This bill allocates an additional $30 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Community Affairs for the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit program in fiscal year 2026. The funding will support nonprofit organizations that implement approved plans to improve low and moderate income neighborhoods through local development projects. The program operates by allowing businesses to receive tax credits when they invest in these qualifying revitalization initiatives, with the bill providing the state funding needed to sustain this mechanism.
This bill creates a 90-day tax amnesty period in New Jersey that must end by January 15, 2027, allowing taxpayers to pay overdue state taxes from returns due between September 1, 2017, and January 1, 2026. Participants would pay the full tax amount plus half of the accrued interest while avoiding late filing penalties, late payment penalties, and other collection fees, though civil fraud and criminal penalties still apply. Money collected during this amnesty period will be directed to a special Stabilization Aid Account for school districts, and the bill also appropriates up to $15 million for related purposes.
This bill directs the New Jersey Legislature to annually appropriate $9.6 million from the State General Fund to the Trust Fund for the Support of Public Broadcasting, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026. The funding is intended to support public broadcasting operations in New Jersey, which are currently managed by Public Media NJ, Inc. The appropriation replaces interest income that would have been generated if earlier asset sale proceeds had been deposited in the trust fund as originally planned. This measure ensures continued financial support for public television and radio programming without altering the operational structure of the public broadcasting system.
This bill authorizes New Jersey to withhold payments to the federal government if the federal government fails to pay the state money that a court has ordered it to provide. State agencies, including those in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, must submit monthly reports to the State Treasurer identifying any federal funds owed to New Jersey that violate court decisions, as well as any funds the state expects to owe the federal government. If the reports indicate federal noncompliance with court orders, the Governor may direct the State Treasurer to withhold an equivalent amount from future federal payments, which are then held in reserve and added to the state's General Fund at the end of the fiscal year.
This bill requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to hire an independent third party to study the feasibility and potential cost savings of returning public utilities to public ownership. The study will examine options such as full or partial acquisition by state entities, joint ownership arrangements, and the financial and environmental impacts on ratepayers and the state budget. Utilities and public agencies must cooperate with the study by providing requested information, and the board must submit a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. The legislation also appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to cover the cost of conducting this study.
This bill allocates $175 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Human Services to provide temporary financial assistance to SNAP recipients whose federal benefits are reduced due to a federal government shutdown. The funds enable the state to issue monthly replacement benefits that make up the difference between a household's current federal SNAP payment and their previously approved benefit amount, ensuring eligible families receive their full certified food assistance. These replacement benefits are distributed through the existing SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer system and must be used exclusively for food purchases, following the same state rules as regular SNAP benefits. The state will seek reimbursement from the federal government by June 30, 2026, if federal SNAP funding resumes.
This bill establishes the New Jersey Workplace Skills Savings Program, a state-funded initiative designed to help employees save money for job training and skills development. The program creates individual accounts where eligible workers can contribute up to $1,000 annually, with the state providing a dollar-for-dollar match on those contributions. Administered by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the program allows funds to be used for apprenticeships, licensing exams, and certification fees, while protecting account balances from creditor claims. The legislation appropriates $25 million to fund the program and requires that any unused state matching funds be returned to the general fund if an individual withdraws from the program.
This bill requires New Jersey's State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to hire three geriatric social workers to serve residents in long-term care facilities across the state. The social workers would be assigned to cover the northern, central, and southern regions and would help address legal, financial, and service-related concerns for long-term care residents, including providing advice during initial contract signing meetings. The legislation also authorizes funding from the General Fund to support these new positions.
ACR 128 proposes a constitutional amendment to restrict how New Jersey allocates state funds to non-state entities like local governments, private colleges, or community organizations. It would require that any funding for these groups must follow a competitive process, merit-based criteria, or a pre-established formula - never by directly naming a specific organization in the funding law. The amendment also mandates that any such appropriation must clearly state its specific purpose. This change would apply to all future state budget appropriations and requires voter approval to take effect.
This bill redirects 50% of existing revenue from two specific taxes on high-value real estate transactions to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. It applies to sellers of residential, commercial, farm, or cooperative properties sold for over $1 million, as well as certain commercial property transfers involving controlling interests exceeding $1 million. Currently, these revenues go to the General Fund; this bill mandates that half be instead deposited annually into the housing trust fund to support affordable housing programs. The change would take effect July 1 following enactment.
