Budget & Taxes in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 354: Modifies eligibility requirements for other retirement income exclusion concerning other sources of income.

This bill increases the income limit that New Jersey residents aged 62+ can earn from certain non-retirement sources while still qualifying for the retirement income exclusion. Under current law, taxpayers with over $3,000 in income from sources like wages or business profits could not claim the exclusion; this bill raises that limit to $25,000. However, the exclusion remains unavailable if a taxpayer’s total gross income exceeds $100,000. The change directly affects older New Jersey residents receiving retirement income who also have modest additional income from specific sources.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SCR 54: Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption for primary residence owned and occupied by surviving spouse of first responder who dies while performing regular or assigned duties.

SCR 54 proposes a constitutional amendment to grant property tax exemptions for the primary residences of surviving spouses of certain first responders who die while on duty. It directly affects surviving spouses of law enforcement officers, paid or volunteer firefighters, and paid or volunteer emergency medical personnel (first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad members) who died from work-related duties. The exemption requires the property to have been the first responder's primary residence at the time of death, excludes cases involving the deceased's willful negligence, and ends if the surviving spouse remarries. It also disqualifies spouses who separated under circumstances that would have led to divorce before the first responder's death.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1751: Requires annual State debt affordability analysis be included in State Debt Report.

S 1751 requires New Jersey's State Commission to include an annual debt affordability analysis in the State Debt Report, assessing the state's ability to take on additional debt. This analysis must detail specific metrics (like debt service relative to state revenues and debt per capita) and compare these metrics to those of other states. The report will provide the Legislature with a framework to evaluate and prioritize legislation impacting state debt levels. The bill amends existing law to mandate this analysis as part of the annual report, which was not previously required.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1940: Provides gross income tax deduction for certain moving expenses for taxpayer moving to New Jersey to commence work in State.

This bill allows New Jersey taxpayers who move to the state for a new job to deduct certain moving expenses from their gross income. It covers reasonable costs like moving household goods, travel expenses (including lodging but not meals), and storage related to the move. To qualify, taxpayers must work full-time for at least 39 weeks within 12 months (or 78 weeks within 24 months) in New Jersey after moving, with exceptions for death, disability, or involuntary job loss. The deduction applies only to those relocating specifically to start work in New Jersey, not to general relocations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Income Tax

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 1835: Reallocates fines incurred for violations of "Antwan's Law" to local municipality for pedestrian safety and law enforcement purposes.

This bill redirects fines for speeding violations under "Antwan's Law" in specific Burlington City zones (Route 130) to local municipalities. Currently, these tripled fines go to general municipal funds and county road funds, but this bill requires all such fines to be paid directly into the municipality's treasury. The funds must be used exclusively for pedestrian safety initiatives and law enforcement purposes within the municipality. It affects drivers who speed in the designated Burlington City areas covered by Antwan's Law, which reduces speed limits to 25-35 mph near schools and residential zones following a pedestrian fatality.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Pedestrian Safety Roads & Highways Traffic Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 210: Converts senior freeze reimbursement into credit applied directly to property tax bills.

S 210 changes New Jersey's homestead property tax freeze benefit program to apply the benefit as a direct credit on property tax bills instead of issuing separate reimbursements. Eligible seniors (65+), disabled persons meeting Social Security criteria, and those meeting income and residency requirements will have the benefit amount deducted from their annual property tax bill. This eliminates the need for taxpayers to file for a separate reimbursement after paying taxes. The bill amends the existing "homestead property tax reimbursement freeze" program (P.L.1997, c.348) to implement this direct credit system.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Property Tax

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1053: Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemptions.

This bill creates a property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities, calculated proportionally to their disability rating (e.g., 50% disability = 50% exemption). It directly affects veterans declared by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability of at least 30% (or deemed unemployable due to such disability), and their surviving spouses under specific conditions. The state will reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax revenue lost from these exemptions, with a $10,000 cap for partial exemptions (below 100% disability).

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Tax Incentives Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1579: Provides supplemental appropriation to ensure certain school districts receive additional amounts of special education categorical, security categorical, and transportation aids.

S 1579 provides supplemental state funding to eligible New Jersey school districts for the 2024-2025 school year. It ensures districts receive additional special education, security, and transportation aid if their current allocations fall below amounts calculated under the 2008 School Funding Reform Act. To qualify, districts must have faced two consecutive years of state aid reductions (2023-2024 and 2024-2025) and be spending below adequacy. The bill supplements existing state aid without altering the overall funding formula, aiming to prevent budget cuts for qualifying districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Funding Special Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2866: Requires appointment of State Dementia Services Coordinator; appropriates $150,000.

S 2866 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator with expertise in dementia care. This coordinator will develop a master plan, coordinate existing state services (including the Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Advisory Commission), prevent service duplication, identify gaps, and improve access to quality dementia care for affected individuals and their families. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to fund this position and mandates all state departments to cooperate with the coordinator by providing necessary data and assistance. It directly affects people with dementia, caregivers, and state agencies delivering dementia-related services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 1790: Provides certain resources to county prosecutors for enforcement of law regarding failure to pay wages; makes appropriation.

This bill (S 1790) provides funding and training to New Jersey county prosecutors to investigate and prosecute wage theft cases. It requires each county prosecutor to assign a dedicated assistant prosecutor to handle violations of state wage laws and a specific statute (P.L.1999, c.90, C.2C:40A-2), directly affecting workers owed wages and county prosecutors' offices. The key mechanism involves appropriating up to $2 million from the General Fund to the Department of Labor for this purpose, including funding for staff training and case investigations. The bill aims to strengthen enforcement of wage laws by providing concrete resources to local prosecutors.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Labor Standards

All budget & taxes bills