S 1788 — Concerns processing of applications for permits, licenses, or certifications in NJ; requires State entities refund application fee in certain circumstances; requires Governor establish target application processing times and permitting and licensing performance dashboard.*

S1788 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

Senator TROY SINGLETON District 7 (Burlington)         SYNOPSIS      Establishes fee refund program for individuals and businesses applying for permits, licenses, or certifications in thisNew State.Jersey.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe bySenate LegislativeCommerce Counsel.Committee on March 16, 2026, with amendments.

   An Act establishing a fee refund program for 1individuals and1 businesses applying for permits, licenses, or certifications in this State and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes        Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

       1. 1.    a.  Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, upon and after the effective date of this act,act1[, P.L.   , c.   (pending before the Legislature as this bill),bill)]1, any State entity that issues permits, licenses, or certifications to 1individuals or businesses1 shall compile a catalog of the types of permits, licenses, or certifications it issues and submit that catalog to the Governor.  The catalog shall include:

     (1) (1)   a description of each type of permit, license, or certification issued by the State entity, the term thereof, and the statutory, regulatory, or other legal authority therefor;

     (2) (2)   the method by which the State entity receives applications for each type of permit, license, or certification and when that method was last updated;

     (3) (3)   the statutory, regulatory, or other legal authority governing the length of time within which the State entity must1[must] shall1 process applications for each type of permit, license, or certification;

     (4) (4)   the application fee charged by the State entity for each type of permit, license, or certification, and the statutory, regulatory, or other legal authority therefor;

     (5) (5)   the State entity’s analysis and recommendation of the appropriate length of time to promptly process applications for each type of permit, license, or certification, after the applicant has properly and timely submitted all information required by the State entity to act upon the application;

and      (6) (6)   other relevant information as requested.

     b. b.    Following receipt and review of the State entity catalogs, information, recommendations, and analyses, the Governor’s office shall establish recommended application processing times for the various types of permits, licenses, and certifications, as appropriate.appropriate 1, no later than 180 days after the effective date of this act1.

     c. c.     1(1)1  Any State entity that exceeds 115 days past1 the recommended application processing time as established after having received a completed application shall refund the amount of the application fee to the extent permitted by law.  The refund shall have no bearing on the disposition of the underlying application.

     d. 1(2) A State entity shall not be required to refund an application fee pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection if a delay in processing an application for a permit, license, or certification is due to the fault of the applicant, including, but not limited to, the submission of an incomplete application.1      d.    For the purposes of this section, “State entity” means a State department or agency, board, commission, corporation, or authority.

STATEMENT        This bill establishes a fee refund program for businesses applying for permits, licenses, or certifications in this State.

     This bill requires State entities that issue permits, licenses, or certifications to compile a catalog of the types of permits, licenses, or certifications it issues and submit that catalog to the Governor.  This bill establishes information to be included in the catalog.

     This bill requires the Governor’s office to establish recommended application processing times for the various types of permits, licenses, and certifications.

     Any State entity that exceeds the recommended application processing time as established under this bill after having received a completed application will refund the amount of the application fee to the extent permitted by law.  The refund will have no bearing on the disposition of the underlying application.

     This bill defines “State entity” as a State department or agency, board, commission, corporation, or authority.