New Jersey Bills

passed both · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 5987: Amends Fiscal Year 2026 annual appropriations act to reassign and clarify distribution of certain funds.*

This bill corrects a budget error in New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations by reassigning $25,000 in Community Resources funding from a misidentified American Legion Post to the correct recipient: Neptune American Legion Post #346 in Neptune Township. It directly affects the Neptune Post by redirecting funds previously intended for an out-of-state post (Post #46). The key mechanism is amending a specific line item in the appropriations act to name the Neptune location and adjust the allocation. The bill makes no new policy changes but ensures funds reach the intended local organization.

Topics ✓ Veterans

passed both · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 4101: Requires social media companies to establish toll-free telephone number for NJ account holders to report fraudulent account actions.

This bill (A 4101) requires social media companies with at least five million global users to provide New Jersey residents a free, 24-hour toll-free phone number to report fraudulent account activity, such as unauthorized access. Social media companies must publish this number in security emails sent to New Jersey users and on their platform’s homepage or help page. Non-compliance would violate existing consumer protection laws, potentially leading to penalties. The law directly affects New Jersey account holders and major social media platforms operating in the state.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed both · New Jersey · Senate Jan 12, 2026

S 4879: Makes supplemental appropriation of $3 million to NJ Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.

This bill provides $3 million in supplemental funding to the New Jersey Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit. The funds will directly support the unit's mission by covering costs for personnel training, equipment, vehicle purchases, software licenses, and staff mental health initiatives. The allocation is intended to help the ICAC Unit address rising online child exploitation, particularly as federal funding is currently unavailable due to a government shutdown. This is a funding measure, not a new policy, and applies solely to the State Police ICAC Unit's operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 6072: Requires retail food establishments to provide disclosures for certain caffeinated beverages.

This bill requires New Jersey retail food establishments (like restaurants and cafes) to clearly label beverages containing 150 milligrams or more of caffeine per serving with a "High caffeine" notice or approved symbol. The disclosure must appear directly next to the beverage name on all menus, including digital displays and drive-thru boards. Violations carry fines of $200-$500 for the first offense and $500-$1,000 for repeat offenses, enforced by the Department of Health or local health boards. The law preempts local regulations on caffeine disclosures and prohibits private lawsuits for non-compliance.

passed both · New Jersey · Senate Jan 12, 2026

S 4877: Modifies provisions concerning licenses for persons who transport, broker, or process solid waste or soil and fill recyclable materials.

This bill modifies licensing requirements for businesses handling soil and fill recyclable materials in New Jersey. It exempts "intra-utility transportation or processing" of these materials from certain regulations, allowing public utilities and their contractors to handle soil and fill recyclable materials without a full license under specified conditions. The bill also removes fingerprinting requirements for brokers, consultants, and salespeople, and expands the definition of "soil and fill recyclable materials" to exclude materials managed under licensed site remediation professionals. Additionally, it establishes a de minimis exemption for handling less than 200 cubic yards of soil and fill materials at a single site and extends the license application deadline from 30 to 45 days.

passed both · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 12, 2026

AJR 231: Designates March 9 of each year as U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day.

AJR 231 designates March 9 of each year as U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day in New Jersey. It requests the Governor to annually display the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag at the State Capitol and encourage other state and local government buildings to do the same on March 9 and other specified commemorative dates. The resolution recognizes Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained, referencing historical cases like Robert A. Levinson’s abduction and recent incidents. This is a symbolic gesture with no new legal requirements, focusing on observance rather than policy changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed both · New Jersey · Senate Jan 12, 2026

S 4678: Includes retired teachers and county college faculty members in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher grant program.*

This bill expands New Jersey's STEM teacher grant program to include retired teachers who receive retirement benefits from the Teachers' Pension Fund. It adds a specific payment formula for retired teachers (based on statewide average salary × teaching hours × 1.25) and allows teachers in broader STEM fields beyond traditional science/math. The $3.5 million appropriation funds direct payments to eligible teachers (both current and retired) for teaching STEM classes at participating nonpublic schools, replacing previous school district-administered payments. This change aims to increase access to STEM education by incentivizing retired educators to continue teaching.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Technology

passed both · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 5017: Exempts certain personal information and entities from certain requirements concerning notification and disclosure of personal data.*

This bill (A5017) exempts insurance-support organizations from New Jersey's data privacy notification and disclosure requirements when handling personal data related to fraud detection in insurance underwriting or claims. Specifically, it adds a new exemption (section i) to existing law for organizations defined under P.L.1985, c.179 (C.17:23A-2) that collect or disclose personal data to prevent fraud, misrepresentation, or nondisclosure in insurance contexts. The exemption applies only to data used for these specific insurance fraud prevention purposes. This change aligns insurance-support organizations with existing exemptions for insurance institutions under current law.

Topics ✗ Technology

passed both · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 5595: Permits individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives.

This bill allows adults, emancipated minors, and their authorized representatives (like parents or legal guardians) to create a formal written directive preventing healthcare providers from prescribing or administering opioids. The directive must be created using a form developed by the New Jersey Department of Health and entered into the patient's electronic health record. Healthcare providers are protected from liability or disciplinary action for following the directive in good faith, though opioids may still be prescribed if medically necessary. Individuals can revoke the directive at any time, either orally or in writing.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 1400: Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and institutions of higher education of violations of drinking water quality standards.*

This bill requires water suppliers to immediately notify specific entities when drinking water quality standards are violated. Affected groups include municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools within the affected area. Suppliers must provide detailed information via phone and email, including contaminant names, test dates, locations, exceedance levels, and suggested remedies. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 5160: Requires transfer of certain participants of DCRP to PERS.*

This bill eliminates tiered retirement benefits in New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), moving all current non-retired members to the "Tier 1" benefit level previously available to members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) into PERS within 60 days, and automatically transfers service credit from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to PERS for DCRP participants - without transferring their contributions - unless they opt out within six months. Disability recipients under long-term insurance become eligible for disability retirement benefits if they apply within two years. Changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 4463: Provides for rehabilitative release for certain incarcerated persons.

This bill establishes a process for certain long-incarcerated individuals to seek rehabilitative release. It requires the Department of Corrections to issue a Certificate of Eligibility to people who have served at least 20 years (and are age 60+) or 30 years for murder (and are age 62+). Eligible individuals may then petition a court for sentence modification, which the court may grant if it finds they are not a danger, demonstrate reentry readiness (e.g., through education/vocational programs), and the interests of justice warrant release. If granted, the person receives a five-year parole term and must have victim input considered during the court hearing.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results