New Jersey Bills

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

AR 144: Condemns Governor's support of Delaney Hall riots.

This Assembly Resolution condemns the Governor for allegedly supporting and politicizing the riots that occurred outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark. The bill asserts that the Governor downplayed the actions of rioters who obstructed federal agents and encouraged the violence by framing detainees as community members despite their criminal histories. Additionally, it calls for a bipartisan, independent investigation into the Governor's and the Mayor's responses to the unrest, which included claims that law enforcement was ordered to stand down.

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 8, 2026

S 4438: "Public School Employees' Health Benefits Trust Act."

This bill creates a new trust fund to provide health benefits, including medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision coverage, to public school employees and their dependents in New Jersey. It establishes a board of trustees to manage the fund and defines eligibility to include full-time employees working at least 25 hours a week and their spouses, domestic partners, and unmarried children up to age 31. The legislation also clarifies that dependents who enlist in the military are not covered during their service and gives the board final authority on determining employee and dependent status.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 5231: Establishes "New Jersey Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act."

This bill, known as the "New Jersey Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act," allows patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access custom-made medical treatments that have not yet received full federal approval. To qualify, a patient must have exhausted all currently approved treatment options and obtain a prescription from a licensed New Jersey physician, after which they must sign a detailed consent form outlining potential risks and costs. The legislation permits eligible facilities to provide these individualized drugs or devices without compensation, though patients remain responsible for paying for the manufacturing costs unless a specific contract states otherwise. Additionally, the bill includes a provision stating that if a patient dies from such treatment, their heirs are not liable for any outstanding debts related to the cost of the therapy.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 8, 2026

S 4393: Provides for monthly salary for certain members of State Board of Medical Examiners; appropriates funds.

This bill establishes a monthly salary of $3,000 for most members of New Jersey's State Board of Medical Examiners, with the exception of the Commissioner of Health and their designee who serve without pay. The funding for these salaries and related board expenses will come from the General Fund through the Division of Consumer Affairs. Additionally, the legislation authorizes a separate payment of $250 for each regular examination held by the board, paid from board receipts or a specific appropriation if available. The act amends existing state statutes to formalize these compensation structures and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 8, 2026

S 4058: "Construction Containment and Pollution Prevention Act"; requires contractors to use containment devices to prevent release of certain pollutants outside of worksites.

This bill requires construction contractors in New Jersey to use containment devices like vacuums, tarps, and enclosures to prevent dust, debris, and microplastics from escaping worksites and entering the environment. It mandates daily cleanup, proper waste disposal, and the installation of stormwater filters, while also requiring contractors to educate their employees on these requirements. The Department of Community Affairs or local officials will inspect worksites for compliance, and violators face escalating fines starting with a warning for the first offense.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 1492: Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000.

This bill creates a $4.5 million grant program to reimburse New Jersey school districts for costs incurred when expanding their procurement of locally grown food for students. It directly affects eligible school districts participating in federal meal programs (like National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs), requiring them to submit plans for new or expanded local food sourcing beyond current baseline levels. The program reimburses documented costs for minimally processed local foods (like fruits, vegetables, or grains grown in New Jersey), excluding fluid dairy milk. School districts must implement new policies to increase local food access during school meals or summer programs to qualify for reimbursement.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 2613: Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury and other State officers to conduct certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for minority and women-owned businesses.

This bill requires New Jersey's Chief Diversity Officer (within the Treasury Department) to partner with the Business Action Center and Economic Development Authority to organize regular outreach events and training programs for certified minority and women-owned businesses. The programs will promote awareness of state contracting opportunities and provide practical training in areas like marketing, finance, technology, and project management. These activities must occur virtually or at community locations (including non-profits or faith-based sites) throughout the state.

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 1978: Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury to develop and implement programs to increase utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State.

This bill requires New Jersey's Chief Diversity Officer in the Treasury Department to create and run programs aimed at increasing contracts awarded to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. It expands the officer's existing duty of tracking current contracting data (like contract values and percentages going to these businesses) to actively develop new initiatives. The direct effect is on state procurement processes, aiming to help minority- and women-owned businesses secure more state contracts. The key change is shifting from passive monitoring to proactive program development, as specified in the amendment to P.L.2017, c.95.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 8, 2026

S 3254: Prohibits expenditure of Green Acres funds for purchase, use, installation, or replacement of artificial turf fields.

This bill prohibits New Jersey's Green Acres program from using state funds to purchase, install, or replace artificial turf fields. It directly affects municipalities, school districts, and state agencies that rely on Green Acres funding for recreational facilities. The bill cites health and environmental concerns, including harmful chemicals, microplastics, and PFAS "forever chemicals" in artificial turf, as reasons to redirect funding toward natural grass fields maintained with organic practices. The policy change requires entities using Green Acres funds to prioritize safer, natural grass alternatives instead. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 2406: Requires DEP to regulate scrap metal facilities as recycling facilities.

This bill would require New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to regulate scrap metal processing facilities under the same rules that apply to recycling centers. It defines "scrap processing facility" as a commercial operation handling metal for resale and mandates that the DEP oversee these facilities as if they were recycling centers, despite the current definition excluding them from that category. This change would directly affect scrap metal businesses by subjecting them to identical environmental and operational standards as recycling centers. The bill amends existing law to extend the DEP's regulatory framework for recycling centers to cover scrap metal processing activities.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 4492: "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act"; provides certain protections to residential tenants and codifies certain warranty of habitability protections.

The "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act" (A4492) prohibits landlords in New Jersey from threatening to disclose or disclosing a tenant’s immigration or citizenship status to force them out of housing, or from using that status as a basis for eviction. It bans evictions solely or partially tied to immigration status and allows tenants to sue for up to $2,000 per violation, plus damages and legal fees. The bill also blocks courts from inquiring into a tenant’s immigration status during housing rights cases, except in limited circumstances like federal program compliance. It directly affects residential tenants (particularly immigrant communities) and landlords, while clarifying that landlords may still request standard financial or identity verification for legitimate rental purposes.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Immigration

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 4458: Requires establishment of Public Housing Hotline Pilot Program in Bureau of Housing Inspection to enable certain public housing occupants to lodge complaints concerning living conditions.*

This bill requires New Jersey's Bureau of Housing Inspection to create a 24/7 toll-free hotline and a statewide database for public housing residents to report health, safety, or living condition issues. The hotline must offer English and Spanish support, protect caller anonymity, and provide referrals. The database will track verified complaints by facility, complaint types, corrective actions taken, and response times, then publish this data online for public access. It directly affects residents in public housing covered under the federal Housing Act of 1937, aiming to improve transparency and accountability in addressing housing conditions.

Topics ✓ Housing

Bill results