Garden State Times

Gov. Phil Murphy has signed three new bills into law aimed at supporting small businesses in New Jersey. These legislative measures, backed by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), are designed to improve customer service at the New Jersey Business Action Center and provide small businesses with greater flexibility to address violations without facing fines.

The bills, identified as A4748/S3195 and A4749/S3204, focus on enhancing the customer service experience by establishing a publicly available small business manual and disseminating customer assistance metrics and information. Additionally, bill A4753/S3208 introduces a cure period for businesses to resolve certain violations.

Governor Murphy emphasized the importance of these measures in promoting economic opportunities within the state. "Today we underscore once again that economic opportunity is abundant and accessible in New Jersey, especially for the small businesses that line our main streets and undergird our local communities," he stated.

Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin highlighted the significance of these bills in supporting small business growth: “Helping New Jersey’s small businesses thrive and grow was one of the top priorities we identified at the outset of this session. These bills are essential to our efforts.”

Senator Vin Gopal also commented on the benefits of providing businesses with additional time to comply with regulations: “As inflationary pressures and other economic uncertainties continue to linger for business owners in New Jersey, the last thing they need to worry about is a steep fine or punishment for a minor, often unintentional violation."

The NFIB plans to continue advocating for reduced regulatory and financial burdens on its members during this legislative session.