New Jersey Bills

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4153: Codifies AG recommendations for issuing Amber Alert when family member abducts child.

This bill codifies the Attorney General's recommendations to establish a formal process for issuing Amber Alerts when a child is abducted by a family member. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, broadcast media, and the public by creating a standardized protocol for emergency notifications. The law requires that an alert be activated only if specific risk factors are present, such as threats of harm, a history of violence, or the presence of weapons, distinguishing these cases from abductions by strangers. Additionally, the bill mandates that participating media broadcast the alert repeatedly for the first three hours and includes instructions for updating the public with new information.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4182: Provides for free feminine hygiene products under certain circumstances; appropriates $500,000.

This bill requires institutions of higher education in New Jersey to provide free feminine hygiene products and ensure that at least 75 percent of restrooms for menstruating individuals are stocked with them. It also mandates that private employers with 100 or more employees offer these products to their staff and requires public buildings with accessible restrooms to stock them as well. The legislation establishes a $500,000 grant program administered by the Department of Health to support these initiatives, with at least half of the funds directed to community colleges. Additionally, the bill requires state agencies receiving federal block grants to include provisions for distributing free feminine hygiene products or stipends to low-income individuals in need.

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4197: Establishes State grant program fund to incentivize municipalities to create senior snow removal programs; appropriates $2 million.

This bill creates a $2 million state grant program to help New Jersey municipalities establish snow removal services for seniors. Under the plan, local governments can apply for up to $100,000 to clear snow and ice from the driveways, entrance ways, and sidewalks of homes occupied by residents aged 62 or older with household incomes below 65% of the area median. The funding is restricted to single-family or similar residences, excluding those living in rental units, condominiums, or other communities where the landlord or association already provides equivalent snow removal. The Department of Community Affairs will manage the fund and create necessary rules to oversee the distribution of grants.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4203: Requires certain standards be established for contracts between pharmacy benefits managers and health benefits plans.

This bill requires health benefits plans in New Jersey that use pharmacy benefits managers to allow any pharmacy meeting standard contract terms to join their network. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance will define these terms as reasonable and relevant by reviewing existing contracts and ensuring reimbursement fees cover pharmacy ingredient and operational costs. The law applies to new or renewed contracts between health plans and pharmacy managers starting thirteen months after it is enacted.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4177: Requires certain record keeping related to municipal rent control compliance; appropriates $2 million.

This bill requires landlords in New Jersey municipalities with rent control ordinances to file detailed compliance forms with local clerks and mandates that these records be made publicly available online. It establishes a new digital system managed by the Department of Community Affairs to store and search these records, while also providing grants to help towns digitize existing paperwork. To enforce these rules, the bill creates a rebuttable presumption that rent control applies if records are missing and imposes a $150 penalty for knowingly submitting false information. Additionally, the legislation appropriates $2 million to fund the creation of this online system and to assist municipalities with record digitization.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Technology

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4120: Establishes "Freedom Flag" as official State flag.

This bill designates the 'Freedom Flag' as an official state flag for New Jersey to honor victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and their aftermath. The legislation requires the flag, which features specific colors and symbols representing the attacks and first responders, to be displayed alongside the current state flag. It takes effect immediately and updates state statutes to include this new official symbol.

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4127: Establishes New Jersey Student Emergency Aid Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

This bill creates the New Jersey Student Emergency Aid Program to provide one-time financial grants to undergraduate students at public colleges and universities facing unexpected crises. The program covers essential living expenses such as food, housing, and childcare, but explicitly excludes payment for tuition, fees, or student loans. A new revolving fund will be established to manage these grants, initially seeded with $1.5 million from the state's general fund. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will set specific rules for eligibility and distribution, while colleges must report annually on how the aid is used and its impact on student retention.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4192: Establishes "Support for Victims of Domestic Violence Program"; incentivizes certain businesses to provide support to individuals who are victims of domestic violence.

This bill creates the "Support for Victims of Domestic Violence Program" in New Jersey to encourage businesses to help people who have recently experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The program works by offering tax credits to eligible businesses that agree to provide specific goods and services, such as housing, clothing, technology, and emergency accommodations, to victims based on regional needs. The Division on Women will divide the state into three regions to assess local resource gaps and set priorities for what businesses should provide, updating these plans every three years. By linking financial incentives to these commitments, the legislation aims to expand the safety net available to survivors without changing the legal definition of domestic violence itself.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4200: Provides Commissioner of Human Services temporary discretion to apply certain State-optional NJ FamilyCare benefits under certain circumstances.

This bill grants the New Jersey Commissioner of Human Services temporary authority to suspend certain optional NJ FamilyCare benefits for individuals who do not receive federally mandated Medicaid coverage. The suspension can only apply to benefits created on or after January 1, 2024, and explicitly excludes essential services such as primary care, pediatric care, gynecological health, and behavioral health. To use this power, the commissioner must provide the Legislature with at least 30 days of advance notice and submit biennial reports detailing how long each benefit was suspended. The law is contingent on continued federal funding for the state's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program and will expire three years after it takes effect.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4167: Requires municipal participation in sheltering homeless individuals.

This bill requires every municipality in New Jersey to either operate its own emergency shelter for homeless individuals or partner with a private nonprofit to do so. Alternatively, a municipality can choose to pay a fee to the county, calculated at $5 per resident based on the latest census data, which the county will then distribute to local shelters based on how many people each shelter serves. To help cover these costs, municipalities are allowed to use existing funds from certificate of occupancy fees. Additionally, all shelters established under this law must use a state system to provide real-time updates on available bed space.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4129: Requires study of ocean energy potential; directs BPU to establish wave and tidal energy generation goals and take other action to establish NJ as nationwide leader in ocean energy.

This bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities and the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a study on the potential for wave and tidal energy within the state. The study will evaluate impacts on energy prices, ecosystems, and the grid, while also exploring the feasibility of creating renewable energy credits or other incentives to encourage development. Following the study, the bill requires the state to update its Energy Master Plan to include specific goals for ocean energy and take steps to position New Jersey as a national leader in this sector.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4134: Requires State school aid reductions in any school year to be applied in following school year.

This bill requires that any reduction in state school aid for a school district in one year be applied to that district's funding in the following year instead. The law ensures that districts facing cuts receive the full amount of aid they were entitled to in the current budget year, with the shortfall deducted from their allocation the next year. It directly affects public school districts in New Jersey that might otherwise experience immediate funding decreases. By deferring these reductions, the measure aims to provide more predictable financial planning for schools while maintaining the same total amount of aid over a two-year period.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Bill results