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Bill

A 4816

Revises "Administrative Procedure Act" concerning socio-economic impact statements for proposed rule-making.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Fantasia and 1 co-sponsor

The bill requires agencies to obtain and publish a regulated-community socio-economic impact description before proposing a rule, with an insignificance exemption.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee
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Bill Summary · A 4816

Summary of New Jersey Assembly Bill A-4816 (Session 222)

Purpose and Intent

A-4816 revises the state's Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to strengthen and formalize the socio-economic impact analysis required for proposed agency rules. The bill adds a new step ensuring input from the regulated community and requires explicit inclusion of a socio-economic impact description in the rule proposal published for public notice.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • New socio-economic impact requirement (Section 2):

    • Before an agency submits a proposed rule to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for publication, it must obtain a description of the expected socio-economic impact from a representative of the segment of the public that would be regulated by the rule.
    • This description must be included in the notice of proposed rule as published in the New Jersey Register.

  • Process for obtaining the description (Section 2, subsections b and c):

    • The agency must contact one representative from the regulated community ahead of OAL submission, provide the representative with a written copy of the proposed rule, and allow time to prepare the socio-economic impact description.
    • The representative is selected from those associated with the regulated segment who have provided substantial written submissions on prior, similar-rule proposals.
    • The full socio-economic impact description must be included in the proposed rule submitted to the OAL for publication.

  • Cost considerations for publication (Section 2, subsection b, par. 2):

    • The Office of Administrative Law may require the representative preparing the description to cover proportional printing and distribution costs of the New Jersey Register attributable to that description.

  • Exemption for insignificant impact (Section 2, subsection c):

    • If the agency finds the proposed rule would impose an insignificant impact (minimal scope or extremely unlikely to cause socio-economic effects), the description is not required. The finding and its basis must be included in the notice of the proposed rule.

Affected Parties and Scope

  • Agencies: Must obtain and publish a regulated-community socio-economic impact description when proposing rules, subject to the insignificant impact exemption.
  • Regulated community representatives: Selected participants who prepare the socio-economic impact description and may be charged by OAL for publishing costs.
  • General public and stakeholders: Benefit from enhanced transparency and explicit consideration of socio-economic effects and potential job impacts.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The new requirement applies before the agency’s filing of the proposed rule with the OAL for publication in the New Jersey Register.
  • If the agency deems the impact insignificant, the agency must document the finding in the proposed rule notice.
  • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Additional Context

  • The bill integrates socio-economic impact considerations more directly into the rule-making process by foregrounding input from those potentially affected by regulation.
  • It works alongside existing requirements (e.g., regulatory flexibility analysis, jobs impact statements, and other impact sections listed in the public notice) to provide a more comprehensive assessment framework.

Sponsors: Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia and Assemblyman Mike Inganamort (Co-sponsors)
Status: Introduced May 4, 2026; referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.

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

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