Budget & Taxes

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 4531: Increases amount of child tax credit in taxable years 2026, 2027, and 2028.

This New Jersey bill temporarily increases the state child tax credit for residents with incomes up to $80,000 during the tax years 2026, 2027, and 2028. The legislation raises the credit amount by $250 for each income bracket, providing an additional $250 to families earning $30,000 or less and reducing the credit by $250 for those earning between $60,000 and $80,000. After these three years, the credit amounts will revert to their previous levels. The bill does not affect taxpayers with incomes above $80,000 or children over the age of six.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases child tax credit for lower/middle-income families, providing tax relief and financial support.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 5330: Permits Director of Division of Pensions and Benefits to initiate temporary transfer of funds in certain circumstances.

This bill amends the School Employees' Health Benefits Program Act to allow the Director of the Division of Pensions and Benefits to initiate temporary transfers of funds under specific circumstances. The legislation directly affects school employers and their employees by modifying how health benefit premiums are paid and managed within the state's dedicated fund. Key provisions include establishing rules for employer payment obligations, creating a subaccount for claims and health services, and defining the data collection responsibilities of a third-party medical claims reviewer. The bill also clarifies that the program's assets must be used solely for providing benefits and covering administrative costs for covered employees and their dependents.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables temporary fund transfers to manage health benefits, ensuring program solvency and fiscal stability for school employees.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 5323: Modifies eligibility for alternative business calculation adjustment allowed under gross income tax.

This bill modifies New Jersey's gross income tax by introducing income limits for a specific tax adjustment that allows businesses to offset losses in one category against gains in another. Under the new rules, taxpayers with gross income of $500,000 or less will retain the ability to deduct 50 percent of their calculated business increment from their taxable income. For those earning between $500,000 and $1 million, the deduction is reduced to 25 percent, while individuals with gross income exceeding $1 million will no longer be eligible for any deduction. The legislation also clarifies that losses from this calculation can be carried forward for up to 20 taxable years to offset future income.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reduces tax burden for lower-income businesses by preserving full deductions, while limiting benefits for higher earners, promoting fiscal equity.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 4538: Makes FY2026 supplemental appropriations of $358,811,000; adds and amends various language provisions to FY2026 Appropriations Act.

This bill provides an additional $358.8 million in funding for New Jersey state agencies and local governments for fiscal year 2026. The money is allocated to various departments, including support for domestic violence housing, prison consolidation savings, school infrastructure, and mosquito control. Specific provisions also authorize a supplemental appropriation for the Cannabis Regulatory Fund and allow nonprofit organizations to host the state's AI supercomputer. Overall, the legislation amends the existing FY2026 Appropriations Act to distribute these funds across education, health, public safety, and other state services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides $358.8M in supplemental appropriations to fund state agencies and local governments for essential services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates funds for prison consolidation savings and domestic violence housing, which supports corrections and victim safety within criminal justice.65% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $358.8M for state agencies including specific funding for school infrastructure, directly strengthening the education sector.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates funds for domestic violence housing, which directly supports housing needs for vulnerable populations.65% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill authorizes nonprofit organizations to host the state's AI supercomputer, directly advancing technology infrastructure and access.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

vetoed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 5327: Appropriates $60,743,569,000 in State funds and $30,495,124,195 in federal funds for the State budget for fiscal year 2027.

This bill authorizes the New Jersey State budget for fiscal year 2027 by allocating approximately $60.7 billion in state funds and $30.5 billion in federal funds. The legislation distributes these resources across various government departments, including education, health, and human services, with specific amounts designated for direct state services, grants, and state aid. While the total appropriation is slightly higher than the governor's original proposal, the bill ensures that anticipated revenue covers projected spending for the upcoming fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates over $90 billion in state and federal funds for the 2027 budget, directly funding essential services like education and health.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed both · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 4513: Concerns temporary use of funding for open space, recreation, floodplain protection, farmland and historic preservation for certain municipalities.

