Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3884: Requires DCF to develop a unified child care finder; appropriates $3.6 million.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create a free, secure online tool (web or mobile app) that helps parents and caregivers search for licensed child care centers and registered family child care providers statewide. The tool must display location maps, operating hours, fees, availability, program types, and licensing details, with features for applying directly, messaging providers, and paying fees through the platform. It mandates the tool meet strict accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) and security (SOC 2 Type II) standards. The bill appropriates $3.6 million from the General Fund for DCF to develop and implement the tool within 270 days of hiring a vendor, directly affecting parents seeking care, licensed child care centers, and family providers who must supply their profile information.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $3.6M to fund a public child care finder tool, directly increasing state spending on essential services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2424: Establishes Main Street Economic Growth Program to encourage business development in small, highly developed municipalities.

This bill creates the Main Street Economic Growth Program to support business development in New Jersey's small, highly developed municipalities (those with under 11,000 residents and over 70% developed land). It authorizes the state Economic Development Authority to provide loans, loan guarantees, tax credits, and technical assistance to businesses operating in designated Main Street areas within these municipalities. Municipalities can formally designate such areas through local ordinances that outline plans for economic improvement, including updating zoning or attracting private investment. The program targets towns facing unique growth barriers that exclude them from standard state business assistance programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes tax credits for businesses in designated areas, directly using tax policy to stimulate economic development within state budget framework.90% confidence

Tags Economic Development Small Business

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1274: Allows exclusion of certain small business income from taxation under gross income tax and corporation business tax.

This bill creates a new exclusion from New Jersey's gross income tax and corporation business tax for certain small business income. It directly affects qualifying small businesses by allowing them to exclude specific income from their taxable base under these two tax codes. The key mechanism establishes a defined exclusion for small business income while revising statutory definitions related to tax calculations, such as "net worth" and "taxpayer." The bill does not specify exact income thresholds but provides the framework for excluding qualifying small business revenue from state taxation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill excludes small business income from taxation, providing tax relief and supporting small business fiscal responsibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tags Small Business

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3006: Establishes net operating loss carryback deduction under corporation business tax.

This New Jersey bill (A 3006) would allow corporations to carry back net operating losses to previous tax years, enabling them to claim refunds for taxes paid in those earlier years. It directly affects corporations subject to New Jersey's Corporation Business Tax that have incurred losses, particularly those that might otherwise see reduced tax liability or refunds. The key mechanism establishes a formal "net operating loss carryback deduction" under the state tax code, letting businesses offset prior-year tax payments with current-year losses. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee (introduced January 13, 2026) and would change how corporations apply tax losses under state law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill enables corporate tax refunds via net operating loss carryback, reducing state revenue and weakening fiscal management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3913: Provides tax credits for hiring certain military spouses.

New Jersey's bill A 3913 creates a tax credit program to incentivize employers to hire military spouses affected by frequent relocations. Employers who hire nonresident military spouses (spouses of active-duty service members transferred to New Jersey, legally domiciled here, or on permanent change-of-station) can claim a tax credit equal to 15% of wages for 120-400 hours worked or 25% for over 400 hours annually, capped at $2,400 per employee. The credit reduces the employer's corporation business tax or gross income tax liability. This policy directly supports military spouses whose careers are disrupted by service-related moves, aiming to improve their employment stability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credits for employers (15-25% wage credit), directly providing tax relief and incentivizing hiring, aligning with tax relief indicators for Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTax credit incentivizes hiring military spouses, addressing employment instability from relocations and supporting workforce integration for a vulnerable group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4129: Doubles amount of State child tax credit; raises age and income eligibility criteria needed to receive credit.

This bill would expand New Jersey's child tax credit by doubling the maximum credit amount (from $1,000 to $2,000 per child), raising the age limit for eligible children from under 6 to under 18, and increasing the income threshold from $80,000 to $150,000 for eligibility. Taxpayers with incomes under $30,000 would receive $2,000 per child, with the credit gradually decreasing to $800 for incomes between $130,000 and $150,000. It affects New Jersey residents with children under 18 who file state tax returns, including those using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers. The changes apply to taxable years beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit for lower/middle-income families, providing direct tax relief and increasing state fiscal support for child care through higher credit amounts and broader eligibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2692: Adds Bergen County as pilot county for purposes of "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act."

This bill adds Bergen County to the list of pilot counties allowed to participate in New Jersey's "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program." It directly affects municipalities in Bergen County and tenured local employees in specific roles (municipal clerks, chief financial officers, assessors, tax collectors, municipal treasurers, or public works managers). The key mechanism allows these municipalities to enter shared services agreements under existing law, where tenured employees in these roles may be dismissed if not selected to provide services across multiple municipalities, but they retain the right to return to their original positions if the agreement ends within two years. The program aims to evaluate whether sharing these services can reduce local costs for taxpayers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables cost-saving shared services agreements for municipalities, promoting fiscal efficiency and resource optimization under existing budget frameworks.85% confidence

Tags Local Government

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1488: Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property taxes paid to veteran.

This bill extends property tax exemptions for veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities retroactively to the date they were officially declared disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It requires the state to reimburse municipalities for property taxes paid by eligible veterans during the retroactive period. The exemption applies to veterans’ primary residences and covers specific disabilities like paralysis, blindness, or amputations. It directly affects veterans who previously paid taxes they should have been exempt from under existing law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides retroactive property tax exemption for disabled veterans, reducing their tax burden and requiring state reimbursement to municipalities for covered taxes.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts veterans' primary residences from property taxes, reducing housing costs for disabled veterans.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExtends retroactive property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans, directly increasing financial benefits and reimbursing municipalities for past taxes paid.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Property Taxes Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2651: Provides gross income tax deduction to surviving spouses of certain veterans.

This bill adds a $6,000 gross income tax deduction for surviving spouses of veterans who meet specific criteria. It directly affects surviving spouses of veterans who died while on active duty, were honorably discharged, or were released under honorable circumstances from military service. To qualify, the spouse must have been married to the veteran at death, lived with them continuously (with limited exceptions), and not remarried or cohabited as a couple (with exceptions for void marriages, annulled marriages, or remarriage after age 57). The deduction applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's effective date and is added to New Jersey's existing tax code.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides $6,000 gross income tax deduction for surviving spouses, directly reducing tax burden as tax relief for eligible veterans' families.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides $6,000 tax deduction for surviving spouses of qualifying veterans, expanding financial benefits for families of fallen service members.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Military Families

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2494: "New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million.

The New Jersey Works Act creates a tax credit for businesses that fund pre-employment training programs targeting low- and moderate-income individuals for jobs in high-demand occupations. These programs must provide at least 12 weeks of paid training at minimum wage, covering skills like communication, job readiness, and career-specific instruction. The bill appropriates $1 million to support the initiative and requires training programs to be approved by the state, partner with schools or nonprofits, and exclude construction businesses. It directly affects qualifying businesses, educational institutions, and job seekers in targeted regions seeking career advancement opportunities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit to businesses for training programs targeting low-income individuals and appropriates $1M, directly advancing fiscal support for workforce initiatives.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides paid pre-employment training at minimum wage for low/moderate-income workers via tax credit, advancing employment opportunities and job readiness skills.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Apprenticeships Minimum Wage Workforce Development

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