Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

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

A 3884: 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, secure online tool (web or mobile app) that helps parents and caregivers search for licensed child care centers and registered family child care providers statewide. The tool must display location maps, operating hours, fees, availability, program types, and licensing details, with features for applying directly, messaging providers, and paying fees through the platform. It mandates the tool meet strict accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) and security (SOC 2 Type II) standards. The bill appropriates $3.6 million from the General Fund for DCF to develop and implement the tool within 270 days of hiring a vendor, directly affecting parents seeking care, licensed child care centers, and family providers who must supply their profile information.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $3.6M to fund a public child care finder tool, directly increasing state spending on essential services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2949: Amends FY2026 annual appropriations act to increase Supplemental Graduate Medical Education Subsidy by $496,000 for support to additional acute care hospital.

This bill increases the Supplemental Graduate Medical Education (GME) Subsidy by $496,000 in the FY2026 state budget to fund a 15th acute care hospital with a residency program. It directly affects hospitals ranked by Medicaid revenue ratio (RMP), expanding eligibility from 14 to 15 hospitals - the 15th hospital receives $496,000 while the existing 14 hospitals maintain their current subsidy amounts. The subsidy is calculated based on a hospital’s Medicaid revenue percentage using 2023 cost reports, with funds allocated to the top 15 hospitals meeting the RMP criteria. This change aligns the appropriations act with prior law (P.L.2018, c.116), which intended to cover one-third of eligible hospitals (now 15 of 45), reversing a prior 14-hospital cap.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly increases FY2026 state budget appropriation by $496,000 for healthcare funding, directly advancing government spending on public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases GME subsidy by $496k to fund 15th hospital residency program, expanding medical training capacity and healthcare workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Hospitals Medicaid

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

A 121: Makes $500,000 supplemental appropriation from General Fund to DEP for dredging and restoration of Peckman River.

This bill allocates an additional $500,000 from the state General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) specifically for dredging and restoration of the Peckman River. It directly affects the municipalities of Cedar Grove, Little Falls, Verona, and Woodland Park, requiring them to submit a joint plan for DEP approval to receive funding. The key provisions include waiving permit fees for approved dredging activities and mandating that DEP establish an application process to distribute funds based on each municipality's proposed river restoration plan. The funding covers dredging, cleaning, and other work consistent with an existing state permit for the river.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $500k from General Fund to DEP for river restoration, increasing state spending on public environmental services per fiscal management criteria.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates $500k to DEP for river dredging/restoration, directly protecting natural waterways and advancing conservation. Requires municipal plans and waives fees for approved environmental activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Parks & Recreation

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

A 3501: Requires DHS and DCF to employ Director of Medical Services; appropriates $480,000.

This bill creates two new full-time positions: a Director of Medical Services for the Office of Program Integrity and Accountability in the Department of Human Services (DHS) and a similar role for the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit in the Department of Children and Families (DCF). These directors must be licensed physicians who will advise on complex medical aspects of abuse, neglect, and death investigations, provide expert testimony, and review medical practices at care facilities to improve outcomes. The bill appropriates $480,000 total ($240,000 per department) from the General Fund to hire these positions. It directly affects DHS and DCF operations and their oversight of investigations into abuse and neglect cases involving medical complexities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $480,000 for new medical oversight positions in DHS/DCF, directly funding essential state services per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $480k for physician directors to oversee medical aspects of abuse investigations and facility reviews, strengthening healthcare oversight in state agencies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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

A 2213: Increases pay for direct support professionals; makes appropriation.

