This bill creates a program through New Jersey's Infrastructure Bank to help school districts replace diesel school buses with electric ones. It allocates $20 million annually from state "societal benefits charge" revenues to fund loans and financial assistance for purchasing electric buses and charging infrastructure. School districts must complete energy assessments comparing costs and environmental benefits of electric vs. diesel buses, with priority given to districts in communities disproportionately affected by pollution. The program requires school districts to repay loans using operational savings from electric buses, and the Infrastructure Bank must submit an annual project priority list to the legislature.
New Jersey's S 524 requires public schools with 5% or more students qualifying for federal free/reduced-price meals to offer a school breakfast program, lowering the current threshold from 20%. This applies to all schools meeting the 5% eligibility rate, including those serving pre-K through 6th grade (requiring implementation by September 1, 2023) and other grades (by September 1, 2024). School districts must submit implementation plans to the Department of Agriculture by specific deadlines, with waivers available for schools lacking resources to comply. The bill aligns breakfast program requirements with existing lunch program rules, aiming to expand access to school breakfasts for more students.
This bill creates a $1,500 nonrefundable state income tax credit for New Jersey residents who meet specific criteria. To qualify, a taxpayer must have graduated from both a New Jersey high school and a New Jersey institution of higher education (public or private nonprofit) with a 3.5+ GPA, then work full-time (25+ hours/week) for a New Jersey-based employer within two years of graduation. The credit applies for the first five consecutive tax years of eligible employment, but cannot reduce tax liability below zero. It directly targets recent NJ college graduates seeking to remain in-state for employment, aiming to incentivize retention in the state's workforce.
S 1603 creates a 90-day tax amnesty period ending January 15, 2026, allowing New Jersey taxpayers with overdue state taxes (for returns due between September 2017 and January 2025) to pay with only half the interest due as of November 1, 2025 and without penalties like late fees. Taxpayers must pay the full tax amount plus reduced interest to participate, and they forfeit all rights to appeal the tax liability. All revenue collected during this period will fund a dedicated Stabilization Aid Account, which provides financial support to school districts experiencing reduced state school aid compared to the prior year. The bill also allocates up to $15 million from this account to cover administrative costs of running the amnesty program.
This non-binding Senate Resolution (SR 20) urges New Jersey's Governor to adopt the federal tax credit scholarship program created by the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (Pub.L.119-21). If adopted, the program would allow New Jersey taxpayers to claim a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 annually for donations to state-recognized scholarship organizations, which would then provide scholarships covering elementary/secondary education costs like tuition, books, and transportation. The resolution directly affects New Jersey families seeking educational options, as state participation would determine whether residents can access these tax benefits and scholarship funds starting January 2027. States have sole discretion to opt into the program, and this resolution formally requests the Governor take necessary steps to join it.
This bill requires all New Jersey high schools serving grades 9-12 to offer at least one computer science course starting in the 2022-2023 school year. The course must cover computing principles, hardware/software design, and technology's societal impact, as defined in the bill. Schools must provide high-quality courses in flexible formats - including traditional classrooms, online, or blended learning - to accommodate all students. It directly affects public high school students and district boards of education across New Jersey.
S 621 requires New Jersey school districts to include environmental sustainability goals in their long-range facilities plans, which must be updated at least every five years. This amendment to existing law (P.L.2000, c.72) mandates that districts submit these plans to the commissioner for approval, ensuring sustainability is integrated into school infrastructure planning. The bill directly affects all public school districts in New Jersey, requiring them to address environmental goals alongside enrollment, safety, and facility needs. It does not specify particular sustainability measures but establishes a recurring planning requirement for district facilities management.
New Jersey's S 779 requires high school students in grade 11 and above to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of their graduation requirements, starting in the first full school year after the bill takes effect. Students may request an exemption by submitting a signed form from a parent/guardian or, if 18+, by their own request. The bill also mandates that the state education commissioner provide schools and families clear resources with step-by-step instructions for completing the FAFSA. This policy directly affects New Jersey public high school students and aims to increase access to federal financial aid by integrating FAFSA completion into graduation pathways.
This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to provide full-day kindergarten programs by specific deadlines: high-need districts (A, B, CD, DE) by 2020-2021, and others by 2021-2022. It also establishes a uniform age requirement, mandating that children must turn 5 years old by October 1 of the school year to enroll in kindergarten - replacing current district-determined cutoff dates. The bill directly affects all school districts and kindergarten students, standardizing enrollment rules and program requirements statewide. It amends existing education laws to ensure consistent access to full-day kindergarten programs across all districts.
S 280 would lower New Jersey's mandatory school attendance age from six to five years old. This change would require parents and guardians to enroll children aged five to 16 in public school or equivalent instruction, instead of starting at age six. The bill amends multiple statutes to update age references in attendance rules, truancy definitions, and penalties for non-compliance. The law would take effect for the second full school year after enactment.
