New Jersey Bills

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4934: Provides for qualified voters who are incarcerated to receive mail-in ballots.

This bill allows incarcerated voters in New Jersey who are not convicted of serious felonies to request and receive mail-in ballots. It requires the Secretary of State and the Department of Corrections to work together to provide ballot applications and ensure ballots are sent to the inmate's detention facility. The law also mandates that if an inmate is moved to a different location, the Department of Corrections must deliver the ballot to the new site. Importantly, the bill does not restore voting rights to those convicted of indictable offenses, and any ballots sent to individuals who become ineligible after submitting a request are automatically voided.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4922: Establishes affirmative defense of Social Security hardship in certain eviction actions.

This bill allows tenants in New Jersey to defend against eviction if their inability to pay rent is caused by a federal government interruption to their Social Security benefits. To use this defense, a tenant must prove that their benefits were delayed, reduced, or stopped by federal action and that this loss directly prevented them from paying rent. If the court accepts this evidence, it will pause the eviction process for up to six months or until the benefits are restored. Once the tenant's income is recovered, they must either pay all owed rent or agree on a payment plan with their landlord to have the eviction notice dismissed.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4996: Establishes Housing Placement for Survivors Program to assist domestic violence survivors with temporary housing and provide tax credits to certain housing unit owners offering reduced rate to domestic violence survivors.

This bill creates the Housing Placement for Survivors Program within the Department of Children and Families to help domestic violence survivors find temporary housing. It offers tax credits to landlords and hotel owners who provide reduced rental rates to survivors for stays between 30 and 180 days. The program includes a $15 million annual cap on these tax credits, with any unused funds rolling over to future years. By incentivizing private property owners to offer discounted rates, the legislation aims to increase the availability of safe, short-term accommodations for victims of domestic violence.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

ACR 146: Memorializes President and Congress to expand certain benefits to grandchildren of veterans impacted by Agent Orange.

This New Jersey concurrent resolution asks the President and Congress to extend existing benefits to grandchildren of veterans exposed to Agent Orange who have Spina Bifida. Currently, only the children of these veterans qualify for financial aid, healthcare, and support services under the Agent Orange Benefits Act of 1996. The bill seeks to include grandchildren in these programs to help cover lifelong medical costs and provide educational and employment assistance. If adopted, the resolution would be sent to federal leaders to consider updating the federal law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4925: Concerns health care services provided to incarcerated individuals.

This New Jersey bill ensures that incarcerated individuals do not have to pay for medical care, dental services, or prescription drugs provided while in state or county facilities. The legislation removes the ability to charge inmates for these essential health services and allows the state and counties to seek reimbursement directly from the inmates' health insurance plans instead. By shifting the financial responsibility to insurance providers, the bill aims to guarantee access to necessary treatment without burdening prisoners with costs during their incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4938: Authorizes municipality to meet affordable housing municipal obligations by developing property owned by certain public entities.

This bill allows New Jersey municipalities to fulfill their affordable housing requirements by partnering with public entities to build homes on land they already own. Specifically, it enables local governments to enter agreements with school districts, public universities, transportation authorities, and housing agencies to develop affordable housing on their properties. The legislation clarifies that these partnerships are intended to help towns meet specific state-mandated housing goals without restricting other existing laws regarding property transactions. By utilizing existing public land, the measure aims to provide a direct mechanism for increasing affordable housing stock within communities.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4930: Establishes "Kidney Disease Study Commission."

This bill creates the Kidney Disease Study Commission within New Jersey's Department of Health to investigate kidney disease research. The nine-member commission will include state officials and six public members appointed by legislative and executive leaders to oversee studies on disease causes, treatment patterns, and transplant rates, with a specific focus on minority and underserved populations. The commission will hold public hearings, utilize state staff for support, and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing its findings and recommendations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4932: Establishes five-year Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program; appropriates $15 million.

This bill creates a five-year pilot program in New Jersey that helps working families pay for child care by splitting the cost three ways between the employer, the employee, and the state. Using $15 million in state funding, the program covers one-third of eligible child care expenses for approved participants who work for participating employers and do not already receive subsidized care. To manage the initiative, the state will select local partnerships in different regions to handle applications and distribute funds, with priority given to low- or moderate-income workers, essential employees, and public sector staff. The legislation also ensures that joining the program does not reduce any existing child care benefits an employer already provides.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4921: Requires certain State housing assistance offices to provide voter registration forms.

This bill requires specific New Jersey housing assistance offices to provide voter registration forms to the public. It directly affects agencies within the Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency that help people obtain housing vouchers, rental housing, or mortgage loans. By adding these offices to the list of "public agencies" mandated by state law, the measure ensures that individuals seeking housing support can access registration materials at their point of contact. The legislation also updates the text to reflect that the Secretary of State, rather than the Attorney General, oversees election administration.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 5004: Requires MVC to verify certain information concerning commercial learner's permit and commercial driver license applicants and holders to ensure persons illegally in the State do not obtain or hold such permits and licenses.

This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to verify the immigration status and criminal history of applicants and holders of commercial learner's permits and commercial driver licenses. Under the new rules, the commission must check if individuals are legally in the United States using a federal system and deny permits to those who are not eligible or are undocumented. Additionally, current license holders must undergo fingerprinting and background checks, with their information shared with state police and federal authorities if they have outstanding arrest warrants or are found to be in the country illegally. The bill also mandates that the commission downgrade the licenses of any current holders who fail these eligibility checks.

Topics ✗ Immigration

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4926: "New Jersey Prison Libraries Act"; establishes "Prison Libraries Fund" and appropriates $1 million.

This bill creates the New Jersey Prison Libraries Act to establish a dedicated fund within the Department of Corrections for improving library services for incarcerated individuals. The legislation appropriates $1 million to support the purchase of books, digital resources, and computers, as well as to fund programs like job training, literacy classes, and cultural events. The fund is restricted to library-related expenses and cannot be used for general prison operations, medical care, or basic needs like food and clothing.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4933: Requires Director of Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA to establish program to reimburse municipality which provides services to nonresident homeless persons; requires participation in Homeless Management Information System; appropriates $10 million.

This New Jersey bill requires the state's Division of Housing and Community Resources to create a reimbursement program for local shelters that serve homeless individuals from other municipalities. Under the plan, a municipality would share the costs of providing services like food, shelter, and transportation to nonresident homeless people, with the state providing $10 million in funding to support the initiative. To qualify for reimbursement, shelters must submit applications verifying that the individuals served do not live in the municipality where the shelter is located, and the program excludes cases where people voluntarily moved for work or family reasons. The legislation also mandates that all participating shelters use the Homeless Management Information System to track occupancy and service data in real time.

Topics ✓ Housing

Bill results