New Jersey Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jul 22, 2025

S 4426: Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026.

This bill appropriates funds to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for fiscal year 2026 to provide zero-interest and principal-forgiveness loans to local governments and public water utilities for environmental infrastructure projects. It directly affects municipalities and water utilities that need financing for clean water projects (like combined sewer overflow reduction and water quality restoration) and drinking water projects, with specific funding limits based on project type and affordability criteria. The bill includes detailed lists of 151 qualifying clean water projects totaling $1.7 billion and 59 drinking water projects totaling $652 million, all intended to meet federal requirements under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. The loans may offer full principal forgiveness for eligible projects or a blended interest rate based on project costs and borrower affordability.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jul 22, 2025

A 5546: Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation.*

This bill authorizes the Capital City Redevelopment Corporation (CCRC) to issue grants for projects within the Capital City District. It removes a requirement that the CCRC must recover at least 65% of funds through repayment. The CCRC can now set repayment terms per project to suit economic feasibility. This change increases the CCRC's flexibility in financing redevelopment projects without the fixed recovery percentage.

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jul 22, 2025

S 3982: Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE.*

This bill requires New Jersey school districts to provide parents or guardians of special education students with a hard copy of a draft Individualized Education Program (IEP) and a list of excused IEP team members at least two business days before annual IEP meetings. The draft IEP must clearly state "DRAFT" on every page, and the notice must explain that proposed programs/services are preliminary and invite parent input. It directly affects parents of students with IEPs, ensuring they have sufficient time to review recommendations before meetings. The bill aims to improve parent engagement by standardizing advance notice of draft IEPs, aligning with existing federal and state requirements.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jul 22, 2025

S 3052: Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation.

This bill (S 3052) expands academic flexibility for New Jersey public college students who are active-duty service members or their dependents (spouses/children) unable to finish a course due to unplanned military obligations like deployment. It changes the attendance threshold from 8 weeks to 55% of a course’s duration to qualify for grade options, adding temporary grades and online course transfers as choices. Students who complete 55% of a course can select a letter grade, pass/fail, incomplete, withdrawal, or online transfer (with approval), while those under 55% can choose incomplete or withdrawal. It also clarifies that pass/fail grades can later be converted to letter grades within a year by completing missed work, and ensures full tuition refunds for withdrawals. The law applies to all public institutions of higher education in New Jersey and takes effect immediately for the next academic year.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jul 22, 2025

S 2167: Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA.*

This bill requires all New Jersey public schools and participating nonpublic schools in the federal school meal programs to follow the USDA's stricter 2012 nutrition standards for breakfast and lunch, rather than weaker standards recently proposed by the federal government. It mandates compliance with specific USDA requirements for whole grains, sodium limits, and milk offerings as published in federal regulations from 2012 (and any future stricter standards). The law directly affects schools serving federally subsidized meals, ensuring they maintain healthier meal options for students. It takes effect immediately for the 2024-2025 school year.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jul 22, 2025

S 4439: Establishes protections for student-athletes and certain institutions of higher education concerning name, image, or likeness compensation; repeals "New Jersey Fair Play Act."

New Jersey's S 4439 allows student-athletes at four-year colleges offering athletic scholarships to earn compensation for the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL), while prohibiting schools from blocking such deals. It specifically bans under-21 student-athletes from NIL agreements involving alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis products. The bill requires institutions to provide annual NIL education on financial literacy and brand management, and ensures NIL contracts remain private under public records law. It also prohibits athletic associations like the NCAA from penalizing schools or athletes for engaging in permitted NIL activities. The bill repeals New Jersey's previous "Fair Play Act" to align with updated national standards.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jul 22, 2025

A 5170: Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020.

This bill requires the New Jersey state government to purchase unused tax credits from two specific programs: the New Jersey Aspire Program and the Cultural Arts Incentives Program. It mandates the Division of Taxation to buy these unused credits at 85% of their value, provided the tax credit certificate was issued at least one year before the purchase application. This applies to developers or holders who originally received these credits but did not use them. The bill changes prior law, which allowed the state to optionally purchase such credits, by making it mandatory for these two programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jul 22, 2025

A 3128: Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes.*

This bill authorizes New Jersey's Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to provide supplemental tax credits to housing developers who have received four-percent low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) but would qualify for nine-percent LIHTC. The supplemental credits cover the "project financing gap" for qualifying housing projects, ensuring developers receive a subsidy equivalent to a nine-percent LIHTC. The agency can award these credits to developers who demonstrate a financing gap, with the credit amount limited to the smaller of either the gap amount or the amount needed to reach a nine-percent subsidy level. Developers may transfer or sell these tax credits under specific conditions, including minimum sale amounts and restrictions on further transfers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jul 17, 2025

A 4765: Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users.*

This bill requires New Jersey to update driver education, testing, and the driver's manual to include specific information about safely interacting with pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorized road users. It mandates that driver's education courses, the written knowledge examination, and the official driver's manual must cover a driver's responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and cyclists, including the penalties for failing to comply with these responsibilities as outlined in existing law (P.L.2021, c.194). The changes will affect all new drivers going through the state's licensing process, including teenagers and adults seeking their first license. The bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to incorporate these provisions into all relevant educational materials and testing.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jul 9, 2025

S 3910: Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts.*

This bill requires all New Jersey school districts to provide universal access to free full-day preschool for all 3- and 4-year-old children by a date determined by each district. It establishes preschool expansion aid to support districts that don't yet offer universal free preschool and mandates a "mixed delivery method" combining district programs, licensed child care providers, and Head Start programs. School districts must submit implementation plans by July 1, 2025, with a statewide strategic plan due by July 1, 2026. The bill also requires all school districts to offer full-day kindergarten, with possible waivers if sufficient preschool expansion aid funding exists.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jul 9, 2025

A 5908: Amends FY2026 appropriations act to revise various language provisions concerning early childhood education.

This bill revises how New Jersey allocates preschool education funding for the 2025-2026 school year. It requires school districts receiving preschool aid to deduct 25% of unspent carryover funds from prior years and mandates new applications for first-time recipients to demonstrate partnerships with community child care and Head Start programs. The bill allocates up to $10 million in grants to expand full-day preschool access for 3- and 4-year-olds, prioritizing districts using a "mixed-delivery" model (combining school and community programs) and funding workforce training. It also requires state departments to maintain public online lists of eligible districts and community providers.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jul 9, 2025

S 4476: Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years.

S 4476 permits New Jersey school boards to award preschool education service contracts (for licensed childcare providers or Head Start programs receiving state preschool aid) without public bidding, using a board resolution instead. It extends the maximum contract term for these services from 24 months to three years. This change applies only to preschool programs funded through state preschool education aid, simplifying the contracting process for early childhood education providers.

Topics ✓ Education