Murphy signs three bills from small business package

Gov. Phil Murphy signed three bills into law March 20 that lawmakers say will support small businesses.

The trio of measures signed Monday were part of a legislative package Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-19^th District, introduced last year. The bills from that group signed into law Monday include:

• A4748/S3195 – Enhances customer service experience with the NJ Business Action Center in the Department of State by collecting and disseminating customer assistance metrics.
• A4749/S3204 – Requires the Business Action Center to collect and produce certain information to assist small businesses.
• A4753/S3208 – Allows cure period for businesses to address and resolve certain violations. A business would have 60 calendar days to address and resolve the violation.

In a statement announcing the signing, Murphy said the new laws “will enable us to attract, retain and inspire small businesses to expand in a state that remains at the national forefront of economic vitality and innovation.”

“Helping New Jersey’s small businesses thrive and grow was one of the top priorities we identified at the outset of this session,” said Coughlin. “These bills are essential to our efforts.”

New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way noted that the Business Action Center exists to help New Jersey companies navigate how state government rules and resources impact their operations.

“This legislation strengthens the Business Action Center and ensures that it is responsive to the needs of the constituents we serve,” Way said.

“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 unintended violation,” said Sen. Vin Gopal, D-11^th District, a sponsor of A4753/S3208. “This law will give them a little breathing room and reasonable extra time to come into full compliance.”

Those sentiments were echoed by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association. “The laws signed by Governor Murphy today are great steps to help bring flexibility and ease the challenges of running a business in the State of New Jersey,” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka in a statement. “Cementing the strong work of the state Business Action Center by statute is a positive. And the signing of bill A4753 [S3208], in particular, will allow the state to be less heavy-handed when regulating small businesses which may have committed a minor rule violation.”