Budget & Taxes (State Budget) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 798: Establishes one-year pilot program for certain persons with disabilities; appropriates up to $85,000.

This bill establishes a one-year pilot program in New Jersey's Department of Human Services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities aged 21-30 who meet specific criteria (e.g., no aggressive behaviors, no dual diagnoses of mental illness and disability). It provides participants with at least six hours weekly of community-based activities, including job skills training, social workshops, mentorship, recreation, and volunteering. The program requires collecting participant data, reporting progress to parents/guardians (with consent), and submitting a final evaluation report to the legislature. The initiative is funded with up to $85,000 from the state budget, subject to approval by the Division of Budget and Accounting.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags People with Disabilities

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 1233: Establishes "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to support "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program; appropriates $500,000.

This bill establishes the "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to provide stable, ongoing funding for a confidential 24-hour crisis hotline supporting New Jersey law enforcement officers and sheriff's officers. It appropriates $500,000 annually from the General Fund starting in fiscal year 2025 to sustain the existing "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" program, which currently receives $400,000 from Body Armor Replacement Funds. The hotline offers confidential peer support for officers experiencing psychological stress, trauma, or emotional distress related to their work. Operators must be trained in law enforcement-specific mental health issues, and the program ensures caller confidentiality while allowing limited tracking for severe cases. The fund will also accept additional revenues from other sources to support the program's long-term operation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics State Budget Law Enforcement Mental Health

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 502: Establishes one-time grant program to support implementation of free, full-day kindergarten programs in certain school districts; appropriates $5 million.

This bill establishes a one-time $5 million grant program to help 10 specific New Jersey school districts implement free, full-day kindergarten programs. It directly affects districts that currently do not offer such programs, including Moorestown, Haddonfield, Metuchen, Monroe Township, Millstone, the Chathams, Bridgewater-Raritan, Hillsborough, Cranford, and Westfield. School districts must submit applications detailing their implementation plans and cost estimates to receive a grant, with funds distributed evenly among approved applicants. The program appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to cover these implementation costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics State Budget Early Childhood K-12 Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1084: Establishes "Mental and Behavioral Health for Hispanics and Latinos Act"; appropriates $1 million.

S 1084, the "Mental and Behavioral Health for Hispanics and Latinos Act," creates a statewide initiative to improve mental health support for Hispanic and Latino communities in New Jersey. It requires the Health Commissioner to develop and implement a culturally tailored outreach strategy - addressing language needs, subgroup differences (like age or gender), and pandemic impacts - through collaboration with community organizations. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to fund this strategy and mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on its effectiveness in improving mental health outcomes. The strategy must include evidence-based treatments adapted for these communities and promote a holistic health approach connecting behavioral and physical health.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1809: Makes $3 million supplemental appropriation for bonus awards for certain COVID-19 emergency essential frontline State workers of Local 195 International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

This bill provides $3 million in extra funding from the state General Fund to give one-time bonuses to specific frontline state workers. It directly affects employees represented by Local 195 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers who worked essential roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be distributed by state agencies to eligible employees as a bonus award, based on consultation between the budget director and the union president. The legislation specifies that only workers who provided emergency frontline service during the pandemic qualify for these bonuses.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Collective Bargaining

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 669: Establishes natural disaster relief grant program in DEP; appropriates $250 million.

This bill establishes a DEP-administered grant program to help local governments and school districts repair facilities damaged by climate change-related disasters like flooding or storms. It provides grants covering up to 50% of eligible project costs, with $250 million allocated from the General Fund into a dedicated Climate Change Relief Fund. The program requires the DEP to set eligibility rules, application procedures, and annual reports on program effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature. It directly affects municipalities, school districts, and county agencies with climate-damaged infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics State Budget Climate Change Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2541: Credits $2.35 billion to "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund"; appropriates $4.32 billion to Department of Treasury to provide funds to municipalities and counties for debt retirement and avoidance.

S 2541 allocates $4.32 billion from New Jersey's Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to help all 565 municipalities and 21 counties retire existing local debt or fund capital projects (like water systems, parks, or public safety facilities) without issuing new bonds. It directs the Department of Treasury to distribute $3 billion to municipalities equally per resident and $1.32 billion to counties equally per resident, with all funds to be distributed within 30 days of enactment. The bill adds $2.35 billion to the fund from the General Fund to support this allocation. This directly affects every local government in New Jersey by providing immediate, equitable funding for debt reduction and infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SCR 42: Amends Constitution to limit use of nonrecurring revenue in State budget except in certain times of crisis and limits State budget growth.

SCR 42 would amend New Jersey's constitution to require state budgets to be funded solely by regular, recurring revenue (like ongoing tax collections), not one-time or nonrecurring sources such as asset sales. It allows exceptions only for major crises like war, natural disasters, or insurrections, requiring a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers to exceed recurring revenue limits. The bill also caps annual budget growth at the rate of inflation (measured by the Consumer Price Index in the NYC/Philadelphia areas) and mandates that unspent recurring revenue be deposited into the state's "rainy day fund" (Surplus Revenue Fund). This directly affects how the Legislature and Governor must structure state budgets, restricting the use of temporary revenue and controlling spending growth.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Revenue State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 2, 2026

S 1841: Creates "New Jersey Workplace Skills Savings Program"; appropriates $25 million.

New Jersey's S 1841 creates the "Workplace Skills Savings Program," allowing eligible workers to save for job training. Employees earning wages subject to New Jersey income tax can contribute up to $1,000 annually to a personal account, with the state matching each dollar contributed. Funds can be used for apprenticeships, licensing exams, retraining, or approved job-related education at schools or unions. The program is funded by a $25 million state appropriation from the General Fund, administered by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, with the Department of the Treasury managing the trust. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Appropriations Income Tax State Budget Apprenticeships Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2014: Establishes school district grant program in DOE to reimburse public school teachers for classroom material expenditures.

S 2014 establishes a New Jersey Department of Education grant program to reimburse full-time public school teachers for classroom supply expenses, directly affecting teachers in all public school districts. Teachers may receive up to $250 annually for eligible items like books, computers, or classroom materials (excluding physical education supplies), with reimbursement requiring submission of receipts to their school district. Unused funds after initial reimbursements cover teachers who spent over $250, with remaining balances carried forward to the next school year. The program is funded exclusively through federal pandemic relief funds (e.g., the American Rescue Plan Act), not state budget dollars.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics State Budget Teachers

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