Budget & Taxes (State Budget) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4111: Imposes temporary surcharges on certain transactions to support preparations for hosting of special events.

This New Jersey bill introduces temporary surcharges on hotel stays and sales within the Meadowlands district between June 12 and July 21, 2026, to fund preparations for special events. The measure adds a 2.5 percent fee on hotel room rates in most counties and a 3 percent fee on sales of goods, food, drinks, and amusement tickets in the Meadowlands, excluding transactions in the lowest-classified counties and purchases by tax-exempt entities. All collected funds will go to the state's General Fund, and the Department of the Treasury will handle collection and administration using existing tax procedures.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 4819: Withdraws New Jersey's participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; repeals "Global Warming Response Act" and related sections of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative implementing law.

This bill removes New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and repeals the state's Global Warming Response Act. It directs money currently held in the Global Warming Solutions Fund to the General Fund for use in providing relief to ratepayers. Additionally, the legislation amends existing laws to establish a Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund for managing state forests and creates a three-year program to test the reliability and cost of electric school buses.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics State Budget Climate Change Forestry

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 4823: Concerns public broadcasting funding; makes appropriations.

This bill directs the New Jersey Legislature to annually allocate $9.6 million from the State General Fund to the Trust Fund for the Support of Public Broadcasting starting in fiscal year 2026. The funding is intended to support the operations of New Jersey Public Broadcasting, which has managed public television and radio services since 2011. The appropriation replaces potential interest earnings that would have accrued if earlier asset sale proceeds had been deposited in the trust fund as originally planned. This change ensures ongoing financial support for public broadcasting without altering existing operational structures or responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 4838: Imposes temporary surcharges on certain transactions to support preparations for hosting of special events.

This New Jersey bill introduces temporary surcharges on hotel stays and specific sales within the Meadowlands district to fund preparations for upcoming special events. The measures apply a 2.5% fee on hotel rooms and a 3% fee on goods, food, and amusement tickets in the Meadowlands area between June 12 and July 21, 2026. These additional charges are collected from customers and paid to the state's Division of Taxation, with the revenue deposited into the General Fund. The fees are designed to be temporary and do not apply to purchases made by tax-exempt entities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4095: Establishes Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program; appropriates $1 million.

This New Jersey bill creates the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program to provide confidential mental health support to firefighters and their immediate family members who are experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts. The program will award grants to licensed mental health providers, with a $1 million appropriation from the General Fund to cover these costs. Selection criteria for grants will prioritize providers located within an hour's travel time of the patients they serve, and a list of approved providers will be published online. The legislation aims to address barriers to care, such as fear of job loss, by ensuring accessible and confidential treatment options.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Mental Health

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 19, 2026

A 4786: Authorizes MVC to enter into contract with private vendor for marketing and sale of certain license plates.

This bill allows New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission to hire a private company to handle the marketing and sale of certain special license plates, such as personalized, courtesy, and auctioned plates. Under the new rules, the state could sign a five-year contract with a vendor selected through competitive bidding, with options to renew for up to two additional terms. The private vendor would be responsible for covering some of the commission's implementation costs upfront, and fees for these plates would be set to ensure the state recovers all related expenses. Any money collected from these plates beyond the required costs would go into the state's General Fund, while the state retains ownership of all approved plate designs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Procurement State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 3867: Establishes Health Equity Access and Leadership Fund; appropriates $25 million from General Fund, and allocates portion of Health Care Subsidy Fund revenues, to fund.

This bill creates a new Health Equity Access and Leadership Fund in New Jersey to support health care organizations serving underserved communities. It establishes a dedicated account within the existing Health Care Subsidy Fund that will receive an initial $25 million appropriation plus ongoing allocations of at least 0.1 percent of projected Health Care Subsidy Fund revenues. The fund will distribute money through a competitive grant process to community-based organizations and service providers that offer essential health care services to underserved or underinsured populations affected by funding losses. The bill also requires the Health Care Subsidy Fund administrator to maintain separate accounts for different subsidy components and establish rules to ensure fund integrity.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SCR 115: Proposes constitutional amendment to dedicate certain revenues for State transportation system.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate specific tax revenues to New Jersey's state transportation system, directly affecting how state funds are allocated for roads, bridges, and related infrastructure. The amendment would require certain amounts from motor fuel taxes, petroleum product taxes, and sales taxes to be credited to a special account in the General Fund, with minimum dollar amounts specified for various fiscal years. Additionally, any revenue from future taxes on electric vehicles would be added to this dedicated fund, which can only be used for planning, construction, repair, and rehabilitation of the state's transportation system. The bill would also prohibit the Legislature from borrowing, appropriating, or using these dedicated funds for any purpose other than transportation improvements. This change would require voter approval at a general election to become part of the state constitution.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics State Budget Transportation Funding

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4558: Requires local units of government to provide access to "user-friendly" budget information through link included on home page Internet site.

This New Jersey bill requires school districts to make budget information more accessible to the public by adding a prominent link on their website homepages that leads to user-friendly, plain-language budget documents. The law mandates that districts provide detailed financial data for high-paid school employees, including salary terms, benefits, and compensation details, in an easy-to-understand format. Additionally, the bill updates how school budgets must be presented, requiring clearer breakdowns of expenditures, revenue sources, and cost centers organized by grade levels. Local school districts are the primary entities affected, as they must comply with new formatting and disclosure requirements for their financial reporting.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags Government Transparency

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 3852: Establishes bee-friendly habitat pilot program in Department of Agriculture; appropriates $1 million.

This bill establishes a one-year pilot program within the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to encourage homeowners and businesses to convert their lawns into bee-friendly habitats. The program provides financial reimbursement of up to $250 for homeowners and up to $500 for businesses, with a total funding cap of $1 million appropriated from the General Fund. The Department of Agriculture is responsible for developing application guidelines, establishing qualification criteria, creating an informational website, and maintaining a list of approved plants that qualify for reimbursement. Upon completion, the department must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature detailing participation numbers, funds distributed, and recommendations for future programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics State Budget

All budget & taxes bills