitate the transfer and sale of inactive plenary retail consumption liquor licenses to qualifying smart growth municipalities in New Jersey. It recognizes the challenges faced by these municipalities, which often lack sufficient licenses to support proposed real estate development projects, particularly those involving restaurants and bars. The bill allows for the purchase of inactive licenses from municipalities that have a surplus, enabling them to be utilized in areas where demand exceeds supply. The Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is tasked with determining the eligibility of these transfers based on the anticipated demand for licenses in the smart growth communities.

Key provisions include the requirement for the purchaser to pay a fee to the sending municipality, which is distributed among the sending municipality, the director, and existing license holders in the qualifying municipality. The bill also stipulates that licenses can only be transferred to establishments within the same real estate development project and prohibits the issuance of special concessionaire permits for locations eligible for licenses under this act. Additionally, it amends existing law to clarify the process for municipalities to acquire inactive licenses and retain them for up to five years, ensuring that these licenses can be effectively utilized to support smart growth initiatives.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 33:1-24.3