This bill creates a state program to increase pay for direct support professionals (DSPs) who provide essential care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It directs the Department of Human Services to distribute state funds to employers (such as group homes or care agencies) to raise DSP wages for both current and new staff, addressing staffing shortages. Employers must use the funds solely to boost DSP pay, with the state establishing application rules and oversight. The bill appropriates necessary funds from the General Fund and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via appropriation to increase DSP wages for essential care services, directly funding public services as per budget/tax indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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

A 3922: Directs DEP to establish rebate program for purchase of microfiber washing machine filter or replacement filter; appropriates $2.5 million.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a rebate program within one year for residents purchasing microfiber washing machine filters. The program offers up to $100 per filter (capped at the filter's cost) to encourage adoption of devices that capture plastic microfibers from laundry wastewater before they enter waterways. It appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to fund these rebates, with the DEP required to report annually on program effectiveness, rebate numbers, and funding use. The policy directly affects New Jersey residents who buy eligible filters, aiming to reduce microfiber pollution - a source of plastic contamination in waterways.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2.5M from General Fund to fund environmental rebate program, directly advancing state budget allocation for public initiative.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds rebates for microfiber filters to capture plastic pollution in waterways, directly reducing environmental contamination from laundry waste.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement State Budget Recycling

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

A 2458: Appropriates $350,000 to Rutgers, the State University - New Brunswick for Center for American Women and Politics - Women Elected and Appointed Officials Database.

This bill appropriates $350,000 from the General Fund to fund ongoing maintenance of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) database at Rutgers University. The database tracks historical data on women elected or appointed to public office at the congressional, state executive, and state legislative levels nationwide. This funding supports CAWP’s existing work - required by prior law (P.L.2021, c.414) - to maintain and update this resource for research on women’s political participation. The bill directly affects CAWP’s operations at Rutgers, not new policy or public beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $350k from General Fund for CAWP database, funding essential research program required by prior law (P.L.2021,c.414)95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds Rutgers University's research database on women in politics, directly supporting higher education research and data collection within the education topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

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

A 3529: Establishes teacher recruitment grant program in DOE; appropriates $6 million to DOE.

This bill establishes a competitive grant program to fund organizations recruiting teachers for underserved New Jersey school districts. It appropriates $6 million from the General Fund to provide grants equal to private contributions raised by eligible organizations (up to $1 million annually per organization for three years). Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt, place new teachers in underserved districts, and commit to long-term teacher retention. An "underserved district" is defined as one where at least 40% of students qualify for free/reduced meals and faces a teacher shortage, as determined by the Commissioner of Education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $6M from General Fund for teacher recruitment grants in underserved districts, funding public education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $6M for teacher recruitment grants in underserved districts, directly supporting educator staffing and access to K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Teachers

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

A 984: Makes $3 million supplemental appropriation for bonus awards for certain COVID-19 emergency essential frontline State workers of Local 195 of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

This bill allocates $3 million from the General Fund to provide one-time bonus awards to members of Local 195 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers who worked as frontline state employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be distributed by state agencies to eligible union members who provided essential emergency workplace service. The bonus amount is determined per agency through consultation between the Division of Budget and Accounting and the union president. This supplemental appropriation directly affects approximately 3,000 Local 195 members across state departments, as specified in the bill text. It does not create new policy but provides targeted financial recognition for pandemic-era service.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3M from General Fund for frontline worker bonuses, advancing essential public service funding per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $3M for one-time bonuses to unionized frontline workers during pandemic, directly funding worker compensation and supporting collective bargaining benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Collective Bargaining

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

A 3893: Requires certain economic incentive recipients to pay penalty for nonperformance.

This bill requires businesses or individuals receiving New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) incentives - such as grants, tax credits, or loans - to pay a penalty if they fail to meet program requirements. The penalty equals the recipient’s applicable tax rate multiplied by the total value of the incentive received up to that point, paid to the state’s General Fund. The EDA must annually verify compliance with incentive agreements and notify the Division of Taxation about noncompliant recipients. It applies to new incentives awarded after the bill’s effective date, ensuring recipients fulfill obligations tied to economic development programs. The bill does not affect existing contracts or reduce current contractual rights under active incentive agreements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates penalties for EDA incentive noncompliance, directing funds to General Fund. Strengthens fiscal accountability by closing incentive loophole and increasing state revenue.92% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Tax Incentives Tags Economic Development

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