This bill changes the civil service classification of State Investigators working in New Jersey's Division of Criminal Justice (part of the Department of Law and Public Safety). Currently classified as unclassified employees, they lack full civil service protections like job security and standardized hiring. The bill moves them to classified service, granting them those protections under state civil service rules. The bill was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.351.
This bill requires the Garden State Preservation Trust to conduct a comprehensive audit of New Jersey's land preservation programs (including Green Acres, Blue Acres, farmland preservation, and historic property programs) within six months. It allows local governments and qualified nonprofits to use certain constitutionally dedicated land preservation funds to cover administrative costs like staff time and document preparation, rather than only program expenses. The bill also appropriates $150,000 to support this audit process. Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was approved as part of P.L.2025, c.385.
This bill increases the Supplemental Graduate Medical Education (GME) Subsidy by $496,000 in the FY2026 state budget to fund a 15th acute care hospital with a residency program. It directly affects hospitals ranked by Medicaid revenue ratio (RMP), expanding eligibility from 14 to 15 hospitals - the 15th hospital receives $496,000 while the existing 14 hospitals maintain their current subsidy amounts. The subsidy is calculated based on a hospital’s Medicaid revenue percentage using 2023 cost reports, with funds allocated to the top 15 hospitals meeting the RMP criteria. This change aligns the appropriations act with prior law (P.L.2018, c.116), which intended to cover one-third of eligible hospitals (now 15 of 45), reversing a prior 14-hospital cap.
This bill caps residential rental application fees at $50 for most properties, prohibiting landlords or agents from charging more. Landlords violating this limit face a $1,500 penalty per offense, with $250 of each penalty returned to the tenant. The $50 cap automatically adjusts annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the New York-Northern New Jersey area if inflation exceeds zero, and the fee limit does not apply to single-family or two-family homes. The bill also requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to create an online system for tenants to report violations.
This bill (A 2546) required New Jersey’s Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines for public school policies on student use of internet-enabled devices (like smartphones and tablets) during school hours, on buses, or at school events. The guidelines must prohibit non-academic use during class, allow exceptions for emergencies or health needs, and include age-appropriate rules for device storage and social media restrictions. School boards were then required to adopt policies based on these guidelines, ensuring consistency with federal disability laws and student health plans. Note: This bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was approved as P.L.2025, c.195.
This bill clarifies the authority of the New Jersey State Police superintendent to adjust personnel ranks and grades. It specifies that the superintendent may change ranks for troopers, detectives, first-line supervisors, mid-level managers, and executive personnel without Attorney General approval, but must seek approval for command staff positions (majors and lieutenant colonels). All changes must stay within existing budget appropriations for the division. The bill was withdrawn as redundant after similar provisions were enacted in P.L.2025, c.304.
This bill (A 1204) requires New Jersey building inspectors to complete construction inspections within three business days of a property owner's written request. It directly affects property owners, contractors, and building inspectors by mandating a specific 3-day timeline for inspections and restricting inspections to 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on business days unless an immediate safety hazard exists. Key provisions include requiring inspectors to notify owners in writing if they cannot meet the 3-day window and allowing owners to hire authorized private inspectors if delays persist. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was incorporated into an existing law (P.L.2025, c.173).
This bill (A2322) updates New Jersey charter school rules to ensure fair enrollment, improve student transitions, and increase transparency. It requires charter schools to admit all students without discrimination using random selection (except for weighted lotteries to promote diversity), prohibits admission criteria beyond random selection, and mandates schools to make applications available in the seven most common non-English languages in their district. New requirements include appointing a student placement liaison to coordinate transitions for new and exiting students, conduct exit interviews for non-graduating students, and annually report exit reasons and placements to the state and school districts. These changes directly affect charter schools, students, and their home school districts by standardizing enrollment practices and tracking student movement.
This New Jersey bill requires the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to develop a mobile application that provides veterans and their families with information on state and federal resources. The app would cover topics including legal rights, benefits, medical and insurance issues, education, housing, and support for transitioning from military to civilian life. It aims to improve access to these resources through a mobile platform designed to be faster and more user-friendly than traditional websites. The bill was introduced in 2026 but withdrawn after being enacted in prior legislation (P.L.2025, c.292).
This bill authorizes the construction of energy transmission and distribution infrastructure (like power lines and equipment) on preserved farmland, which is land protected by conservation easements. It requires landowner approval, limits installations to a 50-foot right-of-way along the farm's edge, and mandates specific installation methods (e.g., underground trenches deeper than 3 feet) to minimize disruption to farming. Projects not meeting these conditions must seek committee approval, balancing agricultural use with state energy needs. The bill was enacted as P.L.2025, c.390, after being introduced and withdrawn in 2026.
This bill formally approves the merger of New Jersey City University (NJCU) with Kean University, requiring NJCU to cease operating as a separate institution and become an additional campus of Kean University. It directs Kean to assume NJCU's $150 million in long-term debt and $43 million in affiliated debt, addressing NJCU's $22 million structural deficit that triggered a state fiscal emergency. The merger, agreed upon in October 2025, aims to preserve NJCU's mission while expanding Kean's capacity to serve students in Hudson County and beyond. The bill was withdrawn after being enacted as P.L.2025, c.218.
This bill requires contractors working on data center construction projects with annual electrical usage of 5 megawatts or more to pay prevailing wages determined by New Jersey’s Labor Commissioner. It directly affects contractors building qualifying data centers by mandating compliance with wage standards, safety training (OSHA-10/30), drug testing, insurance requirements, and detailed payroll documentation. Key provisions include prohibiting temporary labor without registered apprenticeship enrollment, requiring joint liability for unpaid wages by subcontractors, and mandating weekly sign-in records. The bill was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.335, so it is not currently in effect.
