S 1343 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Permits students to be eligible for high school graduation credits in career readiness or career, and technical education for completing county fire academy course under certain circumstances.*

This bill allows high school students aged 16-18 to earn graduation credits in health, safety, and physical education by completing a county fire academy course. To qualify, students must pass a junior firefighter exam and commit to two years of volunteer service at their local fire department. The policy amends New Jersey's education rules to accept fire academy completion as fulfillment of specific graduation requirements, directly affecting eligible students in participating school districts. It does not replace existing junior firefighter auxiliary programs.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jun 18, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to reclassify the graduation credit earned by completing a county fire academy course from 'health, safety, and physical education' to 'career readiness or career and technical education.' A new requirement was added mandating that the county fire academy ensure the course aligns with New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills. These changes shift the policy rationale from a general wellness/PE credit to a workforce-readiness framework.

SCOPE

The type of high school graduation credit awarded for completing a county fire academy course was changed from 'health, safety, and physical education' to 'career readiness or career and technical education.' This reclassifies the academic value of the course in students' transcripts.

REQUIREMENT

A new condition requires that the county fire academy ensure the course aligns with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills. This places a compliance obligation on the fire academy itself rather than just the student.

ELIGIBILITY

The original three student conditions (age 16-18, pass junior firefighter exam, two-year volunteer commitment) were renumbered to conditions 2-4 to accommodate the new condition 1. The substance of those three conditions is unchanged.

TECHNICAL

Co-sponsors Senators Timberlake and Gopal were added to the bill header.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 18, 2026

Committee

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

lower

Jun 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (40-0)

upper

May 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Amendment (Voice) (Ruiz)

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

upper

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors