Budget & Taxes in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 981: Permits board of education to accept donations for purpose of providing property tax relief.

This bill allows New Jersey school districts to establish a trust fund that accepts donations like bequests, legacies, or gifts to reduce local property taxes. School boards must create the trust by resolution and appoint an independent trustee (not a board member or staff) to manage the funds, which must be used exclusively to lower the district's property tax levy. The trustee sends the funds to the local tax collector, who applies the reduction directly to each property owner's tax bill for that year. The bill does not affect school districts' eligibility for state aid.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Property Tax

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 608: "Water Resources Protection Trust Fund Act"; establishes user fee on water consumption and diversion; utilizes fee revenue for water quality, supply, and infrastructure projects.

S 608, the Water Resources Protection Trust Fund Act, requires public water systems and large commercial/industrial users to pay a fee based on their water consumption or diversion (e.g., taking water from rivers or aquifers not returned to the source). Revenue from this fee will fund projects to improve water quality, supply reliability, and aging infrastructure, such as repairing broken pipes, reducing leaks, and addressing lead contamination in drinking water systems. The bill directly affects entities operating public water systems (serving 15+ connections) and businesses with significant water use. It creates a dedicated funding stream to address New Jersey's deteriorating water resources and infrastructure, replacing reliance on insufficient existing funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Drinking Water Water Quality

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1392: Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 million from Property Tax Relief Fund to DOE to support Pantoliano-DePass school based mentoring pilot program in certain Bergen County school districts.

S 1392 allocates $1 million from New Jersey's Property Tax Relief Fund to fund a school-based mentoring pilot program in 14 specific Bergen County school districts. The money will cover administrator salaries, program costs, and stipends for staff and mentors in participating schools. Funds will be distributed by the Commissioner of Education through a competitive application process. After the pilot concludes, the Commissioner must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature evaluating the program's effectiveness and whether it should expand statewide.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Appropriations Property Tax

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2464: Exempts oral healthcare products from sales and use tax.

This bill exempts specific oral healthcare products from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects consumers purchasing items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, and oral irrigators, and retailers selling these products. The law adds "oral healthcare products for human use" to existing tax exemptions, defining them as items designed to maintain oral health (excluding food, supplements, or medical equipment). This aligns with a multistate tax agreement (SSUTA) that standardizes tax treatment for these products across participating states. The exemption applies to all qualifying products regardless of whether they meet over-the-counter drug definitions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 262: Prohibits State administered pension fund investment in corporations shifting ownership or operations outside U.S. for tax purposes.

This bill prohibits New Jersey's state-administered pension funds from investing in corporations that shift operations or ownership outside the U.S. to lower their effective tax rate by 20% or more within three years. It directly affects pension funds managing public employee retirement savings and corporations using tax-driven "inversions." The law requires the state to sell all violating investments within three years of enactment and mandates two reporting deadlines: a 60-day initial report listing current violations and annual reports until all such investments are divested. Key provisions define "shift in operations" as moving income sources abroad and "shift in ownership" as acquiring foreign assets to reduce U.S. tax liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Pensions

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1546: Requires additional fines for certain crimes against minors to fund Amber Alert system.

This bill creates an "Amber Alert Fund" in New Jersey's Department of Treasury to support child safety efforts. It requires courts to impose a $400 fee on individuals convicted of specific crimes against minors (under age 18), including certain sexual offenses and abuse violations listed in the bill. All collected fees will fund enhancements to the state's Amber Alert System and programs for recovering abducted children. The fee applies in addition to existing fines, and funds flow directly to the Missing Persons Clearinghouse within the State Police. The bill targets offenders convicted of crimes where victims were children, with no new taxes or budgetary changes required.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Policing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1178: Establishes Office of Disordered Eating Prevention and Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Program in DOH; makes appropriation.

S 1178 establishes the Office of Disordered Eating Prevention within New Jersey's Department of Health and creates a Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Program. The office must develop annual public resources about disordered eating (defined as irregular eating behaviors that may not meet clinical eating disorder criteria), collaborate with mental health programs, and partner with schools to promote prevention. The grant program provides funding to organizations researching disordered eating causes and prevention strategies, particularly for youth, older residents, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals who face disproportionate impacts. The bill appropriates state funds to implement these provisions, requiring annual reports on the office's activities and grant program outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Appropriations Mental Health

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2515: Allows credit against corporation business tax and gross income tax liability for employing persons with a developmental disability.

S 2515 creates a tax credit for New Jersey businesses that hire employees with developmental disabilities. Employers can claim a credit equal to 10% of wages paid to qualifying employees, capped at $3,000 per employee and $60,000 total per business annually. To qualify, employees must be certified by New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities as eligible for its services. Businesses cannot claim this credit for the same employee if they also claim a separate credit for employment at a sheltered workshop or occupational training center.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits Tags People with Disabilities

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 465: Establishes Stolen SNAP Benefits Replacement Fund in Department of Treasury, requires DHS to replace stolen SNAP benefits from fund, and appropriates $20 million to AOC.

This bill creates a temporary fund in the State Treasury to replace SNAP benefits stolen through fraud like card cloning or skimming. It requires the Department of Human Services to restore stolen benefits using this fund, funded by a 5% supplemental fee on penalties from fraud cases. The bill appropriates $20 million to the Administrative Office of the Courts to build a system for collecting this fee. It expires after the state transitions to chip-based EBT cards for all SNAP participants, with any remaining funds returned to the General Fund. The fund directly affects SNAP recipients who experienced benefit theft via electronic card fraud.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1868: Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $500 income tax deduction.

S 1868 allows eligible volunteer firefighters, first aid squad members, and rescue squad members in New Jersey to claim a $500 deduction from their state gross income tax. To qualify, volunteers must serve the entire tax year and meet specific duty requirements: firefighters need 60% attendance at fire alarms/drills plus Firefighter I certification, while first aid/rescue members need 10% attendance at rescue alarms/drills plus EMT certification or approved training. Fire department and squad leaders must annually verify qualifying members to the state departments of Community Affairs and Health by March 31. The deduction applies only to qualifying individuals meeting all criteria and cannot exceed $500 per tax year. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and awaits committee review.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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