Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3401: Provides child tax credit for taxpayers with children ages six to 11 and increases amount of credit for taxpayers with children under 12 over period of two years.

This New Jersey bill (A 3401) expands the state's child tax credit to include children aged 6-11, who were previously ineligible. It increases credit amounts for all children under 12 over two years: for example, taxpayers with income under $30,000 will receive $500 (2023-2024) or $600 (2025+) for children aged 6-11, and $750 (2023-2024) or $1,000 (2025+) for children under 6. Credits phase out completely for taxpayers earning over $80,000 annually and are refundable if exceeding tax liability. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents with children in these age groups who file state taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credits for lower/middle-income families (phasing out at $80k), reducing tax burden for children under 12 through refundable credits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3261: Increases maximum gross income tax deduction for homestead property taxes paid to $25,000.

This bill (S 3261) increases the maximum annual deduction for property taxes paid on a primary residence (homestead) from $15,000 to $25,000 for New Jersey residents filing state income taxes. It directly affects homeowners who itemize deductions on their state tax returns, allowing them to reduce taxable income by up to $25,000 in annual property taxes paid. The key change modifies Section 3 of the New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act to raise the cap, while maintaining existing rules about eligibility (e.g., primary residence requirement, limits for higher-income taxpayers). This is a direct policy change to tax benefits, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases homestead property tax deduction cap, providing direct tax relief to homeowners by reducing taxable income for property taxes paid.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Property Tax

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 3543: Increases annual property tax deduction for senior citizens and disabled persons from $250 to $500.

This bill would increase New Jersey's annual property tax deduction for eligible seniors and disabled residents from $250 to $500, effective starting in tax year 2031. It applies to residents aged 65+ or permanently disabled individuals with an annual income under $10,000 who own or rent their primary residence. The deduction amount would gradually rise to $500 over several years (reaching $300 in 2027, $350 in 2028, etc.). The change requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment before taking effect, as stated in Section 2 of the bill.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax deduction for low-income seniors/disabled, providing tax relief per budget/tax policy indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases property tax deduction for low-income seniors/disabled residents, reducing housing costs and promoting affordability for vulnerable groups in primary residences.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Property Taxes Renters

Track

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 5, 2026

A 4005: Provides for procurement by State of pharmacy benefits manager, automated reverse auction services, and claims adjudication services.

This bill allows New Jersey to expedite the procurement of pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) services, automated reverse auction services, and claims adjudication for the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program. It requires the Division of Purchase and Property to use a streamlined process - soliciting proposals from qualified vendors without formal advertising and conducting an automated reverse auction to secure competitive pricing. The bill modifies standard procurement rules to shorten timelines, such as limiting the Comptroller’s review to 10 business days and waiving certain advertising requirements. Within 60 days of awarding the contract, the state must report savings and procurement details to the Governor, Legislature, and the public.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesStreamlines procurement via reverse auctions to secure competitive pricing, promoting fiscal responsibility in state spending for health programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines procurement for state health programs via reverse auctions to secure competitive pricing, supporting cost-effective healthcare service delivery within existing programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Procurement Prescription Drugs

Track

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 5, 2026

A 4010: Amends Fiscal Year 2026 annual appropriations act to extend ANCHOR benefits to certain individuals who make payments in lieu of property taxes.

This bill extends New Jersey's ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program to include two groups previously excluded: (1) homestead owners who paid alternative "payments in lieu of property taxes" to their municipality, and (2) tenants living in rental properties where such payments were made. It allows eligible residents to receive tax relief based on their 2023 property tax amounts, with benefits capped at $1,500 for those earning under $150,000 annually (or $1,000 for $150,000-$250,000 income). The change applies to Fiscal Year 2026, with rebates paid by May 2026. The program now covers properties that pay alternative taxes instead of standard property taxes, aligning with existing eligibility rules for income thresholds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends property tax relief to eligible groups with income-based caps, reducing tax burden for middle/lower income residents per ANCHOR program.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExtends property tax relief to tenants and homeowners paying alternative taxes, reducing housing costs for low/middle-income residents under $150k income.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Property Taxes

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 244: Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to support school district programs to increase length of school day or school year.

