This bill aims to dedicate a portion of the State sales tax revenues collected from retail sales of locally produced wine to support the promotion of New Jersey wines. Specifically, it establishes the "New Jersey Wine Promotion Account" within the Department of Agriculture, which will receive annual credits from the sales tax revenue generated from wine sales at licensed wineries. The funds in this account will be utilized by the Secretary of Agriculture for research and development related to viticulture and winemaking, as well as for promotional activities, in alignment with recommendations from the New Jersey Wine Industry Advisory Council.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that require retail sellers of New Jersey-produced wine to provide customers with a detailed sales slip that separately states the retail price and the amount of tax collected on the wine sale. However, these requirements will not apply to vendors that primarily serve meals to customers. The bill also outlines that the sales tax revenue dedicated to the promotion account will not include amounts already allocated under the New Jersey Constitution. Overall, this legislation seeks to enhance the visibility and growth of the New Jersey wine industry through targeted financial support.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4:10-76, 54:32B-24