A 5123 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires principals and teachers of public schools to conduct two sentence oral recitation from Declaration of Independence before opening of school each day in grades three through 12; appropriates $10,000.

This New Jersey bill requires public school principals and teachers to lead a daily two-sentence oral recitation of the Declaration of Independence for students in grades three through twelve. The recitation must occur before each school day begins, immediately after the Pledge of Allegiance, and includes the famous passage about equality and unalienable rights. The legislation also mandates that schools develop age-appropriate curricula explaining the historical context of these words and provides $10,000 in funding to distribute official notices to educators. The act includes exemptions for students with conscientious objections and children of foreign diplomatic representatives.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 18, 2026 Last action May 18, 2026
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May 18, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
lower
2 primary · 6 co-sponsors

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