This bill requires nonpublic secondary schools, independent colleges, and the State of New Jersey to pay public school districts for the education costs of students living on their tax-exempt property. The payment obligation begins only after a local school district's governing body passes a resolution requesting it. Once activated, the bill mandates that these institutions calculate and send an annual payment by November 1, based on the per-pupil tax levy amount for each student residing in their facilities. This change aims to ensure that public school districts receive funding for students who live on private or state-owned land that is exempt from local property taxes.
This bill allows businesses in New Jersey to receive tax credits if they hire adults who have been released from incarceration for nonviolent crimes. The credits apply to both corporation business taxes and gross income taxes, offering a benefit equal to 15 percent of wages paid to each eligible employee, up to a maximum of $900 per person. To qualify, the offenders must not have committed violent acts or specific serious offenses, and the tax savings are limited to 50 percent of the total tax owed for the year. Any unused portion of the credit can be carried forward for up to seven years, and the law applies to wages paid after the bill is enacted.
This bill prevents the state from applying a six percent growth limit to school funding for the 2026-2027 school year. It directly affects school districts by ensuring they receive their full calculated aid for equalization, transportation, special education, and security categories without reduction. To fund this change, the legislation appropriates $332.6 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education. The act takes effect immediately and overrides any existing rules that would have restricted these aid increases.
This bill creates the New Jersey Student Emergency Aid Program to provide one-time financial grants to undergraduate students at public colleges and universities facing unexpected crises. The program covers essential living expenses such as food, housing, and childcare, but explicitly excludes payment for tuition, fees, or student loans. A new revolving fund will be established to manage these grants, initially seeded with $1.5 million from the state's general fund. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will set specific rules for eligibility and distribution, while colleges must report annually on how the aid is used and its impact on student retention.
This bill allocates up to $50 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to help school districts cover tax increases caused by rising health care costs. To qualify, a district must have seen its adjusted tax levy rise by more than 9.9 percent between the 2024-2025 and 2026-2027 school years. The specific amount each eligible district receives is calculated based on its proportional share of the statewide increase in health care expenses. This measure aims to offset the financial burden on taxpayers resulting from a significant allowable adjustment to property taxes for health care purposes.
This New Jersey bill creates a $20 million fund within the Department of the Treasury to replace SNAP benefits that are stolen through card cloning or skimming. It directs the Department of Human Services to use these funds to restore stolen money to eligible participants once federal replacement programs end and the state has transitioned to chip technology cards. To finance this fund, the Attorney General will temporarily collect a five percent fee from penalties and restitution paid in civil or criminal cases involving fraud. The bill also requires the state to publicly share information about the replacement process and to dissolve the fund once the state fully adopts chip technology for all SNAP cards.
This New Jersey Assembly resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass legislation creating a national infrastructure bank to address the need for repairing and modernizing critical systems like roads, bridges, and energy grids. The bill specifically recommends adopting House Resolution 5356, which would establish a government-owned entity that generates capital by trading U.S. Treasury bonds for preferred stock to fund large-scale infrastructure projects. While the resolution highlights the state's specific infrastructure challenges, its primary function is to formally request federal action rather than to enact new laws within New Jersey itself. Copies of the resolution are to be sent to federal leaders and representatives to advocate for the establishment of this funding mechanism.
This bill proposes to increase the New Jersey earned income tax credit from 40 percent to 50 percent of the federal earned income tax credit amount, effective for tax years beginning in 2026. The change directly affects New Jersey residents who qualify for the federal earned income tax credit, allowing them to receive a larger refundable state tax credit based on their federal eligibility. By amending the state tax code, the legislation ensures that eligible working individuals and families will calculate their state tax benefit using the new higher percentage.
This New Jersey bill prohibits the use of Green Acres funds to purchase, install, or replace artificial turf fields at schools, municipalities, and state agencies. The legislation restricts these specific expenditures by directing that money instead be used for natural grass playing fields, citing concerns over harmful chemicals and environmental impacts associated with synthetic turf. By banning the use of these state funds for artificial surfaces, the bill aims to prevent the purchase of fields containing rubberized pellets and microplastics while promoting organic maintenance practices for natural grass.
This bill allows qualified veteran organizations to offer free post-traumatic stress disorder counseling to veterans and their family members through licensed clinicians. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate these efforts by recruiting clinicians, matching them with those in need, and maintaining a list of available providers. To encourage participation, the bill establishes a system where clinicians can receive a state tax credit for donated hours, capped between 20 and 40 hours annually, while also granting them immunity from civil liability. Additionally, the legislation defines key terms such as "clinician," "family member," and "veteran" to clarify who is eligible for these services and benefits.
