Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $25,000 appropriation.*
This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to promote state-produced aquaculture products (farm-raised fish and shellfish) through the existing Jersey Fresh Program. It requires an annual $100,000 appropriation from the General Fund to fund advertising and promotion of these products, which must meet department-established quality standards. The Department must also create a specific quality grading system for aquaculture products, distinct from wild-caught seafood, to verify their quality under the program. This directly benefits New Jersey aquaculture businesses by expanding market access for their products through state marketing efforts.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Dec 2025
General Assembly Passage
Dec 2025
Signed into Law
Jan 2026
Introduced Jan 9, 2024
Signed Jan 12, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Dec 18, 2025 · General Assembly Dec 22, 2025
How they voted
38–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
Dec 18, 2025
D
Democratic25
96% Yea
R
Republican15
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
9
Key actions
5
Committee
3
Jan 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved P.L.2025, c.201.
executive
Dec 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (74-0-0)
lower
Dec 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (38-0)
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
upper
Jan 9, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee
upper
5 primary · 20 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Bill Spearman
DDemocratic
P
Bob Smith
DDemocratic
P
Clinton Calabrese
DDemocratic
P
Linda Greenstein
DDemocratic
P
Roy Freiman
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Sauickie
RRepublican
Co
Brian Rumpf
RRepublican
Co
Carmen Amato
RRepublican
Co
Claire Swift
RRepublican
Co
Dave Bailey
DDemocratic
Co
Dawn Fantasia
RRepublican
Co
Don Guardian
RRepublican
Co
Greg Myhre
RRepublican
Co
Latham Tiver
RRepublican
Co
Linda Carter
DDemocratic
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