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A 5291

Requires certain housing production information to be reported to the department of state

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Micah Lasher

Standardizes municipal duties by requiring a 90-day maximum review timeline for local cannabis licensing and mandatory notification to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission of approva

PRINT NUMBER 5291A
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Bill Summary · A 5291

Summary — A5291 (Print No. 5291A)

Title: Requires certain housing production information to be reported to the department of state (note: bill text concerns municipal processing/notification for cannabis businesses)
Sponsor: Asm. Micah Lasher
Introduced: February 10, 2025
Status highlights: Reported by Assembly Oversight, Reform & Federal Relations (3/20/2025); referred to Commerce, Economic Development & Agriculture; print number 5291A issued 5/27/2025. Companion: S919.

Note: The bill amends section 31 of P.L.2021, c.16 (C.24:6I-45) concerning municipal regulation of cannabis establishments.

Main purpose

To standardize and clarify municipal duties in the local review and notification process for cannabis business licensing by:
- Requiring municipalities that impose local licensing/endorsement requirements to set a reasonable review timeline (maximum 90 days), and
- Requiring municipalities to notify the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (the Commission) when they adopt ordinances that permit or prohibit classes of cannabis establishments, and to report application decisions to the Commission.

Key provisions

  • Commission forwarding of applications: When the Commission receives an application for initial licensing or renewal of a cannabis establishment, distributor, delivery service, or an endorsement for a cannabis consumption area, it must provide a copy of the application to the municipality within 14 days — unless the municipality has already prohibited that class of business.
  • Municipal review timeline: If a municipality imposes a separate local licensing or endorsement requirement, it must establish a reasonable timeline to approve or deny a complete application; that timeline may not exceed 90 days from submission.
  • Municipality response to applications: Municipalities that choose not to impose a local licensing/endorsement must nevertheless notify the Commission whether they approve or deny each application forwarded to them.
  • Municipal notification of ordinances: A municipality must notify the Commission upon enacting an ordinance that permits or prohibits any class of cannabis establishment, cannabis distributors, or cannabis delivery services. The notice must specify the class permitted/prohibited and any numerical limits on permitted establishments.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Municipal governments: new requirements for setting review timelines (if local licensing/endorsement is used), and mandatory notification duties to the Commission.
  • Cannabis applicants and licensed businesses (cultivators, manufacturers, wholesalers/distributors, retailers, delivery services, consumption areas): clearer timelines and formal municipal notice/coordination with the Commission.
  • Cannabis Regulatory Commission: receives standardized municipal notifications and application compliance information.
  • Local zoning/land-use authorities: existing zoning and prohibition provisions remain in place; this bill focuses on procedural coordination and timelines.

Potential impacts

  • Increased predictability and speed for applicants where municipalities require local approvals (90-day cap).
  • Greater transparency and centralized knowledge for the Commission about local permission/prohibition and local limits on cannabis businesses.
  • Administrative burden on municipalities to adopt timelines, respond to applications, and notify the Commission.

Legislative/procedural notes

  • Amends C.24:6I-45 (P.L.2021, c.16, §31).
  • Committee and referral history: Introduced 2/10/2025; referred to Oversight, then to Governmental Operations; reported 3/20/2025; print number 5291A issued 5/27/2025.

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

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