New Jersey Bills

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 11, 2026

A 5030: Establishes "Freedom Flag" as official State flag.

This bill designates the 'Freedom Flag' as the official state flag of New Jersey to honor victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and their aftermath. The legislation requires state agencies and officials to display this specific flag, which features a blue background with a white star, red stripes representing the Twin Towers and flights, and white bars symbolizing the Pentagon and first responders. By updating state statutes, the measure ensures the flag is used officially in anticipation of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 11, 2026

A 5042: Establishes a pilot program for State flood monitoring and rainfall sensing; appropriates $2 million.

This bill creates a two-year pilot program in New Jersey to improve flood monitoring and rainfall sensing, primarily affecting flood-prone areas and local municipalities. The Department of Environmental Protection will partner with the Davidson Laboratory at Stevens Institute of Technology to install sensors in 30 selected municipalities across the state's northern, central, and southern regions. The program includes $2 million in funding to support research, data analysis, and best practice identification, with a final report required after two years to determine if the initiative should become permanent.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 11, 2026

A 5026: Requires organizations providing services to homeless persons to participate in Homeless Management Information System to track occupancy of shelter beds.

This bill requires organizations that provide services to homeless individuals in New Jersey to join the Homeless Management Information System to track shelter bed occupancy. It establishes an Office of Homelessness Prevention within the Department of Community Affairs to coordinate services and manage data from state, county, and municipal agencies. The legislation also allows for the transfer of the Homeless Management Information System from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to the new office and provides funding to help organizations cover the costs of participation.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 11, 2026

A 5029: Prohibits for 10 years applicability of new State and local rules and regulations to certain manufacturing facilities.

This bill creates a ten-year exemption from new state and local rules and regulations for specific manufacturing facilities in New Jersey. Under the law, agencies cannot apply new or amended regulations to these facilities unless federal law requires it, though facilities can choose to waive this protection on a case-by-case basis. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development is tasked with establishing the criteria for eligibility and the process for applying for this exemption. The measure directly affects existing and future manufacturing operations by shielding them from regulatory changes for a decade.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 11, 2026

A 5035: Prohibits use of prevailing wage fringe benefit portion of prevailing wage rate to fund certain bonus programs.

This bill prohibits employers from using the fringe benefit portion of the prevailing wage rate to fund bonus, incentive, or retention programs for employees. It also prevents employers from automatically enrolling workers in specific pension or retirement plans designed to meet prevailing wage requirements without first obtaining written consent. Employees who opt out of such retirement programs will still receive their required fringe benefits through other allowable methods. The law does not apply to workers employed by companies that have collective bargaining agreements used to determine prevailing wage rates.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4117: Establishes task force to strengthen and streamline State's anti-bullying policies, procedures, and guidelines in schools.

This bill creates a 13-member task force to review and improve New Jersey's existing anti-bullying rules and procedures in public schools. The group will consist of state education officials, representatives from various school organizations, and four public members appointed by legislative leaders. Their specific duties include evaluating current laws, suggesting ways to reduce administrative work for school districts, and researching better discipline methods used in other states. The task force must organize within 30 days and submit a final report with its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within six months of starting. Once the report is issued, the task force will automatically dissolve.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4118: "Fairness for School Districts in Development Restricted Areas Act"; provides additional State school aid to certain school districts located in municipalities that are part of Highlands or Pinelands preservation areas.

This bill, titled the "Fairness for School Districts in Development Restricted Areas Act," provides additional state funding to specific school districts located in municipalities within New Jersey's Highlands or Pinelands preservation areas. To qualify, a school district must have a resident enrollment of more than 500 students, be situated entirely within a municipality where at least 25 percent of the land is protected, and have experienced a net loss in state school aid between the 2017-2018 and 2024-2025 school years. The funding amount is calculated by multiplying $250 by the number of protected acres in the municipality, with annual caps of $2.5 million for districts with fewer than 1,000 students and $5 million for those with more. This legislation aims to offset financial impacts on schools in these regions by supplementing existing state aid formulas.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4138: Prohibits State's law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement unless action is premised upon valid judicial warrant.

This New Jersey bill prohibits state law enforcement officers from participating in civil immigration enforcement operations unless a valid judicial warrant is issued. The legislation defines a judicial warrant as one based on probable cause and issued by a federal or state judge, while a law enforcement officer is anyone with the power to arrest or convict offenders. To ensure compliance, the Attorney General must create guidelines that direct how these restrictions are implemented. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4124: Waives certain commercial driver license fees for veterans and spouses of veterans.

This bill waives transfer fees for commercial driver licenses for veterans and their spouses moving to New Jersey. It applies to individuals who received an honorable discharge from the U.S. military or National Guard, allowing them to transfer their existing licenses without paying the standard charge. The legislation defines a veteran specifically as someone with an honorable discharge from active or reserve forces or the state National Guard. This change aims to reduce financial barriers for military families relocating to the state.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 11, 2026

A 5043: Provides funding for Division of State Police opioid-related initiatives; appropriates up to $5 million annually.

This bill establishes a dedicated fund to receive money from a national opioid lawsuit settlement and directs up to $5 million annually to the Division of State Police for opioid-related initiatives. The legislation designates the Department of Human Services as the lead agency responsible for managing the settlement funds, overseeing how money is distributed to counties and municipalities, and ensuring compliance with legal agreements. Additionally, the bill creates a mechanism for the fund to cover legal fees and costs associated with the national opioid litigation resolution.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4207: 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 clarify protections for individuals whose constitutional rights are violated by private persons or government officials. It allows the Attorney General to sue on behalf of victims to recover damages and obtain relief, while also enabling those individuals to file their own civil lawsuits in Superior Court with the option of a jury trial. The legislation establishes specific aggravating factors that courts may consider when deciding whether to award punitive damages in cases involving these rights violations. By updating the state's legal framework, the bill aims to strengthen remedies available to citizens without relying solely on federal law limitations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4131: Creates position in State veterans service offices to address certain veteran concerns.

This New Jersey bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a new position in every county veterans service office. The role is designed to assist veterans specifically with state services related to unemployment, homelessness, and suicide prevention. Each appointee must be a veteran and a resident of the county where they serve, working alongside the existing veterans service officer. The position is funded through a salary set by the commissioner with budget approval, and the appointee may perform additional tasks as long as they do not interfere with their primary duties.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Bill results