This bill creates a $2 million grant program for New Jersey public schools to develop policies limiting student cell phone and social media use during school hours and school events. Schools receiving grants must create age-appropriate policies that include exceptions for emergencies, health needs, and accommodations for students with disabilities, while promoting alternatives like phone lockers and network restrictions. Participating schools must report annually on how the program affects academic performance, behavior, and student well-being, with the state later evaluating the program's effectiveness compared to non-participating schools. The program directly affects public schools seeking funding to address distractions, not individual students or parents.
This bill requires all public schools, private schools, and institutions of higher education in New Jersey to test their buildings for radon gas at least once every five years. Buildings tested within the five years before the bill's effective date must be retested within five years of that prior test; untested buildings must be tested within 60 days of the bill's effective date. School administrators (like principals or college leaders) must work with environmental officials to determine testing locations, methods, and how results are shared. The bill repeals an expired law that previously required similar testing only in public schools, now extending the requirement equally to all school types.
This bill reestablishes state education funding for school districts located in municipalities where over 51% of residents are age 65 or older, based on the latest federal census. It provides $500 per student in projected enrollment to qualifying districts, directly affecting school funding in areas like Manchester Township and Berkeley Township (where Berkeley is part of a regional school district). The aid is calculated using projected enrollment (not actual enrollment) and reduces the qualifying municipality’s share of regional school district taxes. This policy change revives a program repealed in 2008, targeting districts with significant senior populations to stabilize education funding.
This bill creates a 90-day tax amnesty period ending January 15, 2026, allowing taxpayers with unpaid New Jersey state taxes (for returns due between September 2017 and December 2024) to pay the full tax amount plus 50% of accrued interest (without penalties or fees). Taxpayers who participate forfeit all appeal rights for those taxes. All revenue collected during this period will fund a new Stabilization Aid Account, providing financial support to school districts experiencing reduced state aid compared to the prior year. The bill appropriates up to $15 million from this account to cover the administrative costs of running the tax amnesty program.
This bill ensures that New Jersey's regional school districts with more than seven constituent districts receive state school aid totaling at least what they received during the 2024-2025 school year. It creates "regional stabilization aid" that guarantees these districts get the greater of: (1) the state aid calculated under current law, or (2) their total 2024-2025 state aid - including equalization aid, special education aid, security aid, transportation aid, adjustment aid, and Stabilized School Budget grants. The aid will first be distributed for the 2025-2026 school year. This policy directly affects eligible regional school districts by preventing reductions in their total state funding.
This bill provides a one-time $100,000 grant to a New Jersey four-year public university to study ways to increase youth involvement in government. The university must submit a detailed proposal and budget, then produce a report within one year identifying existing best practices and recommending the most effective methods for engaging young people. The report will be shared with state education officials and distributed to all school districts within 60 days. The bill directly affects public universities selected for the grant and aims to inform future youth engagement efforts in New Jersey.
This bill establishes a 17-member commission to study the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 students in New Jersey. The commission will assess existing mental health resources in schools, identify which student groups and school districts were most affected, and evaluate how pandemic disruptions impacted available services. It must produce a final report within one year, including recommendations for improving access to mental health programs and staffing needs. The commission includes state agency leaders, school representatives, mental health professionals, and appointed public members with relevant expertise. The report will be submitted to the Governor, Legislature, and all school districts.
This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to teach water safety as part of the health education curriculum for students in grades K-12, starting with the 2018-2019 school year. It mandates instruction on four specific topics: proper use of flotation devices, awareness of water conditions, dangers of rip currents and how to respond, and the importance of swimming in lifeguard-monitored areas. The law directly affects every student in New Jersey public schools, integrating water safety into existing health education standards. It aims to address drowning as a leading cause of accidental death by providing practical safety knowledge. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill establishes a 26-member School Funding Commission to study New Jersey's current school funding system and develop recommendations for a new formula. The commission includes the Education Commissioner and members appointed by state leaders, with input from education organizations and finance experts. It must examine the existing 2008 funding formula, impacts on at-risk students, neighboring states' approaches, local tax capacity, and other key factors within one year. The resulting report will directly guide the state in creating a new school funding formula affecting all public schools in New Jersey.
This bill establishes New Jersey's Property Tax Relief and Education Empowerment Program, providing property tax relief to residents while offering educational grants to eligible students attending nonpublic schools. It directly affects low-income students (households earning ≤3.7x the federal poverty level for a family of four) who previously attended public school for at least 100 days and switch to a participating nonpublic school. The program provides grants equal to 50% of the public school district's per-pupil spending (capped at the nonpublic school's fees), paid directly to the nonpublic school by the student's resident district. This funding reduces the public school district's budget by the grant amount, with the savings used to lower local school taxes in the following year.
