This bill provides New Jersey employers with tax credits of up to $3,000 per qualified employee hired through One-Stop Career Centers. To qualify, employees must have been unemployed for at least 60 days, completed required training at a career center, and earned an industry-recognized credential during that unemployment period. Employers must retain employees for a minimum of 90 days to claim the credit, which applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax liabilities. The credits cannot exceed 50% of a taxpayer’s liability and may be carried forward for up to seven years if unused. This directly affects New Jersey employers hiring eligible job seekers who completed workforce training programs.
This bill imposes a fee on institutional investors (like real estate investment trusts or corporations) owning single-family residential properties that meet specific "unproductive" criteria, such as overgrown vegetation, disconnected utilities, or lack of furnishings. It directly affects institutional owners of residential properties that are deemed abandoned or vacant under the bill's detailed definitions. The fee mechanism aims to incentivize productive use of these properties, increase housing availability, and generate revenue for housing needs. The legislation targets the growing role of institutional investors in reducing housing supply, as documented in a 2022 state study.
This bill exempts certain medications for companion pets from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It applies specifically to drugs prescribed by licensed veterinarians or recognized by state pharmacy/veterinary boards for treating illness or injury in pets kept as household companions (not for research or business). The exemption covers medications that diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease, but excludes pet food, supplements, or products marketed as dietary aids. The tax change would take effect starting the first full quarter after the bill becomes law.
S 3456 would incorporate boardwalks into New Jersey's existing transportation local aid program and establish a new Local Aid Infrastructure Fund specifically for boardwalk construction, repair, and maintenance projects. Municipalities with boardwalks - common in coastal communities - would be eligible to apply for state funding through both the amended transportation program and the new grant fund. The bill directly expands eligibility for these structures, which are critical for tourism and public access in beach towns, by adding them to state transportation funding streams. This policy change provides concrete financial support for boardwalk upkeep without altering other transportation funding rules.
S 3388, sponsored by Senator Raj Mukherji, authorizes the creation of an urban enterprise zone in Hoboken City. This bill amends existing law to designate Hoboken as a qualifying municipality for enterprise zone benefits, allowing businesses operating within the zone to qualify for tax incentives. To qualify, businesses must meet specific criteria, including having at least 25% of full-time employees who are residents of the zone, unemployed for six months, or low-income individuals meeting federal Workforce Investment Act standards. The zone would offer reduced sales tax collection benefits for qualifying businesses under the state's enterprise zone program, directly affecting businesses and workers in Hoboken's designated area.
This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to appoint a mental health specialist for student-athletes. The specialist must conduct three mental health screenings per season using approved tools (with parental consent), provide ongoing support for injured athletes, and develop a school mental health policy for coaches and staff. It also mandates the creation of a state registry for aggregated, non-identifiable data collected from screenings. The bill directly affects all public schools with athletic programs and aims to integrate mental health support into student-athlete participation.
This bill (S 3290) establishes a one-year pilot program in New Jersey public schools (grades 6-12) to study whether lockable cell phone pouches improve student academic performance and mental health. School districts must apply with details about their schools, student enrollment, and implementation plans, and six districts will be selected (two per regional area) to participate. The program allocates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Education for implementation, training, and a post-pilot report due within 120 days evaluating the program’s effectiveness. The bill directly affects participating school districts and aims to inform future policy decisions, not mandate phone pouch use.
This bill (A 3048) creates a state-funded grant program to help municipalities provide free transportation services for senior citizens (55+ years old) in New Jersey. Municipalities can apply for grants of up to $25,000 to establish or expand programs covering medical appointments, shopping, recreation, and other essential trips, without requiring seniors to pay costs. The Department of Human Services will manage applications, determine award amounts based on need and available funds, and report to the legislature on program usage within 30 days of the six-month application period. The $2.5 million appropriation expires 180 days after the reporting deadline, with unspent funds reverting to the state general fund.
This bill establishes a $2.25 million grant program through New Jersey's Department of Education to support STEM education for low-income students in grades 6-8. It requires selected school districts (with existing STEM programs meeting specific criteria) to provide hands-on project-based learning, offer accelerated options for students behind grade level (allowing them to complete two years of material in one year), and include staff training and classroom resources. The program targets at-risk pupils defined as those from households earning at or below 1.85 times the federal poverty level. Funds will be administered by the Department of Education in partnership with the nonprofit Engaged Learning Strategies to expand existing STEM initiatives, not create new ones.
This New Jersey bill (A 117) allows eligible volunteer firefighters, first aid, and rescue squad members to claim a $5,000 deduction from their state income tax. To qualify, volunteers must serve the entire tax year and meet specific duty requirements: firefighters need 60% fire service attendance (or 400+ duty hours with ≤50% drills) plus Firefighter I certification, while rescue members need 10% rescue service attendance (or 400+ duty hours) plus EMT training. Departments must verify eligibility annually by submitting lists to state health or community affairs departments by March 31, and taxpayers must provide proof with their tax claim. The deduction applies to tax years starting after the bill’s enactment.
