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Bill

A 1077

Authorizes creation of additional urban enterprise zone.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Shama Haider

Expands New Jersey’s UEZ by designating one new zone in Burlington City to provide tax incentives and development support aimed at economic revitalization.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee
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Bill Summary · A 1077

Bill overview

  • Bill: A 1077 (Session 222, New Jersey)
  • Purpose: Authorize the creation of an additional urban enterprise zone (UEZ) in Burlington City, Burlington County, expanding the UEZ program from 32 to 33 zones.

Main purpose and intent

  • Expand New Jersey’s UEZ program by designating one new UEZ in Burlington City.
  • Provide targeted tax and development incentives to qualified businesses within the newly designated zone to stimulate economic growth, job creation, and revitalization in an economically distressed area.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definition updates (section 3): The bill amends the UEZ statute to include the new UEZ designation process and to codify the various terms used in the UEZ framework, including:
    • “Qualified business” (eligibility criteria tied to activity in the zone, employment location, and certain employee demographics)
    • “Qualifying municipality,” “zone development plan,” and related UEZ governance constructs
    • Economic distress metrics and eligibility benchmarks (e.g., block groups, Municipal Revitalization Index, public assistance, and other criteria)
    • Various certifications (UZ-2, UZ-4, UZ-5) that govern sales tax exemptions and tax-free purchases for materials and equipment.
    • Definitions for transportation and public infrastructure components that may be funded or supported by UEZ assistance.
  • Designation process and priorities (section 7):
    • The Authority may designate UEZs from qualifying municipalities with a cap of up to 33 zones in effect at any one time.
    • No more than one UEZ per municipality.
    • The bill maintains priority criteria for adding zones, including geographic and demographic considerations; several priority categories reference earlier statutory frameworks and prior designation criteria.
  • Timing for designation (section 7):
    • Adds a requirement that priority-designated zones be designated within 90 days of submitting an application and zone development plan.
    • Applications for new zones would be accepted within 90 days of the effective date of the bill or associated enabling laws.
  • Funding and tax incentives:
    • Qualified zones may utilize a 50% sales tax exemption for eligible purchases within the UEZ (consistent with existing UEZ tax benefits in prior law, though the bill’s text explicitly references such exemptions in the context of the new Burlington City UEZ).
    • Eligible expenditures and activities for UEZ assistance fund expenses are enumerated, including construction, payroll, job training, infrastructure improvements, and events to promote zone activity.

Who is affected

  • Qualifying municipality: Burlington City, Burlington County (the new UEZ location).
  • Qualified businesses operating within the Burlington City UEZ (beneficiaries of sales tax exemptions and UEZ incentives).
  • Zone development corporations and UEZ coordinators in Burlington City, who would implement the zone development plan and administer UEZ funds.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Immediate effect: Act takes effect immediately upon enactment.
  • Designation window: If approved, the Burlington City UEZ must be designated within 90 days after the municipality submits its application and zone development plan to the UEZ Authority.
  • Ongoing governance: The UEZ Authority continues to designate zones, monitor compliance (including tax obligations), and manage the UEZ assistance fund.

Potential impact

  • Economic revitalization for Burlington City through tax incentives, targeted infrastructure and public safety investments, and business development activities.
  • Expansion of the UEZ program’s geographic footprint and potential precedent for additional zones in the future, subject to criteria and funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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