LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 4883

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MAY 19, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires Division of Travel and Tourism to establish New Jersey Film Trail.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Division of Travel and Tourism in Department of State.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Annual Fiscal Impact

 

 

 

 

State Expenditure Increase for NJ Film Trail

 

At least $3,000 per marker

 

 

State Expenditure Increase for Website

 

Indeterminate

 

 

 

·       The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that requiring the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State to establish a New Jersey Film Trail will result in an increase in State expenditures of at least $3,000 per film location marker.

·       The OLS finds that the division will also experience an indeterminate State expenditure increase due to the bill’s requirements to establish an electronic submission form for location recommendations and a website providing information about the locations featured on the film trail.  The division may experience additional administrative costs for routinely reviewing submissions and maintaining the website.

·       As of June 2025, the New Jersey Historical Commission approximated the cost of one fabricated marker to be $3,000.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State to establish a New Jersey Film Trail, which will identify locations in the State where filming occurred for popular movies, television, and other types of entertainment.

      The Division of Travel and Tourism, in consultation with the Motion Picture and Television Development Commission in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, will select sites to be part of the New Jersey Film Trail.  The division will design official markers with a description of the filming that was completed at the location including what production was filmed, which performers took part in the filming, and when the filming took place.  The markers will only be erected on public property, unless coordinated by the division with the owner of the private property selected to be part of the New Jersey Film Trail.  The division may not use public funds to erect any markers on private property.  However, the division may accept gifts, grants, or other financial assistance from private sources to cover the costs associated with the marker.

      In addition, the bill requires the division to accept submissions recommending locations for inclusion on the film trail through an electronic form made available by the division on its website.  All submissions must be confirmed for authenticity by the commission prior to being added to the film trail.

      The bill also requires the division, in coordination with the commission, to develop and maintain an website providing information concerning the film trail.  Additionally, the division is required to publish vacation itineraries based on the film trail on the website, which will identify surrounding attractions, restaurants, lodging, and other exhibits or places of entertainment in close proximity to the locations on the film trail.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that requiring the Division of Travel and Tourism to establish a New Jersey Film Trail will result in an increase in State expenditures of at least $3,000 per film location marker.  The division will also experience an indeterminate State expenditure increase due to the bill’s requirements to establish an electronic submission form for location recommendations and a website providing information about the locations featured on the film trail.

      Under the bill, the division is required to determine and select sites to be designated as part of the New Jersey Film Trail by designing and erecting markers at each filming location.  As of June 2025, the New Jersey Historical Commission approximated the cost of one fabricated marker to be $3,000.  The OLS estimates that the division will also experience additional expenditures due to the research and design phases required for each film location marker.

      The division is also required to establish an electronic form for submissions recommending film locations, as well as to establish and maintain a website providing information about each location on the film trail.  The OLS is unable to determine the actual cost of establishing the submission form and website or the costs of maintaining the website as additional filming locations are added to the trail.  The OLS assumes that the division will experience an initial expenditure increase for the establishment of the submission form and the website, as well as additional administrative costs for routinely reviewing submissions and maintaining the website.

 

Section:

Revenue, Finance, and Appropriations

Analyst:

Camryn Mathews

Associate Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).