This bill phases out New Jersey's State tuition aid grants for students attending for-profit colleges starting with the 2026-2027 academic year. Current students enrolled at these institutions who received aid before that year will continue to receive it until their eligibility ends, but new students at for-profit colleges will no longer qualify. The redirected funds will instead support the state's summer tuition aid program, which helps students cover costs during summer sessions at public colleges, community colleges, and other eligible institutions. The change takes effect immediately for the 2026-2027 academic year.
This bill establishes a $1 million grant program to expand mental health services for students connected to military families in New Jersey school districts. School districts with high concentrations of military-connected students (defined as those with parents in active duty, National Guard, or reserve components) can apply for grants to fund additional counseling, mental health outreach, and support for students when parents are deployed. Grants must be used to enhance existing services, with districts required to demonstrate need and report on program impact, including student outcomes. The program requires the Department of Education to administer grants and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature.
This bill creates anonymous safe havens for abandoned pets by allowing anyone to leave domestic companion animals (like dogs or cats) at shelters, veterinary hospitals, or police stations without disclosing their identity or providing animal history. Facilities must accept the animals and provide necessary care, but are not required to reunite them with owners or attempt to identify previous caregivers. It also mandates public education through school materials for grades 3-12 and a 24-hour hotline to inform people about the safe haven process. The law directly affects pet owners unable to care for their animals and facilities that receive abandoned pets, aiming to prevent unnecessary suffering.
This bill limits annual tuition and fee increases for in-state undergraduate and graduate students at New Jersey's public colleges and universities to no more than 4% above the previous academic year's rates. It directly affects all resident students enrolled in public higher education institutions across the state. The key provision requires public institutions to cap all resident tuition and fees (including professional programs like law, medicine, and business) at a 4% maximum annual increase. The policy applies starting with the 2017-2018 academic year and remains in effect for all subsequent years.
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 requires New Jersey public school districts with grades 9-12 to include lessons on compulsive gambling risks within their required health education curriculum. The instruction must cover gambling addiction dangers, financial risks, and probability concepts. The state education commissioner will provide sample lesson materials and develop teacher training on identifying gambling issues and treatment resources. Implementation begins the school year after the next state curriculum review, not immediately.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to remove conservation restrictions from property when the owner needs the land for expanding a special needs school, provided they also establish a new conservation restriction on a parcel at least twice as large within 20 miles. It applies specifically to properties with restrictions tied to Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permits. The new restriction must protect land similarly to the original. This creates a trade-off between development for education and expanded conservation coverage.
This bill expands New Jersey's definition of "harassment, intimidation or bullying" to explicitly include hazing. It requires all public school districts to revise their anti-bullying policies to address power imbalances between students and incorporate this updated definition. The bill directs the Department of Education to revise its guidance documents and model policies to reflect these changes. These updates apply to all public school districts and students, mandating specific policy components, standardized incident reporting forms, and procedures for handling complaints.
This bill (A 2286) revised New Jersey's child labor laws specifically for minors working in theatrical productions. It established age-based daily work hour limits: minors aged 6-9 could work up to 6 hours per day (with no more than 8 hours on set), those aged 9-16 up to 7 hours (max 9 hours on set), and those aged 16-18 up to 8 hours (max 10 hours on set). The bill also required medical certification, schooling during work hours (3 hours per missed school day), and employer-supervised care, while creating a new permit registration system separate from general child labor databases. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it had been approved as P.L. 2025, c. 382.
This bill (A 2612) requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education and public colleges/universities to create specific programs aimed at increasing Hispanic and Latino representation in leadership roles. Key provisions include establishing leadership development programs for faculty, creating pathways for undergraduates to pursue academic careers, and mandating institutions to adopt diversity-focused hiring policies for leadership search committees. Public institutions must implement recruitment/retention programs, submit annual reports tracking leadership diversity (by race/gender), and review their progress. The bill directly affects all public higher education institutions in New Jersey and their leadership hiring processes.
