This bill creates a permanent "Support for Students Exposed to Domestic Violence Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Education. The fund provides financial support to public schools for three specific purposes: (1) school-based therapy and trauma-informed mental health services for students impacted by domestic violence, (2) identifying resources to address unmet needs of these students, and (3) funding staff training and employment for mental health personnel. The Department of Education will administer the fund, allocate money to schools based on its own methodology, and require schools to report how funds are used. This policy directly affects public schools and students exposed to domestic violence across New Jersey.
This bill lowers the age requirement for surviving spouses to qualify for New Jersey's homestead property tax reimbursement program. Currently, surviving spouses must be 62 or older to qualify; this bill would reduce that age threshold (exact new age not specified in provided text). The change directly affects widows and widowers who were previously ineligible until age 62. It modifies the eligibility criteria in the existing law without altering income limits or residency requirements. The program helps homeowners with property tax relief, and this amendment would expand access to surviving spouses at a younger age.
This bill establishes New Jersey's "Resident Firefighter Grant Program" to provide funding for fire districts to create or expand programs where firefighters live at fire stations in exchange for free housing. The program, administered by the Division of Fire Safety, allocates grants for constructing dormitories (including kitchens), providing amenities, and offering incentives to resident firefighters. Fire districts must apply for grants, with funds distributed equitably across northern, central, and southern regions. The bill requires the state to request at least $5 million annually for these grants and pursue additional federal or private funding. (Bill introduced January 13, 2026; no votes recorded yet.)
This bill requires New Jersey's Division of Family Development to base state child care subsidy payments to licensed providers and registered family day care centers on the number of enrolled children (counted on October 15 and April 15 annually), not on actual attendance. It directly affects child care providers serving low-income families who receive state and federal subsidies. The bill prohibits payments from being calculated on children present at any given time, aiming to provide more stable funding amid enrollment fluctuations. It also mandates the Commissioner to seek necessary federal waivers to maintain funding eligibility.
This bill requires a feasibility study to examine creating a regional medical examiner office in Southern New Jersey, including assessing facility needs, staffing, costs, and options for morgue operations. It also mandates collaboration with Southern New Jersey medical schools to develop forensic education programs, fellowships, and new courses for medical students and law enforcement. The study will evaluate whether a centralized facility would improve operations, including costs for equipment like CT scanners, and propose potential policy changes. The bill appropriates $40,000 from the General Fund to fund the study, which must be completed and reported to the Governor and Legislature.
This bill increases the maximum grant amount for farmland stewardship activities on preserved farmland from $20,000 to $100,000 per application. It directly affects New Jersey farmers who preserve land under the state's farmland preservation program and seek funding for projects like soil conservation, deer fencing, or water management. The key change removes the previous $200 per acre limit and adjusts the program to allow larger-scale projects as inflation has made current grants insufficient for meaningful stewardship. The bill aims to address rising costs for activities that restore or improve preserved farmland, such as repairing soil health or enhancing flood resilience.
This bill (A 2773) creates a four-year grant program to fund performing arts education in eligible New Jersey school districts. It requires districts to demonstrate that a majority of their schools serve high concentrations of multilingual learners, students in resource family care, rural students, or at-risk pupils to qualify for grants. Funds can be used for arts materials, teacher training, program development (including college/career pathways), and extracurricular activities. Participating districts must report annually on program participation and outcomes, and the Commissioner of Education must submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature recommending whether to continue the program.
This bill creates a program to help New Jersey agriculture teachers repay student loans. Eligible teachers who work full-time in approved agricultural science programs for five years can have up to $50,000 in student loan debt redeemed by the state ($10,000 per year). To qualify, teachers must be New Jersey residents, hold a teaching certification in agriculture, have completed an approved degree, and not be in student loan default. The program limits participation to ten teachers annually and requires a written service contract. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will manage the program and report annually on its impact.
This bill (A4286) allocates $30 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Agriculture for FY2026 food and hunger programs. It directly funds the state's six regional food banks, which distribute surplus food to food pantries and nonprofits serving low-income families, seniors, disabled individuals, and children. The funds will support food distribution networks after a November 2025 federal SNAP payment halt impacted approximately 800,000 New Jersey residents relying on food assistance. The appropriation is added to the existing FY2026 budget under "Food and Nutrition Services" (line item 05-3350). The funding is intended to prevent shortages as food banks face increased demand during federal program disruptions.
This bill establishes a system where New Jersey's state government directly pays for high-cost special education services for students requiring the most expensive placements (costing over $55,000 annually), shifting responsibility from school districts. It creates a new Office of High Needs Placement Funding within the Department of Education to contract with service providers and make 10 monthly payments starting in October each year. The bill directly affects students with disabilities needing intensive services, school districts currently covering these costs, and special education providers. The policy change aims to fulfill the state's funding obligations under federal special education law by ensuring direct state payment for these high-cost cases.
