ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3762

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 23, 2026

      The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 3762.

      As amended and reported, the bill establishes the “New Jersey Private Contractor Registration Act.”  The bill prohibits contractors and subcontractors from engaging in private construction work, unless they are registered pursuant to the bill.

      Under the bill, “private construction work” means all building or work on a building, structure, or improvement of any type, as well as related building or work on a building, done within the State under an express or implied contract on behalf of another entity or individual.  Private construction work does not include “public work” as that term is defined in the prevailing wage law, or “home improvement,” as that term is defined in the “Contractors' Registration Act.”

      As part of the registration, the contractor is required to include the following information:

      (1)  the name, principal business address and telephone number of the private contractor;

      (2)  whether the private contractor is a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other form of business entity;

      (3)  if the private contractor's principal business address is not within the State, the name and address of the private contractor's custodian of records and agent for service of process in the State;

      (4)  the name and address of each person with a financial interest in the private contractor and the percentage interest, except that if the private contractor is a publicly-traded corporation, the private contractor is required to supply the names and addresses of the corporation's officers;

      (5)  the private contractor's tax identification number and unemployment insurance registration number;

      (6)  a certification form provided by the commissioner, with documentation satisfactory to the commissioner, that the private contractor has all valid and effective licenses, registrations or certificates required by State law, including registrations or certifications required to do business in the State of New Jersey;

      (7)  disclosure of any action committed in another jurisdiction that would constitute a violation of this bill;

      (8)  disclosure of any administrative merits determination, arbitral award or decision, or civil judgment, for violations of any of the certain federal and State labor laws or executive orders;

      (9)  disclosure of any criminal offense committed in connection with the performance of activities regulated under this act or any criminal offense involving fraud, untruthfulness, or dishonesty or any criminal offense relating adversely to the registrant's fitness to perform activities regulated by the bill; and

      (10)  any other relevant and appropriate information as determined by the commissioner.

      The bill requires a private contractor to pay an initial non-refundable annual registration fee of $500 to the commissioner.  Upon successful completion of two consecutive years of registration, a private contractor is thereafter required to register for a two-year period and pay a non-refundable registration fee of $750.  The bill provides that reduced fee schedules based upon an entity’s annual revenue or non-profit status may be prescribed by regulation.  Further, the bill exempts private contractors that are registered as public works contractors under “The Public Works Contractor Registration Act” from the registration and fee requirements of the bill.  Contractors who are registered pursuant to the “Contractors’ Business Registration Act,” P.L.2004, c.16 (C.56:8-136 et seq.) are exempt under certain circumstances.

      The bill provides for penalties and fines for noncompliance with its provisions, including but not limited to the suspension of a contractor’s registration.

      The bill appropriates $1.5 million to effectuate its purposes.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  exempt contractors who solely perform remodeling or renovation work, roofing and siding, kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring, painting, decks, patios, fences, window and door installation, residential repairs or alterations, demolition related to residential projects, or installation work at homes or small residential properties, and who are registered pursuant to the “Contractors’ Business Registration Act,” P.L.2004, c.16 (C.56:8-136 et seq.);

      (2)  update the registration fees to align with the fees charged under the “Public Works Contractor Registration Act;”

      (3)  modify certain penalty provisions and allow the commissioner to hold discretionary hearings related to violations of the bill;

      (4)  appropriate $1.5 million to effectuate the purposes of the bill; and

      (5)  extend the effective date from six months to 24 months after enactment to enable integration activities.