ASSEMBLY LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5113

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

      The Assembly Labor Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5113.

      This bill establishes the “New Jersey Small Business Indoor Air Quality Management Support Program.” The program provides loans to eligible small businesses for the improvement of indoor air quality.  It will be administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection.  The loans may be applied to any aspect of an eligible small business intended to improve the business’ indoor air quality, including capital purchases, employee training, and salaries for new positions.  Work performed using funds provided by the program shall be performed by an organization certified by the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau, National Environmental Balancing Bureau or the Associated Air Balance Council. Under the amended bill, the total amount of loans guaranteed by the authority may not exceed $1 million per State fiscal year.

      Small business loans under the bill are to bear interest at rates and terms set by the authority.

      As amended, the bill provides that any business that has received a loan through the program may apply to the department for a New Jersey Small Business Indoor Air Quality Management Certification.  A condition for the issuance of a certificate shall be the completion of a successful indoor air quality management inspection. As amended, this inspection is to be performed by a licensed contractor or licensed site remediation professional (LSRP) and be based on the Indoor Air Quality Management Checklist promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The amended bill additionally provides that the Department of Environmental Protection will require inspections to be performed by an organization certified by the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau, National Environmental Balancing Bureau, or the Associated Air Balance Cancel.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1) limit the total amount of loans guaranteed to not more than $1 million per State fiscal year;

      (2) clarify that moneys received pursuant to the bill are loans and not grants;

      (3) require that inspections performed under the bill’s provisions are to be conducted by a licensed contractor or licensed site remediation professional (LSRP). As introduced, the inspections were to be conducted by the Department of Environmental Protection; and

      (4) require the inspections to be performed by an organization certified by the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau, the National Environmental Balancing Bureau, or the Associated Air Balance Council.