This bill imposes a 50% tax on gross receipts from contracts between private companies and public entities for operating carceral facilities in New Jersey (e.g., private jails or detention centers). It directly affects private businesses running such facilities, requiring them to pay the tax annually based on their prior year’s revenue from these contracts. All tax revenue must be deposited into a new "Immigrant Protection Fund," which the state will use exclusively to fund immigration-related services. The fund is non-lapsing, meaning money stays available for future appropriations without annual renewal.
New Jersey's Bill A1357 would amend state law to allow undocumented immigrants residing in New Jersey - who meet all other Medicaid eligibility criteria (like income and residency) - to receive comprehensive healthcare coverage through the state's Medicaid program. The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to implement systems for this coverage only after confirming federal funding approval, prioritizing federal financial participation before using state funds. It explicitly complies with federal law (Section 441(d) of the 1996 welfare act), which permits states to extend benefits to undocumented immigrants under certain conditions. The bill does not create new benefits but extends existing Medicaid access to this group, contingent on federal approval and system readiness.
This New Jersey bill prohibits state pension and annuity funds from investing in companies that collect or manipulate personal data - without a warrant or court order - to determine immigration status or citizenship. It requires the State Investment Council to identify such companies using an independent privacy firm, then divest funds from them by January 1 of the second year after the bill takes effect, while following standard investment practices. The Council must submit annual reports detailing divested investments and progress to the Governor and Legislature. The bill also shields officials from legal liability for divestment decisions made under its requirements.
This bill requires New Jersey courts to translate key criminal court documents - including indictments, pleadings, and motions - into the primary language of defendants, witnesses, or legal guardians with limited English proficiency. It mandates the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop policies for translating documents into nine specific languages widely spoken in the state (including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Haitian Creole) and to post multilingual signs in courthouses informing people of their right to language assistance. The policy aims to ensure individuals with limited English proficiency can understand court proceedings and exercise their legal rights. The bill directly affects people navigating criminal cases who may face barriers due to language differences.
New Jersey's Assembly Concurrent Resolution 71 (ACR 71) is a resolution urging the U.S. President and Congress to pass the federal "VISIBLE Act" (S.2212), which would require immigration enforcement officers to display visible identification during public enforcement actions. The resolution does not create new law but advocates for a federal requirement that officers show their agency name, last name, or badge number - while prohibiting non-medical face coverings during public enforcement - unless for covert operations or environmental hazards. It also calls for accountability measures, including disciplinary actions for non-compliance and annual reports to Congress and civil rights offices. This resolution directly affects U.S. immigration enforcement officers (e.g., CBP, ICE) and aims to increase transparency amid concerns about impersonation of federal agents.
This bill establishes the Health Equity Access and Leadership (HEAL) Fund within New Jersey's existing Health Care Subsidy Fund to support underserved communities. It appropriates $25 million from the state General Fund and requires annual allocations of at least 0.1% of projected Health Care Subsidy Fund revenues to the HEAL Fund. The fund will provide competitive grants to community-based health care organizations serving populations facing barriers to care (including those based on race, immigration status, or lack of insurance) that have not received federal funding in the past year. These grants aim to maintain essential health services for vulnerable groups, with the Department of Health required to report annually on fund usage and outcomes.
This bill establishes a new Office of Bilingual and English Language Learner Education within New Jersey's Department of Education. It directly affects over 130,000 English language learner (ELL) students in public schools - representing about 9% of the statewide student population - who will gain access to enhanced support services. The office will create bilingual programs, provide teacher training, offer academic support, develop multilingual parent resources, and oversee school district compliance with ELL requirements. School districts must submit annual reports on ELL enrollment and progress, which the office will analyze to identify improvements and enforce corrective action plans for non-compliant schools.
S 3616 would impose a 50% tax on the annual revenue earned by private companies operating facilities that detain individuals for legal violations (such as immigration or criminal offenses) under contracts with government entities. The tax applies to all money received from these public contracts, calculated as 50% of gross receipts, starting January 1, 2027. All tax revenue would be deposited into a new "Immigrant Protection Fund" managed by the state Treasury. This fund must be used annually to support immigration-related services in New Jersey, including legal assistance and community programs for immigrants.
This bill prohibits federal immigration enforcement agencies from using publicly owned or controlled lands (like parking lots, vacant lots, and garages) as staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases. It requires local governments to install clear signage on such properties and implement physical barriers where needed, while exempting properties under existing leases. The bill also extends this protection to eligible private properties (such as businesses, nonprofits, and faith institutions) by providing free signage, and appropriates funds from the General Fund for implementation. It explicitly states the law does not interfere with criminal warrants or other lawful uses of property.
This bill prohibits New Jersey state and local governments (including counties and municipalities) from using public funds or property to support immigrant detention facilities. Specifically, it bans state/local spending on constructing, renovating, or leasing public property for detention, paying private facility costs, or covering detention expenses for privately-owned facilities. The law allows public health and safety resources for detained individuals but does not affect existing detention operations. It directly affects state/local budgets and property decisions related to immigration enforcement. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
