Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages.**
S 3944 allows New Jersey nonprofit theaters to obtain special alcohol licenses by clarifying that "disregarded entities" (like single-member LLCs treated as part of their parent nonprofit for tax purposes) qualify for these licenses. It applies to art-house movie theaters or performing arts venues with seating capacities of 50-1,000 people (for smaller venues) or 1,000+ people (for larger venues), operated by tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. The license permits alcohol sales during specified times: two hours before, during, and two hours after performances (with a 15-performance annual limit for smaller venues). This change directly affects nonprofit theaters seeking to sell alcohol to support their operations, without counting toward other liquor license limits. The bill clarifies existing law to expand eligibility for these specialized licenses.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
General Assembly Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Aug 2025
Introduced Dec 9, 2024
Signed Aug 21, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Feb 25, 2025 · General Assembly Jun 30, 2025
How they voted
38–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
Feb 25, 2025
D
Democratic25
92% Yea
R
Republican15
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
15
Key actions
9
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Aug 21, 2025
Signed into law
Approved P.L.2025, c.131.
executive
Jun 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (39-0)
upper
Jun 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (74-6-0)
lower
Jun 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
lower
Jun 19, 2025
Committee
Recommitted to Assembly Housing Committee
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (38-0)
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Committee
Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
upper
Dec 19, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate Amendment (Voice) (Ruiz)
upper
Dec 16, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee, 2nd Reading
upper
Dec 9, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
upper
4 primary · 8 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Clinton Calabrese
DDemocratic
P
Linda Carter
DDemocratic
P
Paul Sarlo
DDemocratic
P
Vin Gopal
DDemocratic
Co
Benjie Wimberly
DDemocratic
Co
Carmen Morales
DDemocratic
Co
Declan O'Scanlon
RRepublican
Co
Gordon Johnson
DDemocratic
Co
Mitchelle Drulis
DDemocratic
Co
Rosy Bagolie
DDemocratic
Co
Roy Freiman
DDemocratic
Co
Shama Haider
DDemocratic
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