This bill allows New Jersey municipalities that have established an arts and culture trust fund to temporarily redirect money collected from local taxes into their general operating funds. Specifically, it permits the use of funds originally set aside for open space, recreation, floodplain protection, farmland preservation, and historic preservation during fiscal year 2027. The measure applies only to unspent money from previous years and requires the municipality to have an existing arts and culture fund to qualify for this temporary flexibility.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allows municipalities to temporarily redirect unspent preservation funds to general operating budgets, increasing fiscal flexibility and funding availability for essential services.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 5153: Requires unexpended State aid for nonpublic school nursing services and nonpublic school security services to be used to support nonpublic school transportation services.*

This bill allows school districts in New Jersey to use leftover state funding for nonpublic school nursing services to pay for security services, and vice versa. Currently, districts must return any unused money from these specific programs to the state after the school year ends. The change permits districts to apply unspent funds from one program toward the costs of the other before a refund is required. This adjustment provides districts with more flexibility in managing state aid allocated for student safety and health care in private schools.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enhances fiscal flexibility by allowing districts to use unspent funds across related programs, promoting efficient use of state aid without increasing taxes or cutting services.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases flexibility in using state aid for nonpublic school nursing and security services, strengthening school safety and health support.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 4077: Imposes various taxes and fees on correctional service businesses to offset social costs of incarceration.*

This bill imposes three new fees on private prison operators in New Jersey to fund social support programs. It charges an 8% fee on the value of public contracts (section 2), a $15 daily fee per inmate (section 3), and a 3% surtax on taxable income (section 4). All revenue flows into two dedicated funds: one for legal services supporting detained individuals and another for community programs like job training and housing (sections 2e and 3e). The bill directly affects private prison companies operating under state contracts, with fees applying during active contracts or inmate stays.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes taxes on private prisons to fund legal services and community programs, directly increasing public spending on social support through dedicated revenue streams.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds legal services and community programs (job training, housing) to reduce recidivism and support reintegration - directly advancing criminal justice reform through rehabilitation-focused investment.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directs 3% surtax revenue to community housing programs via dedicated fund (section 3e), explicitly funding housing as part of allocated programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed both · New Jersey · Senate Jun 11, 2026

SCR 135: Approves FY2027 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank.

This bill formally approves the Fiscal Year 2027 financial plan for the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The resolution authorizes the bank to proceed with funding loans and debt guarantees for eligible environmental projects, including clean water, drinking water, and stormwater management initiatives. By passing this measure, the Legislature ratifies the bank's budgetary strategy for the upcoming fiscal year as required by state law. The document does not alter the bank's operations but rather provides the necessary legislative consent for its planned financial activities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill approves FY2027 financial plan and authorizes funding for infrastructure projects, advancing state budget goals.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill approves funding for environmental projects including clean water, drinking water, and stormwater management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 11, 2026

A 794: Modifies procedures for determination and payment of fair market value in distressed municipalities; concerns real property that is abandoned, vacant, or subject to unpaid taxes.

This bill (A 794) allows distressed New Jersey municipalities (those with a revitalization index score of 50 or higher) to acquire vacant, abandoned, or tax-delinquent properties by either paying the owner the fair market value or using eminent domain. It replaces older, more cumbersome processes like tax foreclosure with simpler methods, while permitting municipalities to deduct unpaid taxes and liens from the payment amount. Properties are defined as "abandoned" if at least four specific conditions exist (e.g., overgrown vegetation, disconnected utilities, or boarded windows), but exclude properties under active renovation or seasonal use. The law directly affects distressed municipalities seeking to revitalize blighted properties and property owners of abandoned real estate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables municipalities to deduct unpaid taxes from property acquisition costs, directly promoting tax collection and fiscal responsibility in distressed areas.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill enables distressed municipalities to acquire abandoned/vacant properties for revitalization, facilitating housing development in blighted areas. This aligns with housing development goals without restricting tenant protections or affordability.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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