Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3518: Allows gross income tax refunds to be credited against taxpayer's delinquent local property taxes.

This bill allows New Jersey to automatically apply a taxpayer's gross income tax refund (including homestead rebates and credits) to pay off delinquent local property taxes. It directly affects taxpayers who owe unpaid property taxes and are due a state income tax refund, such as those receiving earned income tax credits or homestead benefits. The Department of the Treasury will use the refund to cover the property tax debt, with child support obligations taking priority over all other debts. Taxpayers will be notified if their refund is applied to reduce their property tax delinquency.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill uses state tax refunds to offset property tax debt, providing relief to lower-income taxpayers with homestead benefits, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Property Tax

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SCR 99: Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of annual veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250.

SCR 99 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's annual property tax deduction for veterans from $250 to $1,250. This change would directly affect honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses who are New Jersey residents, applying to property tax bills starting in 2024. The amendment specifies that if a veteran's tax bill is less than $1,250, the tax would be fully canceled. It maintains existing provisions for service-connected disabilities and surviving spouses, and clarifies how deductions apply to veterans living in continuing care retirement communities. The bill must be approved by the legislature and ratified by voters to become law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250, providing direct tax relief. Aligns with support indicator of tax relief for eligible groups.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransIncreases veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250, directly expanding financial benefits for honorably discharged veterans and surviving spouses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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

A 4266: Provides tax credit to developers for affordable housing projects in certain neighborhoods.

This bill provides tax credits to developers who build affordable housing projects in designated "distressed neighborhoods" - specifically census tracts within municipalities facing economic hardship where median family income is below 80% of the statewide average. The tax credit applies to qualifying projects in these areas, as defined by the bill's amendments to existing law. Developers must meet specific affordability requirements and operate within neighborhoods identified as needing economic development assistance. The policy directly affects housing developers and aims to incentivize affordable housing construction in targeted communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credits to developers for affordable housing in distressed neighborhoods, offering tax relief for lower-income housing initiatives as a targeted fiscal policy.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides tax credits to developers building affordable housing in distressed neighborhoods, directly increasing housing supply and targeting economic hardship areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

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

A 900: Concerns recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters; appropriates $2 million.

This bill creates a new $2 million stipend program to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters in New Jersey. It provides new volunteers aged 18+ with a $750 monthly stipend for 15+ hours of service per month during their first year, administered through the Department of State’s Office of Volunteerism. Firehouses must certify volunteer hours, and the program includes after-school fire service education in grades 6-8 to promote future recruitment. The $2 million appropriation funds the stipends and related initiatives through a dedicated, permanent state fund. The bill directly affects new volunteer firefighters, fire departments, and school districts offering the youth programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2 million for firefighter stipends, directly increasing state budget allocation for public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates after-school fire service education in grades 6-8, directly enhancing K-12 curriculum and student programs through required educational outreach.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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

A 1426: Eliminates veterans' gross income tax deduction requirement that New Jersey National Guard member serve in federal active duty status.

This bill removes a requirement that New Jersey National Guard members must have served in "federal active duty status" to qualify for a $3,000 annual state tax deduction. It directly affects New Jersey National Guard members who were honorably discharged but never activated for federal duty, making them eligible for the same tax deduction previously only available to those with federal active duty service. The key change amends the state tax code (N.J.S.54A:3-1) to eliminate the "federal active duty status" condition from the veterans' deduction provision. This is a concrete policy change that expands eligibility for the deduction to all honorably discharged National Guard members, regardless of federal activation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax deduction eligibility for National Guard members, providing tax relief and reducing state tax revenue through broader access to existing benefit.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands tax benefit eligibility for NJ National Guard veterans by removing federal duty requirement, directly advancing financial support for veterans with honorable discharge.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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

A 3840: Requires fiscal notes for all bills that establish new programs or expand existing programs.

This bill (A 3840) requires state legislators to obtain a fiscal note for any bill that creates a new government program or expands an existing one, if the state or a local government will cover the costs. Currently, fiscal notes are required for bills affecting state spending or revenue, but this bill specifically adds program creation and expansion to that requirement. The Legislative Budget and Finance Officer must request the fiscal note from the Treasury's Division of Budget and Accounting before the bill advances. This change applies immediately to all such bills introduced in the New Jersey Legislature. The bill is pending referral to the Assembly Oversight Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires fiscal notes for new/expanded programs, promoting fiscal responsibility and transparency in budget planning.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget

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

A 637: Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemption.

This bill creates a property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. It provides a proportional exemption based on disability percentage (up to 100%), covering veterans with conditions like paralysis, amputations, or total blindness, and caps partial exemptions at $10,000. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans or those who died in service also qualify for similar exemptions. Crucially, the state will reimburse municipalities 102% of the lost tax revenue from these exemptions to offset costs. The law amends existing veteran property tax protections under P.L.1948, c.259.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax exemption for veterans with state reimbursement to municipalities, ensuring no net budget loss and aligning with fiscal responsibility.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates proportional property tax exemption for veterans with service-connected disabilities, funded by state reimbursement to municipalities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Tax Incentives

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

A 2939: Provides property tax deduction up to $5,000 to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability rating less than 100 percent.

This New Jersey bill (A2939) provides a $5,000 annual property tax deduction for honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability rating below 100%, as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It directly affects qualifying veterans (and their surviving spouses under specific conditions) who own real property in New Jersey. The deduction reduces their property tax bill by up to $5,000 annually, and if their tax bill is less than $5,000, it is fully canceled. The bill amends existing property tax laws to add this deduction for veterans with disabilities not rated at 100% permanent disability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides direct property tax deduction ($5,000 annual reduction) for qualifying veterans, reducing their tax burden per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides $5,000 property tax deduction for veterans with service-connected disabilities, expanding financial benefits and directly supporting veterans' economic well-being.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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

A 1077: Authorizes creation of additional urban enterprise zone.

This bill authorizes the creation of three new urban enterprise zones (UEZs) in New Jersey, including one joint zone, expanding the existing program. It directly affects qualifying municipalities that meet specific criteria, such as those previously designated or listed in prior legislation. The key mechanism allows businesses in these new zones to qualify for tax benefits, including reduced sales tax on qualifying purchases, provided they meet employee residency or low-income hiring requirements. These zones aim to stimulate economic development in distressed areas by incentivizing business investment and job creation. The bill amends existing statutes to formalize the designation process and eligibility standards for the new zones.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax benefits including reduced sales tax for businesses in designated zones, directly advancing fiscal incentives within Budget & Taxes framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Tags Economic Development

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

A 3216: Requires taxation as real property of improvements on publicly owned real property used for purpose and protection of public water supply.

This bill (A 3216) changes New Jersey tax law to require municipalities to tax improvements like buildings, dams, and other structures on publicly owned land used for public water supply protection. Currently, the land itself is taxed, but improvements on public water supply property are exempt - unlike similar improvements on privately owned water supply land. The bill aligns public and private treatment by making these improvements subject to local property taxation in the same way as on private land. This change aims to provide municipalities with additional tax revenue from public water infrastructure, as stated in the bill’s purpose.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands municipal tax base by taxing previously exempt public water infrastructure improvements, increasing local revenue for public services per fiscal alignment with private land treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue

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