This bill establishes a three-year, $1 million-per-district grant program through New Jersey's Department of Education to help school districts extend the school day or year. It prioritizes districts with high academic need (based on test scores, graduation rates, and dropout data), selecting up to 20 districts across regional groups. Funds cover costs like staff pay increases (with union agreement), transportation, and support services for extended learning time, requiring detailed applications and annual reports on participation and attendance. The program aims to support learning recovery and academic achievement, with a final evaluation report due after the pilot ends.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M per district for extended school programs, increasing state education funding under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1M/district for extended school day/year programs in high-need districts, directly increasing educational access and resources through funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds staff pay increases (with union agreement) for extended school hours, directly supporting wages and collective bargaining for school employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 314: Requires DCF to develop a unified child care finder; appropriates $3.6 million.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create a free, statewide online tool (a "child care finder") to help families locate licensed child care centers and registered family child care providers. The tool must display location, hours, program types, fees, enrollment status, and subsidy eligibility, with secure access and accessibility compliance. It directly affects families seeking child care, licensed providers (including centers and home-based providers), and DCF by mandating a unified system for finding and enrolling children. The bill appropriates $3.6 million for development and requires the system to launch statewide within one year of vendor selection.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $3.6M to fund a public child care service tool, directly advancing state budget allocation for essential public services.90% confidence

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1028: Establishes "Mass Violence Care Fund"; appropriates $10 million.

This bill establishes the "Mass Violence Care Fund" to cover medical, mental health, and related expenses for victims of mass violence events when those costs aren't paid by insurance or other sources. It appropriates $10 million to the fund, which will be administered by the Victims of Crime Compensation Office to pay eligible expenses like medical bills, counseling, lost wages, and funeral costs for qualifying victims and their family members. The fund specifically excludes expenses covered by insurance or public programs and requires payments to be made at least three years after the event. It also creates a working group to develop eligibility rules before distributions begin.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $10M for victim care fund, directly increasing state budget allocation for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds victim care for mass violence events, aligning with supporting victims' rights and services within criminal justice system as per indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds medical and mental health care for mass violence victims, expanding coverage beyond insurance gaps through dedicated appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Mental Health

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 524: Expands school breakfast program to all schools with five percent or more of students eligible for free or reduced price meals.

New Jersey's S 524 requires public schools with 5% or more students qualifying for federal free/reduced-price meals to offer a school breakfast program, lowering the current threshold from 20%. This applies to all schools meeting the 5% eligibility rate, including those serving pre-K through 6th grade (requiring implementation by September 1, 2023) and other grades (by September 1, 2024). School districts must submit implementation plans to the Department of Agriculture by specific deadlines, with waivers available for schools lacking resources to comply. The bill aligns breakfast program requirements with existing lunch program rules, aiming to expand access to school breakfasts for more students.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates expanded school breakfast program requiring state funding allocation for public service, aligning with increased government spending on education.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands school breakfast access to more schools by lowering eligibility threshold from 20% to 5%, increasing student meal access and program availability in underserved schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Student Health

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3247: Provides that any superintendent salary caps adopted by the commissioner will apply to charter school administrators.

This bill (S 3247) extends existing salary caps for school superintendents to charter school administrators. It requires that any salary limits set by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education for traditional school district superintendents (based on district enrollment) must also apply to charter school "lead persons" or other individuals managing charter schools. The bill directly affects charter school administrators by subjecting their compensation to the same caps already used for district superintendents. It amends existing law without creating new caps, simply applying current regulations to charter school leadership. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill extends salary caps to charter school administrators, restricting government spending on personnel compensation by applying existing superintendent salary limits to charter schools.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationExtends superintendent salary caps to charter administrators, restricting compensation limits in education management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track