Education (Higher Education)

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2742: Amends public school laws on harassment, intimidation, and bullying to apply to certain acts against teachers and staff members; revises definition of "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" in "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act."

This bill (A 2742) amends New Jersey's "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act" to explicitly include teachers and school staff as protected individuals under the definition of "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" in public schools. It revises the law to ensure acts targeting educators - such as verbal, written, physical, or electronic acts that disrupt school operations or cause harm - are covered under existing protections. School districts must update their anti-bullying policies to specifically prohibit bullying of staff, including clear reporting procedures and consequences for violations. The changes apply to incidents occurring on school property, at school events, on buses, or in specified off-campus situations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands anti-bullying protections to cover teachers/staff, strengthening educator safety and school environment under education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Safety

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1810: Expands Community College Opportunity Grant Program to include career and technical education programs at county colleges and county vocational schools.

This bill expands New Jersey's Community College Opportunity Grant Program to cover career and technical education programs at county vocational schools, directly benefiting adult students pursuing industry-recognized certifications or licenses. It allows eligible students enrolled in approved career training programs (minimum four months) at county vocational school districts to receive grants covering tuition and approved fees not covered by other aid, with income eligibility capped at $65,000 annually. The program now includes vocational schools alongside county colleges, defining "approved fees" to include career program costs like nursing or culinary coursework. Grants are administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, with eligibility requiring residency, enrollment minimums, and completion of federal aid applications.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands grant funding for career/technical education at county schools, increasing access to tuition assistance for adult students pursuing certifications.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3271: Requires school district to notify registered apprenticeship programs of upcoming college or career fair.

This bill requires New Jersey school districts hosting college or career fairs for high school students to notify all registered apprenticeship programs in their county about the event. The notification must include the fair's date, time, location, and instructions for apprenticeship programs to register for participation. It directly affects school districts and registered apprenticeship programs by creating a mandatory communication requirement. The bill takes immediate effect and does not establish new programs or funding, only ensuring existing apprenticeship programs receive timely information about school events.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFacilitates student access to apprenticeship programs via career fairs, expanding educational pathway options beyond traditional college routes.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2365: Permits spouses and dependents of military service members to qualify for in-State tuition in event that service member is transferred to another state.

New Jersey bill A2365 extends in-state tuition eligibility to spouses and dependents of military service members who move due to a service member's transfer. It allows these individuals to maintain in-state tuition rates at public colleges in New Jersey if they were already enrolled before the transfer and maintain continuous enrollment. The bill specifically applies to spouses and dependents who were attending school in New Jersey prior to the military relocation, ensuring they don't lose tuition benefits during temporary moves. This change directly affects military families facing frequent relocations, removing a barrier to educational affordability during service-related transfers. The policy update amends existing law (P.L.1985, c.231) to include these scenarios without requiring new funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends in-state tuition access to military dependents, reducing financial barriers for higher education enrollment per bill A2365.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransThe bill extends in-state tuition to military families during relocations, directly supporting educational access for dependents of service members - a key component of veteran and military family benefit policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Military Families Veteran Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 848: Requires 11th grade students to complete civics course as part of high school graduation requirements.

This New Jersey bill (A 848) requires all 11th grade students in public school districts to complete a civics course as part of their high school graduation requirements, starting with the 2021-2022 school year. The course must cover democracy principles, New Jersey's government structure (municipal, county, and state levels), citizenship types, and how the Electoral College differs from the popular vote. School districts must design the curriculum to prepare students to be informed citizens, voters, and community members. The State Board of Education must ensure this civics requirement is included in local graduation standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates civics curriculum to enhance civic education, directly strengthening K-12 curriculum requirements as per education topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2410: Establishes New Jersey Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship.

This bill creates the New Jersey Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship to cover tuition, fees, and required course materials for New Jersey residents enrolled in career-focused programs at county colleges or vocational schools. It directly affects students pursuing certificates, diplomas, or degrees in high-demand fields like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and education, as identified by the state's Labor Demand Occupation List. The scholarship covers costs after other aid is applied, up to $5,000 annually, with eligibility requiring residency, enrollment in an approved program, and either employment or completion of a financial literacy course. Students in associate degree programs may receive support for up to three years, while others get up to two years, all subject to maintaining a 2.0 GPA.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded scholarship program covering tuition/fees at public institutions, increasing government spending on workforce education as a public service.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates scholarship funding for career programs in high-demand fields, expanding educational access and financial support for students pursuing vocational training at county colleges.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExplicitly targets healthcare as a high-demand field for workforce training, funding education to expand healthcare workforce capacity.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds scholarships for high-demand career programs tied to state Labor Demand Occupation List, directly advancing workforce development in key employment sectors.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 586: Establishes "New Jersey College Ready Students Program Act"; provides tuition-free dual enrollment opportunities at county college for certain high school students.

This bill establishes New Jersey's "College Ready Students Program," providing tuition-free dual enrollment courses at county colleges for eligible public high school students in grades 11 and 12. To qualify, students must meet financial need criteria similar to the state's Educational Opportunity Fund and maintain a college readiness GPA, with a limit of 3 tuition-free credits per semester (6 annually). The state covers all tuition costs, and students must earn a C or higher in courses to continue in the program. The Commissioner of Education must annually report participation rates, course completions, and outcomes to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state-funded tuition-free dual enrollment for eligible high school students, expanding access to higher education and reducing financial barriers per bill's summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2359: Requires undergraduate students to file degree plan and requires institutions of higher education and certain propriety institutions to develop pathway systems to graduation.

This bill requires undergraduate students at New Jersey colleges and universities to file a formal degree plan with their institution by specific credit milestones: 60 credits for four-year schools, 30 credits for county colleges or private colleges. Institutions must also create structured "pathway systems" that set graduation benchmarks, mandate early math and English courses (within first 24 credits), and ensure remedial course students immediately enroll in credit-bearing equivalents. Students changing majors or facing academic challenges must update their degree plan, and institutions must review progress regularly, requiring academic counseling for those falling behind. The policy directly affects all degree-seeking undergraduates and institutions offering academic degrees.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates structured pathways, early math/English requirements, and credit-bearing remedial courses to improve graduation rates and streamline degree completion in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4128: Establishes certain exclusions and credits under gross income and corporation business taxes for contributions to lifelong learning accounts.

This bill creates tax exclusions for New Jersey taxpayers using "lifelong learning accounts" to cover education expenses. Eligible taxpayers (aged 18-70) can exclude up to $2,500 in employer contributions and account earnings from their gross income each year. Distributions used for qualified education expenses (e.g., tuition, books) are also excluded from taxable income, but nonqualified withdrawals incur a 5% penalty tax. The accounts must be administered by banks or approved entities, cannot invest in life insurance, and require strict reporting to avoid penalties. This directly affects New Jersey residents saving for education through these designated accounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax exclusions for education expenses, reducing taxable income for eligible taxpayers (18-70), aligning with tax relief for middle-income households.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax exclusions for education expenses, reducing costs and enhancing access to education through financial incentives for taxpayers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1677: Prohibits public institutions of higher education from increasing resident undergraduate tuition for four continuous academic years following student's initial enrollment.

This bill prevents New Jersey public colleges from raising tuition for in-state undergraduate students during their first four years of enrollment. It applies to all resident students who start at a public institution, freezing their tuition rate for four consecutive academic years (or longer if their program requires it). The policy takes effect immediately for students enrolling in the academic year after the bill's passage. It directly affects public higher education institutions and in-state undergraduates by guaranteeing stable tuition costs during their initial enrollment period.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFreezes tuition for 4 years, protecting in-state students from cost increases and enhancing affordability/access to higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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