Education (Student Financial Aid)

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 229: Requires institutions of higher education to collect and report employment data for certain graduates.

New Jersey's S 229 requires colleges and universities to collect and publicly report detailed employment outcomes and earnings data for recent graduates, along with other key metrics like graduation rates, costs, and financial aid. Institutions must post annual, disaggregated data (by race, gender, income, and other factors) on their websites, including employment rates, average student debt, and cost projections for different student scenarios. This transparency aims to help prospective students and families compare institutions based on concrete outcomes rather than general information. The law applies to all higher education institutions in New Jersey, with reports due annually and linked directly from application pages. The Secretary of Higher Education will also compile comparative profiles to help students easily evaluate institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires higher ed transparency in employment/outcomes data to inform student decisions, enhancing educational access and accountability per bill's stated purpose.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 584: Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to provide certain students with information and assistance regarding federal financial aid application.

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey to help 12th-grade students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Participating school districts must provide students with instruction on FAFSA requirements, including necessary documentation, key terms (like "dependent" or "household size"), eligibility rules, and deadlines - delivered through classroom sessions, counselors, or family workshops. Schools must also share FAFSA information with parents/guardians via written or electronic means and provide paper FAFSA forms upon request. The program selects 12 school districts (four per geographic region) to test the approach, with a final report due to the Governor and Legislature assessing whether to expand it statewide.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides FAFSA assistance to 12th graders, expanding college access and supporting higher education enrollment through mandated school district instruction.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1454: Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to permit certain students to submit monthly expense and resource statement for income verification; requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to impute in-kind support amounts.

This bill (S 1454) requires New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to allow students applying for state grants or scholarships to submit a monthly expense and resource statement instead of traditional income verification documents (like tax returns) when their income/assets cannot be confirmed through government records. It specifically mandates HESAA to estimate a minimal standard of living (e.g., housing, food costs) as "in-kind support" if a student reports zero income. This change directly affects students from low-income households or those without verifiable financial documentation, ensuring they are not automatically denied aid. The policy applies to all New Jersey state student aid programs and takes effect for the first full academic year after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows alternative income verification for state grants/scholarships, imputing in-kind support to expand access to higher education funding for students with unverifiable income.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1945: Establishes Volunteer Emergency Responder Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

This bill establishes the Volunteer Emergency Responder Loan Redemption Program, which provides student loan forgiveness for New Jersey residents who serve as volunteer emergency responders. To qualify, participants must have completed an in-state undergraduate degree or certificate program, be active members of volunteer fire, ambulance, or emergency management teams, and provide documentation of their service. The program redeems up to $16,000 of eligible student loans over three years of service: $4,000 in the first year, $4,000 in the second year, and $8,000 in the third year (capped at 25%, 25%, and 50% of the original loan balance, respectively). Participants must maintain active volunteer status each year to receive benefits, and the program applies to loans used for in-state higher education costs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides student loan forgiveness for higher education graduates in emergency services, reducing financial barriers to higher education access and supporting students pursuing degrees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 823: Prohibits institution of higher education from establishing scholarship fund or student assistance program limited to students who are citizens or permanent residents of country or territory controlled by terrorist organization.

This bill prohibits New Jersey colleges and universities from creating scholarships or financial aid programs exclusively for students who are citizens or permanent residents of countries or territories designated by the U.S. State Department as controlled by terrorist organizations. It directly affects all public and private higher education institutions in New Jersey that receive state funding. Violations would result in the institution losing access to state operating funds, education facility bonds, general obligation bonds, and state scholarship programs distributed through the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents exclusionary scholarships, promoting broader access to higher education funding and student eligibility without restricting educational opportunities.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits exclusion of students from designated countries from financial aid programs, advancing equal access to education services for immigrant students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1467: Expands Tuition Aid Grant program to include workforce training programs.

This bill expands New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant Program to include eligible workforce training programs alongside traditional degree-granting institutions. It requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to designate programs meeting specific criteria: minimum 150 hours of classroom instruction, offering industry-valued credentials, and maintaining at least 70% completion and job placement rates. The change directly affects students in non-degree workforce training programs and the institutions offering them, allowing these programs to access state tuition aid. The authority will determine eligibility based on these standards, while maintaining existing requirements for degree programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded Tuition Aid Grant program to include workforce training, increasing government spending on education and workforce development through appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition aid access to workforce training programs, increasing educational opportunities and funding for non-traditional pathways beyond degree-granting institutions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tuition aid to workforce training programs with job placement requirements, directly advancing employment standards and workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid Workforce Development

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1458: Requires four-year public institutions of higher education to provide on website certain information on online degree students and graduate degree students.

This bill requires New Jersey's four-year public colleges to post detailed, publicly accessible information about online and graduate degree programs on their websites. It mandates specific data including costs (tuition, fees, housing, books), graduation rates broken down by demographics and major, student loan debt statistics disaggregated by race, income, and other factors, faculty composition, and online course offerings. The information must be updated annually and linked from application pages, with separate reporting for on-campus, commuting, and online students. This directly affects students researching degree options and families making enrollment decisions, providing transparency about program costs and outcomes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates transparency in higher education program data, enabling informed student decisions and improving access to critical educational information.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SR 20: Urges Governor to take steps for State participation in federal tax credit scholarship 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPromotes tax credit for education donations, providing tax relief to donors, aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationUrges adoption of tax credit scholarships for K-12 education, expanding access and private funding through donor incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 779: Requires students to complete free application for federal student aid as part of high school graduation requirements or request an exemption.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires FAFSA completion for graduation, expanding access to federal student aid and higher education opportunities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SJR 45: Urges President and Congress of United States to enact student loan forgiveness program for teachers in military-impacted communities.

This New Jersey joint resolution urges the U.S. President and Congress to enact a federal student loan forgiveness program for teachers working in schools serving military-impacted communities. It specifically requests that teachers employed for five consecutive years in such schools receive up to $17,500 in federal student loan cancellation. A military-impacted community is defined as one where at least 20% of students have a parent on active duty. The resolution aims to help recruit and retain teachers who support military-connected students facing school transitions due to parental relocations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill proposes federal student loan forgiveness for teachers in military-impacted schools, directly supporting educator retention and recruitment through financial aid.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides student loan forgiveness ($17,500) as a financial benefit to teachers, directly aiding recruitment/retention in the workforce, aligning with worker benefit expansion.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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