Budget & Taxes (State Budget) in New Jersey

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

A 3993: Establishes requirements for preparation and final passage of annual appropriations act; incorporates multi-year revenue and expenditure projections for informational purposes.

This bill (A 3993) establishes new procedural requirements for New Jersey's annual state budget process. It mandates that the appropriations bill must be introduced by June 1 before the fiscal year, include 14 days of public notice with a required hearing, and provide clear explanations for any significant budget changes compared to the Governor's recommendations. The bill also requires state agencies to submit multi-year revenue and expenditure projections (for the current and next two fiscal years) as informational data for the Governor's budget proposals. These changes apply directly to the New Jersey Legislature, budget committees, and state agencies responsible for submitting funding requests. The bill does not alter actual spending amounts but changes the timeline and transparency of the budget approval process.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Appropriations Government Spending State Budget

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

A 1779: Requires Homelessness Prevention Program agencies to remain open during public health emergency and provides for funding of each agency.

This bill requires Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) agencies - nonprofit organizations managing homelessness services in New Jersey - to remain open during public health emergencies. It mandates the Department of Community Affairs to fund one agency per "populous county" (county with 350,000+ residents) to manage homelessness prevention services in those areas. If federal pandemic funding is insufficient, the agency head may request state funds from the General Fund to cover gaps. The law directly affects agencies in populous counties and the residents they serve, ensuring continuous access to homelessness prevention during emergencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics State Budget Homelessness

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

A 1189: "Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act"; repeals certain sections of law; requires additional aid to lower property taxes commensurate with residents' ability to support schools; appropriates $2.9 billion.

This bill (A-1189) requires New Jersey to provide additional state school funding to reduce property tax burdens for residents. It directly affects school districts that experienced state aid reductions between 2018-2019 and 2022-2023, directing the state to pay them retroactive aid equal to their past funding losses. Key mechanisms include calculating base aid amounts based on historical funding formulas, mandating districts receiving increased state aid to lower property tax levies by the same amount, and requiring annual property tax reductions if state aid rises. The bill appropriates $2.9 billion to implement these changes, aiming to ensure school funding aligns with residents' ability to pay property taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding

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

A 1133: Establishes $40 daily pay rate for jurors and certain other juror benefits; appropriates $20 million.

This proposed bill would increase New Jersey jury pay from $5 to $40 per day for all grand and petit jurors, replacing the current rate. It adds travel reimbursement (based on standard mileage for cars or actual fares for public transit) and toll reimbursements for jurors traveling to court. Private employers with 10 or more employees would be required to pay up to five days' salary during jury duty, without using the employee’s paid time off. The bill appropriates $20 million from the General Fund to cover these new costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics State Budget

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

ACR 93: Proposes constitutional amendment to dedicate tax revenue from legal sale of recreational marijuana for mental health, addiction recovery and drug rehabilitation services.

ACR 93 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require all tax revenue from New Jersey's legal recreational marijuana sales to be dedicated exclusively to mental health, addiction recovery, and drug rehabilitation services. If approved by voters, this amendment would mandate that funds collected under the state's marijuana sales tax (per the Sales and Use Tax Act) must be used solely for these specific services and cannot be diverted to other state budget needs. The amendment would become part of the state constitution only after voter approval in a general election.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax State Budget Drug Policy Mental Health Substance Abuse

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

ACR 28: Proposes constitutional amendment to establish revenue responsibility through annual State appropriations cap limiting spending growth to one percent per year over six years and a permanent revenue responsibility fund reserved for reducing State pension benefit liabilities.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit annual state spending growth to one percent per year for six years. It requires all state budget appropriations to be specific dollar amounts (not general language) and creates a "Revenue Responsibility Fund" for revenue exceeding two percent of the estimated annual revenue. The fund must first be used to pay down the state's unfunded public employee pension liabilities, and only if those liabilities are fully covered can the fund be used for emergencies or to reduce property taxes with a two-thirds legislative vote. This directly affects state budgeting decisions and public employee pension obligations.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Pensions Revenue State Budget

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

A 2073: Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $20 million from General Fund to DOE to support school facility cleaning and sanitization.

This bill appropriates $20 million from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) specifically for school facility cleaning and sanitization during the COVID-19 pandemic. It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools that received a health department directive for a closure on or after March 9, 2020. Funds cover disinfectants, cleaning supplies, and increased personnel costs for enhanced cleaning schedules, with allocations based on student enrollment. The DOE must establish an expedited application and disbursement process for these funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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

A 2169: Makes supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to Department of Law and Public Safety for public awareness campaign of victims' rights and VCCO assistance.

This bill allocates $750,000 from the General Fund to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) for a public awareness campaign. The campaign will inform crime victims about their rights under the Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights and available VCCO services, including compensation assistance. The funds are a supplemental appropriation added to the existing 2023 budget for the Department of Law and Public Safety. (Procedural bill; no new laws enacted.)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Victims' Rights

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

A 3477: Establishes fund in DEP for Blue Acres acquisition and relocation projects; appropriates $25 million.

This bill creates the Blue Acres Buyout Fund within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), appropriating $25 million from the General Fund. The fund will provide relocation assistance to homeowners and tenants displaced by Blue Acres property acquisitions, cover the state's costs for purchasing flood-prone lands under the Blue Acres program, and pay for program administration (limited to 5% of annual funds). It directly affects residents in flood-prone areas who may be relocated due to these acquisitions. The fund operates as a nonlapsing, revolving account managed by the DEP.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Procurement State Budget Coastal & Flood Protection

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

A 1181: Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers to General Fund on gross income tax return.

This bill would allow New Jersey taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the state's General Fund when filing their gross income tax return. Taxpayers could choose to direct part of their tax refund or add a separate contribution, with administrative costs deducted before net funds are deposited into the General Fund. The General Fund is the primary account for most state revenues, funding essential government operations and appropriations. The bill requires the Division of Taxation to implement this option on tax forms for taxable years beginning after its enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Income Tax State Budget

All budget & taxes bills