Budget & Taxes (Audits & Accountability) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3172: Establishes State Debt Capacity Advisory Commission.

This bill creates the State Debt Capacity Advisory Commission to analyze New Jersey's debt affordability. The commission must publish an annual report by December 1st, including detailed projections of state debt payments, revenue estimates for debt service, and comparisons of debt ratios to other states. The report provides nonbinding advisory information to assist the Governor and Legislature in evaluating future debt decisions, but does not constitute an official state disclosure. The commission consists of nine members, including the State Auditor, Legislative Budget Officer, and public experts appointed by legislative leaders. The report will be publicly accessible online and updated as needed to inform fiscal planning.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Debt & Bonds

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3504: Establishes Office of the State Chief Efficiency Officer and Efficiency Officer positions in each State Executive Branch department.

This bill creates the Office of the State Chief Efficiency Officer within the Department of the Treasury, appointed by the Governor with Senate approval. It requires each state executive department to establish an Efficiency Officer position and allows counties and municipalities to do the same. These officers must ensure efficient use of taxpayer funds (including utilities and supplies), identify cost savings, and submit annual reports detailing savings to the State Chief Efficiency Officer and the legislature. The bill mandates public reporting through an online webpage to increase transparency about government spending efficiency.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Government Spending State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3840: Requires fiscal notes for all bills that establish new programs or expand existing programs.

This bill (A 3840) requires state legislators to obtain a fiscal note for any bill that creates a new government program or expands an existing one, if the state or a local government will cover the costs. Currently, fiscal notes are required for bills affecting state spending or revenue, but this bill specifically adds program creation and expansion to that requirement. The Legislative Budget and Finance Officer must request the fiscal note from the Treasury's Division of Budget and Accounting before the bill advances. This change applies immediately to all such bills introduced in the New Jersey Legislature. The bill is pending referral to the Assembly Oversight Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 5, 2026

A 4005: Provides for procurement by State of pharmacy benefits manager, automated reverse auction services, and claims adjudication services.

This bill allows New Jersey to expedite the procurement of pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) services, automated reverse auction services, and claims adjudication for the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program. It requires the Division of Purchase and Property to use a streamlined process - soliciting proposals from qualified vendors without formal advertising and conducting an automated reverse auction to secure competitive pricing. The bill modifies standard procurement rules to shorten timelines, such as limiting the Comptroller’s review to 10 business days and waiving certain advertising requirements. Within 60 days of awarding the contract, the state must report savings and procurement details to the Governor, Legislature, and the public.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Procurement Prescription Drugs

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 296: Requires State Treasurer, in consultation with State Comptroller, to promulgate rules and regulations concerning best practices for awarding independent State authority contracts.

S 296 requires New Jersey's State Treasurer, working with the State Comptroller, to create rules for how independent state authorities (like regional agencies or public boards) award contracts for goods and services. The rules mandate transparent, competitive processes, including expanding bidder pools, using clear merit-based criteria disclosed upfront, requiring detailed statements of work, and documenting all evaluation steps. Exceptions allow flexibility for small contracts ($50,000 or less), emergencies, sole-source vendors, or federal agreements without following the full rules. This bill directly affects all independent state authorities that issue contracts, aiming to standardize fair procurement practices across these entities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Procurement

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1310: Expands audit powers of State Auditor; requires online publication of certain materials; requires performance review audits of certain business incentive programs.

This bill expands the State Auditor's authority to audit state agencies and entities receiving state funds, requiring biennial performance reviews of all New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) business incentive programs. It mandates that the State Auditor publish all audit reports online for 14 days on the legislature's website and maintain a dedicated webpage for public access. The bill directly affects the State Auditor (who gains new powers), the EDA (which must undergo regular reviews), and businesses receiving state financial incentives like grants, tax credits, or loans. Key provisions include requiring the EDA to be audited every two years on programs supporting businesses - such as film production - and requiring agencies to provide prompt access to records for audits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2621: Establishes "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act."

This bill, S 2621, establishes the "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act" to set minimum reimbursement rates for pharmacies providing prescription drugs to Medicaid beneficiaries in New Jersey. It mandates that pharmacies receive at least the national average drug acquisition cost plus a $10.92 dispensing fee, regardless of whether services are delivered through Medicaid’s fee-for-service or managed care systems. The bill requires Medicaid managed care organizations to include pharmacy choice as a mandatory benefit, ensuring enrollees can select any qualified pharmacy and preventing exclusion of pharmacies based on cost or other criteria. Additionally, it directs the State Auditor to audit pharmacy pricing practices and fund flows within Medicaid to identify potential state savings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Medicaid Prescription Drugs

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3240: Provides that salary and other costs associated with Commissioner of Education's appointment of State monitor and other staff under "School District Fiscal Accountability Act," will be paid by State.

This bill changes who pays for a State monitor appointed under New Jersey's School District Fiscal Accountability Act. Currently, school districts cover the salary and costs of these monitors, but S 3240 directs the State to pay all associated expenses instead. The monitor is appointed when a district faces specific financial issues like audit failures, deficits, or repeated financial mismanagement. This shift in funding responsibility directly affects school districts that require state oversight of their fiscal operations and staffing decisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3132: Requires Division of Taxation conduct audits of out-of-State contractors that have entered into State and private contracts.

S 3132 requires New Jersey's Division of Taxation to audit out-of-state contractors who have won state or private contracts. The audits verify that administrative costs are properly allocated and reasonable, review financial controls, and examine the contractors' annual financial reports. The Division must share audit results with the agency that awarded the contract and submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature. It also establishes a confidential hotline for reporting issues related to these contractors.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 990: Expands duties of State Auditor to include performance audits at request of legislator; establishes Performance Audit Committee, consisting of eight public members, to help conduct performance audits.

This bill (S 990) expands the State Auditor’s role to conduct performance audits of state programs at the request of legislators. It directly affects state agencies by requiring unannounced audits examining a program’s economy, efficiency, and effectiveness - beyond standard financial audits. The bill establishes an 8-member "Performance Audit Committee" (appointed by legislative leaders with expertise in accounting/business) to assist the State Auditor. If the auditor deems a request unfeasible, they must provide a 30-day written explanation, with unresolved cases referred to the Legislative Services Commission for final decision.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

All budget & taxes bills