Budget & Taxes (Appropriations) in New Jersey

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

A 1731: Requires key boxes at public school buildings with certain exceptions; appropriates $2.5 million for reimbursement of costs related to key box installation.

This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects to install at least one exterior key box at every school building by June 2027. The key box must meet safety standards (like UL 1037), contain all necessary keys for emergency access, and be placed at a location determined collaboratively with emergency responders. Schools may seek exemption if they implement equivalent alternative access plans approved by the Commissioner of Education, and the state will cover all installation costs through a $2.5 million appropriation, with reimbursement available for eligible expenses incurred after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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

A 2245: Makes FY2026 supplemental appropriation of $30 million from General Fund to Food and Hunger Programs in Department of Agriculture.

This bill (A 2245) allocates $30 million from New Jersey’s General Fund to the Department of Agriculture for FY2026 food and hunger programs. It directly supports the state’s six regional food banks, which collect and distribute surplus edible food to food pantries and nonprofits serving low-income communities. The funding will help sustain meals for approximately 800,000 New Jersey residents who rely on SNAP benefits, especially following disruptions to federal food assistance. The money is specifically designated for "Food and Hunger Programs" under the Department of Agriculture’s budget, with no new taxes or programs created.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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

A 1915: Makes supplemental appropriation of $10 million to New Jersey Community Development Corporation for various community projects in City of Paterson.

This bill provides an extra $10 million in state funding for community projects in Paterson through the New Jersey Community Development Corporation. The funds are specifically allocated to three projects: $4 million for the Great Falls Youth Center at 52 Front Street, $3 million for a STEM/AI Innovation Hub at 59 Spruce Street, and $3 million for affordable housing with retail space at 98 Spruce Street. The funding is supplemental to existing appropriations and targets physical improvements and services in Paterson. The bill directs the corporation to use these funds immediately for these designated projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Appropriations Affordable Housing Community Development Property Development Artificial Intelligence

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

A 3118: Establishes Training Clinicians to Support Adults with Autism Workforce Development Program in Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services; appropriates $500,000.

This bill establishes the "Training Clinicians to Support Adults with Autism Workforce Development Program" at Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services. It requires recruiting 8-10 students annually from diverse disciplines (e.g., psychology, social work, education) to complete 20-40 hours weekly of intensive training, including hands-on clinical work, academic coursework, research collaboration, and a capstone project focused on improving outcomes for adults with autism. The program is funded by a $500,000 appropriation from the General Fund. It directly supports adults with autism in New Jersey by building a trained workforce to address current gaps in services and quality of life.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Workforce Development

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

A 1722: Makes supplemental appropriation of $100 million to Affordable Housing Production Fund in DCA for completion of 100-percent affordable housing projects.

This bill (A1722) adds $100 million in supplemental funding to New Jersey's Affordable Housing Production Fund, managed by the Department of Community Affairs. The funds will directly support municipalities in completing 100-percent affordable housing projects - where all residential units are reserved for low- and moderate-income households - as defined by existing law. Municipalities will use this money to contract with developers for new housing construction meeting the affordability criteria. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Appropriations Affordable Housing Housing Finance

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 18, 2026

A 2291: Establishes State stockpile of medicine and medical supplies; makes appropriation.

This bill creates a statewide stockpile of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies to be managed by New Jersey's Department of Health and State Office of Emergency Management. The stockpile, funded by state appropriations, will be used during emergencies like natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or public health crises. Key provisions require the state to establish distribution guidelines prioritizing healthcare providers in rural and medically underserved areas, with supplies managed through contracts that may include vendor-managed "virtually sequestered" inventories to prevent expiration. The bill mandates demand planning to determine stockpile contents and quantities based on emergency scenarios.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Appropriations Public Health

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 451: Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation.

Bill A 451 establishes a three-year pilot program to strengthen collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational schools in New Jersey. The pilot, implemented in three areas, requires joint development of workforce training programs with industry credentials, coordinated marketing, and integrated funding planning to better serve job seekers. Community colleges and vocational schools are designated as the primary providers for workforce training and adult literacy programs under this initiative. The State Employment and Training Commission must annually report on outcomes like employment rates and credential attainment, and develop a plan for statewide expansion. The program is funded through state and federal resources and expires after three years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Appropriations Workforce Development

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

A 1017: Expands scope of Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman; appropriates $1 million.

This bill expands the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to better serve residents of long-term care facilities, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. It directly affects long-term care residents (including those in nursing homes, dementia care facilities, assisted living communities, and retirement communities) by strengthening their ability to report complaints about facility conditions, abuse, or rights violations. Key provisions update definitions to include new facility types, clarify the ombudsman’s authority to investigate complaints, and require the office to resolve issues affecting residents’ safety and civil rights. The $1 million appropriation ensures the office has resources to expand its staff and services statewide.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Appropriations Long-Term Care

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

A 3208: Expands authrority of State Auditor on performance audits of school districts; requires State Auditor to issue report on school district audits from precious five years; requires appropriation of $1.5 million to Office of State Auditor annually for audits.

This bill requires New Jersey's State Auditor to annually issue a summary report of school district audits from the previous five years, sent to school boards, the Governor, Legislature, and posted online. School districts must submit an official response within 60 days detailing their compliance with audit recommendations, steps taken to implement best practices, and any obstacles. The bill also mandates the State Auditor to conduct performance audits on districts not meeting standards and on a random annual sample, with false responses requiring reimbursement to a dedicated fund. It appropriates $1.5 million annually to the State Auditor's office to cover these audit costs, offset by reimbursements from school districts. The bill directly affects all New Jersey public school districts and the Office of the State Auditor.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability

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

A 2646: Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $10 million to DOT for construction of highway guard rail along entirety of Route 208 through Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, and Oakland in sections without highway guard rail, where necessary to ensure health and safety of motorists and residents whose properties abut Route 208.

This bill appropriates $10 million from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) for installing highway guard rail along Route 208 in specific areas of Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, and Oakland. It directly affects motorists and residents whose properties border Route 208 in sections lacking guard rail, aiming to improve safety. The key provision is the targeted funding for guard rail installation where needed, with the DOT exempt from standard design manual guidelines for this project. The bill creates a concrete policy change by allocating dedicated funds for this specific infrastructure safety upgrade.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Rail Roads & Highways

All budget & taxes bills