New Jersey Bills

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4164: Establishes "Employment First Commission."

This bill creates the Employment First Commission within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to improve job opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The commission will consist of 17 members, including state officials and representatives from disability advocacy groups, who will work to analyze data and provide input on employment policies. Its main duties include gathering information on service needs, coordinating efforts across different state agencies, and developing a dedicated webpage to share employment resources. The commission will meet regularly to ensure that competitive, integrated employment remains a priority in public services for people with disabilities.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4191: Requires child care subsidy rate paid for certain children to equal school district's per pupil preschool education aid; appropriates funds.

This bill requires New Jersey to pay child care subsidies for three- and four-year-olds at a rate equal to the state's per-pupil preschool education funding, but only for high-quality programs rated by the Grow NJ Kids system. It establishes an annual review process to adjust these subsidy amounts based on current education aid figures and mandates that the Division of Family Development create an application process for eligible providers. Additionally, the legislation directs state agencies to publish application information online and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing the number of participating children and total spending, while also appropriating necessary funds from the General Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4152: Requires MVC to conduct unscheduled surprise inspections of certain school buses.

This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to conduct unscheduled surprise inspections of Type I and Type II school buses in addition to their existing scheduled checks. The law mandates that these inspections cover vehicle maintenance, emissions, and the review of driver employment and fleet records, with the timing and location determined by the commission. Operators who fail to provide access to buses or records, or who falsify documents, face fines ranging from $50 to $500 per violation. Additionally, the bill allows the commission to designate alternative inspection sites if a school bus operator lacks adequate terminal facilities for thorough examinations.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

SJR 139: Designates October of each year as "Opioid Abuse Prevention Month."

Senate Joint Resolution 139 designates October each year as Opioid Abuse Prevention Month in New Jersey to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid addiction. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to hold educational activities and programs focused on prevention, recovery, and support for those affected by the crisis. This symbolic measure aims to highlight the state's ongoing struggle with prescription painkiller abuse and its link to heroin use without mandating specific policy changes or funding.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4133: Establishes "Smart Camera Protection Act."

This bill, known as the Smart Camera Protection Act, regulates private outdoor security cameras in New Jersey to protect user privacy. It requires manufacturers to set any feature that shares video or data with third parties to "off" by default and mandates a clear consent screen for users to actively opt in. The law also prohibits misleading language during setup and requires existing cameras to delete past data if users choose not to share it. Ultimately, the act aims to give homeowners and businesses greater control over how their surveillance systems collect and transmit information.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4157: Requires training of planned real estate development association board members.

This bill requires board members of planned real estate development associations, such as homeowners' associations and condominiums, to complete mandatory training. The Commissioner of Community Affairs must establish a program that provides at least three hours of instruction on topics like legal requirements, budgeting, and record-keeping, which new board members must finish within 180 days of starting their term. The legislation grants the commissioner the authority to remove a board member who fails to complete this required training. These rules will apply only to the first term of office for board members whose terms begin after the bill takes effect.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4181: Prohibits administrative fees on accounts and allowances of persons released from incarceration.

This bill prohibits financial institutions from charging any administrative fees, such as account maintenance or transaction costs, to individuals who have been released from incarceration in New Jersey. It requires that any money remaining in an inmate's facility account be transferred to a free consumer checking account or issued on a fee-free debit card upon release. The legislation also mandates that the state work with banks to provide these banking services at no cost to the former inmates and allows for the disbursement of cash allowances in a fee-free manner.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4125: Allows gross income tax deduction for amounts paid for removal of lead, asbestos, sodium, chloride, and other contaminants from taxpayer's property.

This New Jersey bill allows homeowners to deduct up to $45,000 from their gross income for costs associated with removing hazardous contaminants from their residential properties. The measure specifically covers expenses related to lead and asbestos abatement, replacing lead pipes and windows, and treating private well water contaminated with sodium or chloride. To claim the deduction, taxpayers must provide affidavits from their local municipality confirming that the work was performed by certified contractors. The provision applies to all income levels and includes a retroactive option for expenses incurred between January 1, 2018, and the bill's enactment, with the tax benefit set to expire on December 31, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4159: Provides earned time credits to reduce parole eligibility date for inmates who participate in substance abuse treatment program.

This bill allows inmates in New Jersey to earn additional time credits if they participate in full-time substance abuse treatment programs. Specifically, while in such a program, an inmate will receive 1.5 times the number of standard good time credits they would normally earn. These extra credits will be applied to reduce the date on which the inmate becomes eligible for parole. The law applies to inmates who are not serving mandatory minimum sentences and takes effect four months after it is signed into law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4141: Allows certain third parties to bring suit against public works project bidders that violate certain laws.

This New Jersey bill allows unsuccessful bidders on public works projects to sue contractors who win contracts while breaking prevailing wage laws or failing to pay required taxes and benefits. The law specifically targets losing bidders whose offers were close to the winning bid, giving them the right to seek financial damages and attorney fees in court. To prevent multiple lawsuits over the same contract, the bill requires losing bidders to notify each other of their intent to sue, ensuring only one case proceeds per project. If a court finds the winning contractor violated the rules, it must pay the losing bidder for their lost costs and potential profits, with higher penalties for intentional violations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4204: Requires combined groups to be determined on world-wide basis under corporation business tax.

This bill requires corporations in New Jersey to calculate their combined group tax liability based on worldwide income rather than just domestic earnings. It directly affects businesses that operate as combined groups, including those with foreign subsidiaries or partnerships, by mandating how their global profits are reported and taxed. The legislation updates existing tax laws to ensure that income from foreign branches is converted to U.S. dollars and adjusted for federal tax differences, while also clarifying how partnership income is included in the group's total. Additionally, it establishes specific rules for excluding certain treaty-based income and defines how limited partners in investment partnerships are treated within the combined group structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4175: Provides sales and use tax exemption for certain purchases made by certain common interest communities in UEZ.

This bill expands a sales and use tax exemption in New Jersey's urban enterprise zones to include large common interest communities. It directly affects condominiums, homeowner associations, and similar organizations with at least 1,000 units that own or control shared areas. Under the new provision, these communities can purchase up to $300,000 worth of materials, supplies, and services annually for building or maintaining their properties without paying sales tax, an increase from the previous $100,000 limit. The law applies to purchases made by the community itself or by contractors hired to perform improvements on the real property.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Bill results