New Jersey Bills

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 18, 2026

S 4301: Increases monetary thresholds for grading of theft offenses.

This New Jersey bill raises the monetary amounts used to classify theft crimes into different severity levels. It directly affects prosecutors, judges, and individuals accused of stealing property by changing the financial thresholds that determine whether a case is charged as a second, third, fourth degree crime, or a disorderly persons offense. Under the new rules, thefts involving $100,001 or more become second-degree crimes, while amounts between $2,501 and $100,000 become third-degree crimes, and thefts of $1,001 to $2,500 become fourth-degree crimes. The bill also adjusts the threshold for fiduciary breaches from $50,000 to $100,000 for second-degree charges and lowers the disorderly persons threshold from $200 to $1,000.

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5105: Limits resale of certain real property formerly owned by public body in certain circumstances; bans deed restrictions limiting use of commercial real property in certain circumstances.

This bill establishes two main rules for real property transactions involving public bodies in New Jersey. First, it mandates that private buyers of former public property must agree to pay prevailing wages for all construction and maintenance work for a period of 10 years, during which time the property cannot be resold without this agreement. Second, the bill declares invalid any deed restrictions that prevent commercial real estate from being used for the same business purpose as the previous owner. These changes directly affect public agencies selling property and private individuals or entities purchasing it, ensuring wage standards are maintained and preventing specific types of use limitations on commercial assets.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5104: Establishes brain injury screening and education program in DCF.

This bill creates a new brain injury screening and education program within New Jersey's Department of Children and Families to help identify children and young adults aged five to 21 who have or are at risk of having brain injuries. The program will use validated screening tools and provide training to a wide range of professionals, including teachers, judges, law enforcement, healthcare workers, and social service staff, to better recognize and treat these conditions. It also aims to educate parents and guardians about the connection between brain injuries and issues like juvenile delinquency or early psychiatric diagnoses while establishing guidelines for follow-up assessments. To support these efforts, the bill authorizes the department to seek funding from federal, private, and other sources and requires an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the program's progress.

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 18, 2026

S 4299: Provides funding for Division of State Police opioid-related initiatives; appropriates up to $5 million annually.

This bill establishes a dedicated fund to manage money received from national opioid litigation settlements and appropriates up to $5 million annually for related state police initiatives. It designates the Department of Human Services as the lead agency responsible for distributing these funds to counties and municipalities while ensuring compliance with settlement terms. The legislation also creates a mechanism for the fund to earn interest and allows the department to adopt temporary regulations to oversee the allocation and reporting of these resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5121: Increases gross income tax rates for taxpayers with taxable income exceeding $2,000,000.

This bill proposes to increase the gross income tax rate for individuals in New Jersey whose taxable income exceeds $2,000,000. It directly affects high-income earners by amending the state tax code to apply a higher percentage to income above this specific threshold. The legislation would modify the existing tax tables to ensure that only the portion of income surpassing $2 million is taxed at the new, elevated rate. This change aims to generate additional revenue from the wealthiest taxpayers while leaving tax rates for lower and middle-income earners unchanged.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5123: Requires principals and teachers of public schools to conduct two sentence oral recitation from Declaration of Independence before opening of school each day in grades three through 12; appropriates $10,000.

This New Jersey bill requires public school principals and teachers to lead a daily two-sentence oral recitation of the Declaration of Independence for students in grades three through twelve. The recitation must occur before each school day begins, immediately after the Pledge of Allegiance, and includes the famous passage about equality and unalienable rights. The legislation also mandates that schools develop age-appropriate curricula explaining the historical context of these words and provides $10,000 in funding to distribute official notices to educators. The act includes exemptions for students with conscientious objections and children of foreign diplomatic representatives.

Topics ✗ Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5102: Authorizes Secretary of Agriculture to declare agricultural emergency; requires Department of Agriculture to conduct study on funding sources available to farmers during agricultural emergency.

This bill authorizes New Jersey's Secretary of Agriculture to declare an agricultural emergency for up to six months if factors like severe weather or global supply chain disruptions threaten the state's farms. When such an emergency is declared, the Department of Agriculture must immediately post a notice on its website explaining the situation and providing farmers with specific resources and funding options to protect their crops and livestock. Additionally, the bill requires the department to conduct a study within six months to identify and report on all available state, federal, and private funding sources that could help farmers during these crises.

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5124: Requires NJTA and SJTA to provide toll discount to veterans.

This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority to offer a 50 percent toll discount to eligible veterans using electronic toll collection systems. To qualify, a veteran must own or lease a New Jersey-registered vehicle linked to an active toll account and provide proof of honorable or general honorable discharge from the military or National Guard. The authorities must approve applications based on standard military separation documents or official veteran identification cards, and the discount applies to all tolls collected at any time.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation ✓ Veterans

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5120: Clarifies protections and remedies under New Jersey Civil Rights Act; establishes certain aggravating factors regarding award of punitive damages.

This bill amends New Jersey's Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against constitutional violations by private individuals and government officials. It clarifies that victims can sue for damages and relief regardless of whether the violator is acting under color of law, while also allowing the Attorney General to bring civil actions on behalf of injured parties. The legislation ensures that any damages awarded in these cases are distributed to the victims and includes provisions for jury trials in Superior Court. Additionally, the bill establishes specific aggravating factors that courts may consider when deciding whether to award punitive damages.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5118: Extends foreclosure protections for certain homeowners impacted by remnants of Hurricane Ida.

This bill extends foreclosure protections for homeowners in New Jersey who were affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. It allows eligible homeowners to apply for a forbearance, which pauses mortgage payments, by submitting an application to the Department of Community Affairs. To qualify, applicants must prove they are storm-impacted homeowners with a mortgage on their primary residence and provide specific documentation. If approved, the forbearance period lasts for two years, giving borrowers time to recover financially without facing immediate foreclosure actions.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5115: Requires children's meals and beverages served in certain settings to meet nutritional standards.

This New Jersey bill requires chain restaurants to limit the calories, sodium, sugar, and fat in children's meals while mandating the inclusion of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. It applies specifically to establishments with 20 or more locations and sets strict nutritional caps, such as a maximum of 550 calories per serving and zero grams of trans fat. Additionally, the law mandates that restaurants display the nutritional information for these meals on their menus or signage unless the data is already available on their website. The legislation also restricts the default beverage served with children's meals to healthier options like milk or water.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 18, 2026

S 3884: Requires expedited risk assessment and community notification for certain registered sex offenders who move to this State from another jurisdiction.*

This bill establishes faster notification procedures for sex offenders moving to New Jersey from other states. It requires individuals already registered as sex offenders in another jurisdiction to register in New Jersey if they enroll in state educational institutions or work in the state for more than 14 consecutive days or over 30 days in a calendar year. The legislation defines specific sex offenses that trigger registration requirements and sets a 120-day deadline for new registrants to complete the process. Failure to register as required would result in a third-degree criminal charge.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results