This bill creates the "Tenant Anti-Retaliation & Anti-Harassment Act" to protect renters from unfair treatment by landlords following complaints. It establishes a rule where if a landlord takes adverse actions, such as issuing eviction notices, illegal lockouts, utility shut-offs, or harassment, within six months of a tenant's complaint, these actions are presumed to be retaliatory unless proven otherwise. When a violation is found, the landlord faces a $5,000 civil penalty for each offense, plus the tenant can recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs through a streamlined legal process. The law applies to all rental properties in New Jersey and takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill expands the Information and Referral Services helpline within New Jersey's Division of Disability Services to assist individuals with disabilities in planning visits to state and county public facilities. The new service will help callers find information on facility accessibility features like ramps and assistive technology, provide guidance on service animal policies, and coordinate necessary accommodations for appointments. To support this expansion, the legislation appropriates $100,000 for the Division of Disability Services to implement the program and consult with relevant agencies.
This bill designates December 18 of each year as "New Jersey History Day" to honor the state's role in American history, particularly its early ratification of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation for the date and allows school districts to observe the day with educational activities such as student projects, local history exploration, and visits to historic sites. The New Jersey Historical Commission will support these efforts by creating resource materials, promoting participation, and offering grants to schools and community groups.
This bill creates a new third-degree crime in New Jersey for knowingly filing a false report against a law enforcement officer with the intent to implicate them in a criminal offense or disciplinary infraction. It directly affects individuals who submit fabricated information to authorities specifically to harm an officer's professional standing, distinguishing this act from general false reporting or falsely accusing others. The legislation establishes that this specific offense will carry a separate penalty and will not merge with existing charges for falsely incriminating other people or making false reports about non-existent incidents. By adding this provision, the law aims to provide a specific legal consequence for targeting law enforcement personnel through false accusations.
This bill creates the New Jersey Earn and Learn Program to encourage employers to hire individuals into structured apprenticeships and paid internships that lead to permanent employment. Under the program, businesses can receive tax credits against state taxes of $3,000 for each enrollee, with additional $1,000 credits available for hiring from underrepresented groups or for retaining workers who complete their training and stay employed for six months. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will manage the program, certify eligible employers, and ensure that participants receive combined classroom and on-the-job training or supervised practical experience. The total tax credit an employer can claim in a single year is capped at $500,000, and the program is designed to run for a three-year period per individual participant.
This bill requires public school districts in New Jersey to provide a daily lunch period of at least 30 seated minutes and a daily recess period of at least 20 minutes for students in grades kindergarten through eight. The legislation expands current recess requirements, which previously applied only to students in grades kindergarten through five, to include older elementary and middle school students. While districts must generally provide these breaks, they may deny recess to a student no more than twice per week for code violations, provided the student participates in restorative justice activities instead, and may also deny recess based on medical advice or a 504 plan. The law does not require recess on days when the school schedule is substantially shortened due to early dismissal or delayed opening.
This bill directs the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to set specific safety limits for five types of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, in public drinking water. It mandates that these limits be established within 12 months and aligns them with federal standards, setting maximum contaminant levels ranging from 4.0 to 10 parts per trillion for specific chemicals. Additionally, the legislation requires the creation of a state-funded program to help private well owners test their water for PFAS contamination and provides financial assistance for remediation efforts. The bill also establishes a revolving fund to support these testing and cleanup activities and requires the department to submit annual reports on the program's progress and funding usage.
This New Jersey bill authorizes school districts to issue an alternate high school diploma to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who participate in the state's Alternate Assessment Program. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, these diplomas will be standards-based and require students to complete specific curriculum units in subjects like English, mathematics, and science using alternate academic achievement standards. The legislation ensures that receiving an alternate diploma does not end a student's right to special education services until they turn 21 and allows these students to be included in state graduation rate calculations. Additionally, the bill permits students to attempt to meet the requirements for a standard State-endorsed diploma and clarifies that participation in the alternate program does not determine their educational placement under federal law.
This bill requires all New Jersey school districts to teach bullying awareness and prevention as part of their health and physical education curriculum for students from preschool through 12th grade. The instruction must cover specific topics such as defining different types of bullying, the lasting impact of social media posts, how to seek help, and the consequences faced by those who bully others. Additionally, the curriculum should address how intolerance toward various identities can worsen bullying, while the state education commissioner will provide sample lessons and resources to assist schools.
This New Jersey bill would allow individuals to have their blood type printed on their driver's license upon request. The law applies to all new licenses, renewals, and probationary licenses issued after the bill takes effect. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission would decide exactly how the blood type appears on the card. Drivers who want this feature would need to ask for it when getting or renewing their license.
This bill creates a five-year program called the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Workforce Transition Act to help workers affected by artificial intelligence. It defines an "AI-displaced worker" as someone who lost their job because an employer adopted or expanded AI systems and establishes a dedicated funding account to support them. The law requires the state to create an index that measures how vulnerable different workers are to job loss based on factors like age, savings, and location, ensuring aid targets those most at risk. Additionally, the act aims to encourage companies to use AI to help employees rather than replace them and mandates that public funding be tied to actual job outcomes instead of just enrollment numbers.
This bill requires local governments in New Jersey to hold a public referendum before issuing general obligation bonds, which are loans used to fund major projects like schools or infrastructure. Under the new rule, a local unit must first publish details about the proposed debt and hold a hearing where residents can voice their opinions before a vote is scheduled. The legislation amends existing state laws to ensure that borrowing decisions are directly approved by the voters rather than solely by local officials. This change directly affects municipalities, school districts, and other local entities that currently have the authority to issue bonds without a direct public vote.
