New Jersey A 1629: Authorizes payment of just compensation to businesses for losses due to public health emergency closures.

Bill Text

A1629 

ASSEMBLY, No. 1629 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Creates "Shark River Bridge Study 
Commission" and "Shark River Bridge Impacted Business Aid 
Program."

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act establishing the Shark River Bridge Study 
Commission and the Shark River Bridge Impacted Business Aid Program and 
supplementing P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.).

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

���� 1.��� a. There is established 
the "Shark River Bridge Study Commission."

���� b.��� The study commission 
shall analyze and develop recommendations concerning the potential economic 
impact caused by the closure of the Shark River Bridge by the Department of 
Transportation. The study shall determine the number of businesses impacted by 
the closure of the bridge, the appropriate size of potential future grant 
issuances to businesses affected by the closure of the bridge, and the total 
dollar amount that should be appropriated for any such future grant program.

���� c.���� The study shall consist 
of eight members as follows:� 

���� (1) a representative of the 
General Assembly, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General 
Assembly;

���� (2) a representative of the 
Senate, who shall be appointed by the Senate President;

���� (3) the Chief Executive 
Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, ex officio, or a 
designee;

���� (4) the Commissioner of 
Transportation, ex officio, or a designee; 

���� (5) a representative of the 
local businesses in the Shark River Bridge area, who shall be appointed by the 
Governor;

���� (6) a Borough of Belmar 
business owner appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly;

���� (7) a Borough of 
Avon-by-the-Sea business owner appointed by the Senate President; and

���� (8) a representative of the 
Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners appointed by the Governor.� 

���� d.��� The members of the study 
commission shall be appointed within 60 days following the effective date of 
P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).� 
The study commission shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment 
of its members.� The presence of three members of the study commission shall 
constitute a quorum.� The study commission may conduct business without a 
quorum but shall only vote on the issuance of the report required to be 
submitted to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.��� 
, c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) when a 
quorum is present.� 

���� e.���� The members of the study 
commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary 
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties to the extent that such 
funds are made available for that purpose.� 

���� f.���� The New Jersey Economic 
Development Authority shall provide stenographic, clerical, and other 
administrative assistance and professional staff as the study commission 
requires to carry out its work.� The study commission also shall be entitled to 
call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any 
State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as 
it may require and as may be available for its purposes.

���� 2.��� The study commission 
shall prepare and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the 
Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the 
Legislature no later than 18 months after the organizational meeting of the 
study commission.� 

���� 3.��� a.� No later than 18 
months after the submission of the report required pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , 
c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the 
New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall establish the �Shark River 
Bridge Impacted Business Aid Program� to award grants to support businesses 
impacted by the closure of the Shark River Bridge by the Department of 
Transportation.

���� b.��� A business impacted by 
the closure of the Shark River Bridge may use a program grant to cover 
operational costs necessary to sustain the business during the closure of the 
bridge.� 

���� c.���� Businesses may submit 
an application to the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic 
Development Authority for a program grant, provided that the application shall 
be submitted in a form and manner prescribed by the chief executive officer.� 
In addition to any other information that the chief executive officer may deem 
appropriate, the application shall require the applicant to submit: 

���� (1)�� the name and address of 
the business; 

���� (2)�� a description of the 
impact the closure of the Shark River Bridge has had