This bill establishes new requirements for school counselors in New Jersey. It mandates that school counseling programs at colleges must incorporate the American School Counselor Association's model and include training in social-emotional learning and career planning. School counselors (defined as those with a NJ certification and endorsement) must provide services addressing students' academic, career, social, and emotional needs, and complete required professional development in areas like mental health awareness, trauma-informed practices, and cultural competency. The bill also creates a new State School Counselor Liaison position within the Department of Education to support school districts and advance comprehensive counseling services. These changes directly affect school counselors, school districts, and higher education institutions offering counseling certification programs.
This bill (S 3992) modifies New Jersey’s requirements for capital reserve funding plans used by condominium and cooperative associations managing common interest communities. It mandates that 30-year funding plans must allow reserve funds to reach exactly zero dollars (not fall below) during the planning period, while permitting additional plans with higher minimum balances or escalating contributions. Associations must now ensure reserve studies are reviewed by licensed professionals every five years, shifting this responsibility from building owners to the associations themselves. The bill also clarifies that "adequate" funding means reserves sufficient to prevent the fund balance from dropping below zero, applying to associations with over $25,000 in common area assets.
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.
This bill requires New Jersey employers of first responders (law enforcement officers and paid firefighters) to cover workers' compensation for up to 12 hours of confidential mental health counseling after a "critical incident," such as witnessing violence, serious injury, or trauma during duty. Additional up to 24 hours of counseling may be covered if a mental health professional deems it necessary for the responder's well-being. The law also mandates confidentiality for mental health communications between first responders and peer support teams or resiliency program officers, with limited exceptions if a responder poses a risk to themselves or others. All counseling must be completed within one year of the first session and cannot require use of the responder's accrued paid leave.
This bill clarifies that businesses using employee leasing services (client companies) must handle and report separations from employment for leased workers, not the staffing agencies (employee leasing companies). It requires client companies to comply with state reporting rules under R.S. 43:21-6 and bear full liability for penalties if they fail to report separations. The law shifts responsibility from staffing agencies to the businesses directly employing the workers through leasing arrangements. This change specifically applies to reporting requirements for separations, not other aspects of employment. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
SJR 154 directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection's capacity market pricing model to determine if it ensures reliable electricity at the lowest cost, requiring a report within 12 months. It also mandates the state to collaborate with neighboring PJM states to promote affordable energy practices, urge PJM to implement market reforms protecting ratepayers from rising prices, and accelerate reviews of new power generation projects. The resolution addresses concerns about increasing electricity costs for New Jersey customers, linked to PJM's current pricing structure and delays in new energy resources entering the grid. This action aims to align PJM's operations with New Jersey's energy affordability goals under the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act.
This bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $2.4 billion in loans for environmental infrastructure projects during FY2026. It directly affects local governments and public water utilities (referred to as "project sponsors") seeking funding for clean water and drinking water system improvements. The bill specifies 151 clean water projects totaling $1.7 billion and 59 drinking water projects totaling $651.7 million that qualify for these loans, with repayment terms up to 45 years. The loans cover a portion of construction costs, and the bank can adjust loan amounts based on actual project expenses. The bill also includes provisions for transferring funds between state trust funds to support these projects.
This bill prohibits the "sweepstakes model of wagering" in New Jersey, which typically involves people paying to enter contests where they might win prizes. It establishes civil penalties of up to $100,000 for the first offense and $250,000 for subsequent offenses against operators of unlawful gambling operations. The bill creates limited exceptions for sweepstakes that offer free entry options, tie non-free entries to purchasing low-value merchandise under $20, disclose rules and odds clearly, and don't base winners on sports events (unless all entries are free). It also updates gambling definitions to cover online wagering, expands prohibitions against rigging sports events, and assigns enforcement to the Division of Consumer Affairs (for sweepstakes) and Division of Gaming Enforcement (for other gambling violations).
This bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $6.8 million in low-interest loans to local governments for specific hazard mitigation and resilience projects in fiscal year 2026. It directly affects three municipalities - Jersey City (McGovern Park Resilience), Highlands Borough (flood mitigation), and Brick Township (reservoir improvements) - by financing portions of their eligible projects. The loans, repayable within 30 years, are funded through the Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP) Revolving Loan Fund, with repayment proceeds reinvested to support future projects. The bill ensures projects align with state hazard mitigation requirements and the federal STORM Act framework.
This bill modifies New Jersey's Cultural Arts Incentives Program by expanding eligibility to include organizations with at least some cultural enrichment mission, and by allowing National Park Service and partner developers to operate facilities without requiring the institution to own or operate them. It removes a provision allowing tax credits for operating reserves, permits limited pre-application construction (for maintenance, repairs, and environmental work), and changes the application process from competitive to rolling basis. The bill also repeals the Community-Anchored Development Program that was scheduled to begin in 2026 with a $1.2 billion funding cap.
This bill requires New Jersey's electric public utilities (and their affiliates) to submit an annual report by February 1st to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The report must list every recorded vote cast by the utility or its affiliates at PJM Interconnection meetings (including votes not publicly disclosed by PJM), describe the meeting context, and explain how each vote supports New Jersey's energy goals of affordability, reliability, and sustainability. The BPU must then summarize these reports for the Governor and Legislature. This aims to increase transparency about how utilities influence regional electricity decisions using ratepayer funds.
This bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $53.45 million in low-interest loans for transportation infrastructure projects in fiscal year 2026. It specifically funds 17 local government projects across New Jersey, including bridge replacements, road improvements, and street redesigns in cities like Bayonne, Hoboken, and Princeton. The bill also allows for up to $1 million in principal-forgiveness loans for project planning and design costs, with up to $100,000 of that amount forgiven upon project completion. All loans must be repaid within 31 years and are subject to specific eligibility requirements. The funding expires on July 1, 2026.
