This bill creates the Jersey Strong Public Service Scholarship Program to help students working in critical public service roles. It provides scholarships covering up to $25,000 for two years (after one year of employment) or $50,000 for four years (after two years of employment) at New Jersey public colleges or universities. Eligible students must be NJ residents, U.S. citizens, employed full-time in designated sectors like hospitals, schools, or first responder roles, and meet income and academic requirements. The program requires repayment of funds if a student withdraws without approved reasons or is dismissed from school.
This bill ensures that New Jersey's regional school districts with more than seven constituent districts receive state school aid totaling at least what they received during the 2024-2025 school year. It creates "regional stabilization aid" that guarantees these districts get the greater of: (1) the state aid calculated under current law, or (2) their total 2024-2025 state aid - including equalization aid, special education aid, security aid, transportation aid, adjustment aid, and Stabilized School Budget grants. The aid will first be distributed for the 2025-2026 school year. This policy directly affects eligible regional school districts by preventing reductions in their total state funding.
This 1983 New Jersey bill creates state programs to reserve government contracts for certified businesses owned by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans. It requires the state’s Economic Development Authority to establish certification standards and set-aside programs, ensuring these businesses can compete for state contracts. To qualify, businesses must be 51% owned and controlled by members of one of these groups, certified by the Division of Revenue, and independently operated. The bill aims to increase economic opportunities for these communities by providing targeted financial and technical assistance through state procurement.
This bill establishes a Statewide tele-psychiatry program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services, appropriating $4 million to provide real-time psychiatric assessments and treatment for patients in mental health or substance abuse crises. The program connects hospitals (referring sites) with licensed mental health providers (consulting providers) via video or audio, enabling timely care without requiring patients to travel. The Department must contract with a partner to implement the program statewide within three years, monitor its operation through annual site visits, and report yearly to the Governor and Legislature on metrics like assessment volumes, patient stays, and changes in involuntary commitments. It specifically requires facilitating linkages with critical access and small rural hospitals to expand access to psychiatric services.
This bill (S 3540) creates the New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to nonprofit veterans' organizations for acquiring, constructing, or improving their facilities. The program, administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), offers grants covering building-related costs like construction, repairs, and equipment. It directly affects eligible veterans' groups across New Jersey that own or seek to establish physical locations for their operations. The bill establishes this funding mechanism through statutory amendments without altering veterans' benefits or services.
This bill, S 3545 "Homeowners' Historic Property Reinvestment Act," allows New Jersey homeowners to claim a 25% tax credit against their state income tax for qualifying rehabilitation costs on historic properties. It directly affects homeowners who own and occupy a historic property (listed on the National or New Jersey Register of Historic Places, or locally designated) as their principal residence for 12 months after work is completed. Key provisions require rehabilitation costs to be at least 50% of the property’s assessed value, with no more than 60% of the total cost covering interior repairs. The credit applies only to properties meeting these specific historic preservation criteria, not to rental properties or vacation homes.
This bill creates a dedicated "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" in New Jersey's General Fund, funded by $500 for every retail sale of an electric vehicle in the state during the prior fiscal year. The fund supports environmentally safe repurposing (using used batteries for stationary storage like home energy systems), remanufacturing (restoring batteries to original condition), and recycling of electric vehicle batteries. It directly affects electric vehicle owners through the sales-based funding mechanism and battery management companies implementing these processes. The bill requires the Division of Taxation to track EV sales to calculate annual fund contributions, with the fund's money exclusively used for these battery management activities.
This bill exempts the realty transfer fee from deeds transferring preserved farmland to individuals certified as "beginning farmers" by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. It directly affects beginning farmers purchasing preserved farmland, removing a financial barrier to entering farming. The key mechanism requires applicants to obtain written certification from the Department of Agriculture, which will establish eligibility criteria and a process for certification (including a possible $100 fee). This policy change applies specifically to transactions involving preserved farmland defined under existing law, as certified by the Department.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure funds in New Jersey's "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" are used exclusively for maintaining the 9-1-1 system and emergency response services. It mandates that all revenues collected under specific statutes must be dedicated solely to eligible costs like emergency response equipment, training, communications operations, and federal compliance requirements. The amendment explicitly prohibits the state from borrowing, appropriating, or using these funds for any other purpose. This directly affects how the state manages and allocates dedicated 9-1-1 funding, preventing diversion to unrelated state budget needs.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to prioritize funding for two types of projects: (1) land acquisition for recreation and conservation, and (2) environmental infrastructure projects that include or enable flood mitigation. It directly affects local governments, nonprofits, and communities seeking DEP grants under the Green Acres program, which uses constitutionally dedicated funds. Key provisions mandate that DEP establish criteria prioritizing projects that protect floodplains, reduce flood risk, conserve natural resources, and support recreational access. The bill amends existing laws to ensure these factors are explicitly considered when ranking eligible projects for funding.
