WeVote
Log In

Bill

MD

Bill

S 4404

Makes various revisions to the laws governing alcoholic beverage licensing.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Mitchelle Drulis and 1 co-sponsor

The bill overhauls New Jersey’s alcohol licenses to expand craft producers’ operations, events, on- and off-site sales, and adds transfer, reform, and mall license provisions.

Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (75-4-0)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4404

Summary of Bill S 4404 (New Jersey, Session 222)

Purpose and intent

  • This act makes extensive revisions to New Jersey’s alcoholic beverage licensing framework, including new license types, enhanced processes for license transfers, and updated rules for craft manufacturers, wineries, distilleries, and related special events.
  • It aims to expand the ability of small producers (craft brewers, cideries, meaderies, wineries, distilleries) to operate, host events, coordinate with food vendors, and sell their products both on- and off-premises, while clarifying ownership and operational restrictions.

Key provisions and changes

Craft manufacturers (Section 1)

  • Introduces and governs “craft manufacturers” (limited brewery, cidery/meadery, craft distillery licenses) and sets out:
    • On-site, tableside service by licensee-employed servers; outdoor spaces can be used with municipal permits.
    • De minimis food offerings and the ability to coordinate with food vendors (food trucks, etc.) without the craft manufacturer owning the vendor.
    • Ability to sell non-alcoholic beverages and to offer gift items and apparel.
    • Unlimited on-premises special events; no need for an additional permit.
    • Up to 25 off-premises special events per year (each with a director-issued permit for up to 3 days); vendors can provide food; sale of glass/open containers and samples allowed.
    • Private parties on licensed premises unrestricted; hosts may serve alcohol purchased off-site with licensee personnel.
    • Social affair events up to 25 per year with a social affair permit; on-premises consumption and off-premises sales allowed in certain limits.
    • Discounts, promotions, and membership programs allowed if not below manufacturing cost; price lists must be maintained.
    • Televised events allowed without pre-notification.
    • Prohibition on joint operation or shared tastings with other craft manufacturers.

Expanded license framework and fees (Section 2)

  • Revisions to existing brewery, winery, distillery, and related licenses with updated or new fee schedules:
    • Plenary brewery license: $10,625.
    • Limited brewery licenses with tiered fees based on annual capacity; sampling allowances specified.
    • Restricted brewery license: defined eligibility tied to adjacent restaurant operations; various caps on direct sales and fees ($1,250 base; $250 per additional 1,000 barrels).
    • Farm brewery, plenary winery, farm winery, wine blending, instructional winemaking facility, out-of-state winery, cidery/meadery licenses: detailed caps, retail sale rights, sampling rules, and fees.
    • Distillery licenses (plenary, limited, supplementary, craft, historic) with specific production caps, on-site/off-site sales, sampling allowances, and bonding/bottling provisions.
    • Distillery-related privileges aligned with craft manufacturer provisions (section 1).

Inactive licenses and transfer framework (Sections 3–6)

  • Modifies rules surrounding inactive plenary retail consumption licenses and how they may be transferred or reassigned to support redevelopment or housing economic revitalization:
    • New transfer mechanisms between sending and receiving municipalities within redevelopment areas.
    • Public sale options, bid procedures, and transfer fees.
    • Limitation on receiving municipalities acquiring more than one license per year.
    • Transfers remain subject to Title 33 and local ordinances.
    • Clear reversion provisions if a license is not actively used within designated periods.

Inactive license renewal and reissuance (Section 7)

  • Tightens renewal and inactive-license renewal processes; allows reissuance under specified conditions and timeframes; authorizes public sale transfers to replenish municipal licenses in line with redevelopment goals.

Special licenses for shopping malls (Section 9)

  • Allows eligible municipalities to issue special licenses for on-premises consumption at specific mall venues, with caps:
    • Up to two special licenses for malls ≥ 750,000 square feet.
    • Up to four special licenses for malls ≥ 1.5 million square feet.
  • Special licenses restrict use to on-site consumption and follow Title 33 provisions.

Who would be affected

  • Craft manufacturers (breweries, cideries/meaderies, distilleries) and their employees.
  • Wineries, farm wineries, and instructional/host facilities.
  • Municipalities and their governing bodies (issuance, transfer, and redevelopment-related provisions).
  • Food vendors (food trucks, pop-ups) coordinating with licensees.
  • Consumers of craft beverages through on- and off-premises sales and events.
  • Recipients of inactive licenses under redevelopment plans.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Director-approved permits for off-premises events (up to 25 per year for craft manufacturers; off-premises events capped by permits).
  • 180-day director decision window for alternating proprietorship agreements (winery and farm winery contexts).
  • Transfers of inactive licenses subject to 90-day notice and identical resolutions by sending/receiving municipalities.
  • New sale/public auction pathways for licenses in redevelopment contexts; bidding procedures outlined.

Note: The bill includes multiple cross-references to existing statutes and repeals certain deleted sections, reflecting a broad restructuring of New Jersey's alcohol licensing regime.

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

Sign in to ask a question.