S 1440 creates a refundable gross income tax credit for New Jersey taxpayers who pay qualified union dues to labor organizations. The credit equals the full amount of union dues paid during the tax year, applied after other credits, and can result in a cash refund if it reduces tax liability to zero. It defines "qualified union dues" as dues, fees, or assessments paid to labor organizations (which include groups negotiating wages, hours, or working conditions) and requires taxpayers to verify payments to the Division of Taxation. This policy directly affects New Jersey residents who are union members or public employees represented by qualifying labor organizations.
This bill adds $10 million from the Universal Service Fund (an off-budget source) to the NJSHARES-S.M.A.R.T. Program for utility payment assistance in New Jersey. It directly helps homeowners and tenants facing financial hardship with past-due utility bills, including arrearages. The program requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to quickly establish eligibility guidelines, ensuring applicants aren’t receiving duplicate benefits from private insurance or other programs. This supplement builds on an existing $5 million appropriation for the same program in the FY2026 budget.
S 592 creates a dedicated "New Jersey Wine Promotion Account" within the Department of Agriculture to fund marketing and research for the state's wine industry. It directs two specific revenue streams into this account: $0.47 per gallon from wine sales by wineries (both plenary and farm) and the sales tax collected on retail sales of locally produced wine (excluding sales in restaurants that primarily serve meals). These funds will support promotion, research, and development of New Jersey wine, as guided by the New Jersey Wine Industry Advisory Council. The bill directly affects New Jersey wineries and the state's wine industry by establishing a dedicated, ongoing funding mechanism for marketing and product development.
This bill reestablishes a state education aid program providing $500 per student to school districts located in New Jersey municipalities where over 51% of residents are age 65 or older (based on the 2000 census). It directly affects school districts in qualifying communities like Manchester Township and Berkeley Township, which are part of the Central Regional School District. The aid is calculated based on projected student enrollment in these areas and is added to existing state funding without adjustment for actual enrollment. The program, previously repealed in 2008, aims to stabilize school funding in communities with high senior populations by reducing municipal tax burdens.
This bill provides tax credits to New Jersey breweries and wineries for purchasing Jersey Fresh products used in production. Businesses can claim a credit equal to the cost of qualifying Jersey Fresh commodities (verified through Department of Agriculture documentation), up to $10,000 per tax period. To qualify, applicants must submit receipts, verification of Jersey Fresh purchases, and an affidavit confirming the products were used in production. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to 20 years. The credit applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax liabilities.
This bill creates a $2 billion "School Property Tax Relief Trust Fund" using state funds and federal pandemic recovery money (like ARP funds). It directly affects New Jersey public school districts by providing one-time grants to cover capital projects, teacher hiring, and wage/benefit increases. School districts receiving grants must choose between a lump sum or 5-year payments, cannot raise their property tax levy for five years, and must submit spending-reduction plans (like consolidating services) to qualify for preference. The fund is designed to be permanent through investment, with strict rules to maintain long-term viability.
This bill allows New Jersey residents with an E-ZPass account to deduct up to $1,000 annually from their gross income tax for tolls paid on eligible toll roads and bridges (including Delaware River crossings and Port Authority routes), provided total E-ZPass tolls exceed $1,000 in a year. It excludes fines, administrative fees, employer reimbursements, and tolls already deductible as business expenses under federal or state tax rules. The deduction applies to tolls paid for personal vehicles operated by the taxpayer or household members on New Jersey toll roads or connecting interstate bridges/tunnels. The bill takes effect for taxable years beginning January 1, 2020.
This bill amends New Jersey's Farmland Assessment Act to clarify when farmland owners face "roll-back taxes" (additional taxes) after stopping agricultural use. It states that merely ceasing farming activity - without actively converting the land to non-farm use - will not trigger these taxes. Roll-back taxes, calculated as the difference between farmland tax rates and standard property tax rates for the current year and the two prior years, apply only if the land is actively converted to non-agricultural use. The bill also establishes a hardship exemption process, allowing farmers to petition for relief if temporary disruptions (e.g., due to weather or economic hardship) prevent ongoing farming, with assessors considering factors like the owner’s intent to return to farming. It directly affects New Jersey landowners who qualify for agricultural property tax assessments under the 1964 Act.
This bill creates a tax incentive program for New Jersey manufacturers. It allows qualifying manufacturers (those with 50 or fewer employees in good tax standing) to deduct up to $100,000 annually from their taxable income for deposits into a special "manufacturing reinvestment account." Funds in the account earn tax benefits: if used for machinery/equipment or workforce training at their New Jersey facility, the earnings are taxed at half the standard rate. The program applies for five consecutive years, with unused funds taxed at full rate after that.
This bill creates a 50% tax credit for New Jersey employers subject to Corporate Business Tax (CBT) or General Income Tax (GIT) who pay for certain child care expenses related to their employees' children. It covers costs for building/maintaining on-site child care centers, contracting external providers, or subsidizing employees' child care payments, with a $100,000 annual limit per employer. Employers must apply for the credit through the state, submit documentation, and agree to use the funds for eligible child care services. The total credit pool across all employers is capped at $10 million yearly. The bill does not change existing tax rates but reduces tax liability for qualifying employers.
