This bill creates the Hope Card Program in New Jersey to give victims of domestic violence a free, wallet-sized card that summarizes their restraining order details. The card is designed to help victims quickly show law enforcement and other authorities the protections they have when they are in danger. Courts must issue these cards within ten business days of finalizing a restraining order, and the card itself does not replace the legal order but serves as a convenient reference. The legislation also updates the state's central registry rules to allow the Hope Card information to be shared with authorized agencies for safety investigations.
This bill creates a new Health Equity Access and Leadership Fund within New Jersey's existing Health Care Subsidy Fund to support community health initiatives. The fund will be financed by an initial $25 million appropriation from the state's General Fund and by allocating at least 0.1 percent of annual revenues from the Health Care Subsidy Fund. Money in the fund will be distributed through a competitive grant process to community-based organizations and service providers that offer essential health care services. The Commissioner of Health is tasked with administering the fund and establishing rules to ensure its integrity.
This bill allows New Jersey school districts to use leftover state funding from one nonpublic school program to pay for services in another program instead of returning the unused money to the state. Specifically, it permits funds originally designated for nursing services or security services to be redirected to the other category if a district spends less than the allocated amount. Under current rules, districts must refund any unspent aid after the school year ends, but this legislation creates flexibility by letting districts apply those funds to the alternative program's needs. The change directly affects public school districts that manage state aid for private school nursing and security services, enabling them to utilize available resources more efficiently.
This bill creates a permanent fund within the New Jersey Department of Education to help public schools support students affected by domestic violence. The fund will be financed through annual state appropriations, federal grants, and other available money, which can be used to provide therapy and trauma-informed mental health services in schools. Additionally, the money may help districts identify resources for unmet student needs and fund the hiring and training of mental health staff. Schools that receive these funds must report to the Department of Education on how the money is spent, while the department determines how to distribute the money among districts.
This bill creates a pilot program to help businesses bring New Jersey resident employees back to the state by offering financial grants. To qualify, companies must have at least 25 full-time employees and be primarily located outside New Jersey, with a total annual funding cap of $35 million. The grant amount is generally limited to the state income tax withheld from the relocated workers, though it can be higher if the move is projected to generate significantly more tax revenue for the state. Additionally, the legislation allows the state to intervene and provide tax credits to residents who were wrongly denied refunds by other states for taxes paid on income earned while working in New Jersey.
This bill approves the Fiscal Year 2027 financial plan for the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, a state agency that provides loans and debt guarantees for environmental projects. The resolution authorizes the bank to fund specific initiatives such as clean water, drinking water, stormwater management, and pollution control projects based on eligibility lists created by the Department of Environmental Protection. By passing this concurrent resolution, the Legislature formally validates the bank's budget and financing strategy for the upcoming fiscal year, allowing the agency to proceed with its authorized lending activities.
This bill increases the percentage of the federal earned income tax credit that New Jersey residents receive, raising the state match to 45% for tax years starting in 2026. It also expands eligibility by allowing adults aged 18 and older who are ineligible for the federal credit due to age requirements to still qualify for the state program. Additionally, the legislation permits married individuals who are victims of domestic abuse to file separately while still receiving the credit, removing the usual requirement to file jointly.
This bill expands the New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program to provide more funding for security measures at high-risk nonprofit organizations. It increases the maximum grant amount for hiring security personnel to $25,000 per application and for target-hardening equipment to $100,000, while also raising the total annual budget request for the program from $2 million to $14 million. The legislation allows eligible nonprofits to receive multiple personnel grants for different properties in a single year and removes restrictions on receiving both personnel and equipment grants simultaneously. Additionally, the bill establishes specific allocation percentages for the program funds, directing 55% toward security personnel, 36% toward equipment, and 4% toward outreach and administrative support.
This bill creates a $500 million grant program within the Department of Education to help school districts improve air quality and energy efficiency in their buildings. The funds are specifically designated for repairing, maintaining, or upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, with a requirement that new systems meet specific ventilation and filtration standards. Priority for these grants is given to districts serving underserved communities where at least half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Each district must secure its own local funding before receiving state money, and the grants will cover up to 75 percent of eligible project costs.
This bill directs the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to launch a public awareness campaign focused on low-speed electric bicycles. The initiative aims to educate the general public about safety concerns and the specific traffic laws that riders must follow. To achieve this, the MVC is required to create educational materials and public service announcements in both English and Spanish, which will be distributed through various channels including the MVC website, local offices, community centers, and businesses that sell these bikes. The legislation also appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund to cover the costs of establishing and running this campaign.
