This bill (S 2947) allows School Development Authority (SDA) districts in New Jersey to receive state debt service aid for eligible costs of school facilities projects. Specifically, it expands existing aid to cover debt service payments (principal and interest on bonds) for approved school construction, renovation, or modernization projects in SDA districts. The aid would apply to projects meeting state facilities efficiency standards, with districts only responsible for "excess costs" beyond the state-covered amount. This directly affects high-need SDA districts by reducing their financial burden for critical school infrastructure improvements.
SCR 26 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand New Jersey's homestead property tax rebate program. It would allow honorably discharged veterans who served during wartime or emergencies, as defined by the Legislature, and their unmarried surviving spouses (including spouses of veterans who died while on active duty) to receive the same larger tax rebate currently available to senior citizens (65+) and disabled residents. This change would make approximately 330,000 veterans or their surviving spouses eligible for the enhanced rebate, which averages $410 annually, in addition to their existing $50 property tax deduction. The bill is currently pending before the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee after being introduced on January 13, 2026.
This bill creates tax credits for New Jersey businesses that hire qualified ex-offenders. It allows a credit equal to 15% of wages paid to each qualifying employee, capped at $900 per employee annually, against both corporation business tax and gross income tax. A "qualified ex-offender" is defined as someone convicted of a first- to fourth-degree crime in New Jersey who was hired within one year of their conviction or release from incarceration. The credit is applied after other credits and cannot reduce tax liability below the statutory minimum.
S 644 establishes New Jersey's "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" in the state's General Fund, funded by $500 per retail electric vehicle sale reported annually. The fund supports repurposing (using old EV batteries for stationary storage like home energy systems), remanufacturing (restoring batteries to like-new condition), and recycling of EV batteries in an environmentally safe way. It directly affects electric vehicle owners (through the sales-based funding) and businesses handling battery processing. The bill aims to prevent toxic landfill contamination from batteries containing lithium, cobalt, and graphite as EV adoption grows in the state.
This bill increases New Jersey's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefit to 60% of the federal credit amount for qualifying residents, effective for taxable years beginning January 1, 2022. It directly affects low- and moderate-income New Jersey workers and families who qualify for the federal EITC but were previously receiving only 40% of that federal benefit through the state program. The change modifies existing law to raise the state credit percentage without altering eligibility rules, meaning residents must still claim the federal EITC first to access the enhanced state credit. The credit remains refundable, providing cash payments even if the recipient owes no state income tax. This policy change expands tax relief for working individuals and families already eligible under federal guidelines.
This bill creates a voluntary contribution option on New Jersey's gross income tax returns, allowing taxpayers to direct a portion of their refund or make an additional payment to the "NJ SHARES Fund." The fund supports NJ SHARES, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides temporary energy bill assistance to New Jersey households facing short-term financial crises. To qualify, households must not be eligible for welfare or other income-based energy programs and must have a history of paying utility bills on time. Funds collected through this mechanism will be distributed annually to help households cover urgent energy costs during temporary financial hardships.
This bill (S 265) changes how New Jersey reimburses state employees for using their personal vehicles on official business. It sets the reimbursement rate at the federal IRS standard mileage rate for business use (currently $0.67/mile for 2024), instead of the current fixed rate of $0.18 per mile adjusted biannually for gas prices. The key change removes the need for annual state budget adjustments to reflect gasoline price fluctuations. This directly affects all state employees who drive their personal cars for work-related travel. The bill repeals the existing provision requiring biannual rate adjustments.
This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to appoint a licensed mental health specialist for student-athletes participating in interscholastic or intramural sports programs. The specialist must conduct three annual mental health screenings per season (more for multi-sport athletes), provide weekly support for injured athletes, and develop a district-wide mental health policy. Schools must collect aggregated, non-identifiable data from screenings and submit it to the state department annually. Parental consent is required for screenings, and students without consent cannot participate in sports. The bill also creates a state mental health registry for aggregated data and makes funding available for implementation. (Introduced January 13, 2026; pending in Senate Education Committee)
S 424 establishes a pilot program in Union City, Trenton, and Camden to address energy inefficiency and fire risks from unsealed spaces between residential buildings (open cockloft spaces). The program provides free weatherization measures - including fire-resistant barriers, insulation, and ventilation - for low- and moderate-income homeowners, while other property owners can pay for improvements through a 10-year property tax assessment. It appropriates $30 million and requires participating cities to inventory affected buildings and share data for evaluation.
New Jersey's S 275 requires state departments to conduct a cost analysis before contracting out work usually performed by state employees for amounts over $100,000. This analysis must compare the cost of using private contractors versus state workers, including labor, benefits, equipment, and potential unemployment costs for displaced workers. Departments must also provide a resource analysis showing if the state can perform the work internally and file both analyses with the Office of Management and Budget for public review. The bill aims to ensure contracting only occurs if it saves significant state funds without harming public interest, while prohibiting contracts with firms whose leaders previously worked for the relevant state department. This directly affects state agencies, their employees, and union bargaining units when considering outsourcing.
