SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1206

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 11, 2026

      The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1206.

      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.

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

      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.  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 bill limits the total loans guaranteed by the authority to no more than $1 million in a State fiscal year.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  clarify that the total loans guaranteed by the authority are limited to no more than $1 million in any State fiscal year;

      (2)  remove references to grants under the program, and refers to the program as establishing small business loans through the “New Jersey Small Business Indoor Air Quality Management Support Program”;

      (3)  remove the requirement that the department be responsible for conducting any site inspections and transfers that responsibility to a licensed contractor or licensed site remediation professional (LSRP); and

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