S 2457 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities.

This bill allows high school students in grades 11-12 at New Jersey public schools to miss up to three days per school year for college visits, visits to technical institutions, or military recruitment activities without penalty. Students must provide documentation to their school, and these absences will not appear on transcripts, job applications, or affect perfect attendance records. Military recruitment-related activities include required testing, medical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting for enlistment. The law aims to support students exploring college or military career paths while maintaining attendance accountability.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

General Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reported out of the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee with amendments on February 19, 2026. The most significant substantive change adds a cap of three excused absences per school year for military recruitment-related activities, which previously had no stated limit. Two additional co-sponsors (Diegnan and O'Scanlon) were added, and the bill's status was updated to reflect committee action.

Scope change

The scope of excused absences for military recruitment-related activities was narrowed by adding a three-absence-per-school-year cap that did not exist in the introduced version.

ELIGIBILITY

Military recruitment-related absences now have a cumulative cap of three per school year. Previously, the three-absence limit applied only to college visits and postsecondary technical institution visits, while military recruitment absences were simply designated as excused without a stated numerical limit.

TECHNICAL

Two new co-sponsors (Diegnan and O'Scanlon) were added to the bill.

Bill status changed from 'Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel' to 'As reported by the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee on February 19, 2026, with amendments.'

The explanatory Statement section at the end of the bill was removed, likely pending an updated version reflecting committee amendments.

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

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (38-0)

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee

upper

2 primary · 7 co-sponsors