Governor Murphy rejected Senate Bill S-3038 with certain limitations. Initially, the bill would have allowed unlimited on-site events for breweries and collaboration with food vendors for on-site menus. The veto brings significant changes to alcohol licenses, enabling individuals to reinstate lapsed licenses within a year of expiration. Class C licenses maintain their original numbers but must now adhere to new rules set by the ABC Director if renewals are missed or no assistance is sought in eight years. Local governments have the authority to renew unused Class C licenses within two years but may decline renewals beyond that timeframe unless under special circumstances.
Moreover, the veto permits cities and towns to issue special licenses for shopping malls exceeding 500,000 square feet to sell alcohol, with one license required for every 150,000 square feet, limited to the original mall. Unlike regular liquor license limits based on population, these special permits are exempt.
The ABC Director oversees the implementation of these changes, with some taking effect immediately and others after a 180-day period. Despite these alterations, Governor Murphy emphasizes the need for even more substantial changes.
What you need to know:
- Governor Murphy vetoed Senate Bill S-3038, imposing restrictions on breweries' on-site events and collaboration with food vendors.
- The veto introduces significant changes to alcohol licenses, allowing individuals to reinstate lapsed licenses within a year of expiration.
- Class C licenses maintain their original numbers but must now follow new rules by the ABC Director if renewals are missed or no assistance is sought in eight years.
- Local governments can renew unused Class C licenses within two years but may decline renewals beyond that unless under special circumstances.
- The veto enables cities and towns to issue special licenses for large shopping malls to sell alcohol, exempt from regular liquor license limits based on population.
