Education (Higher Education)

introduced · New Jersey · General Assembly

A 5437: Amends FY2027 appropriations act to reassign appropriation for Virtua Health College of Medicine and Life Sciences to Virtua Health College for hospital support.

This New Jersey bill amends the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget to move a $2 million appropriation from Rowan University's Virtua Health College of Medicine and Life Sciences to the Department of Health for general hospital support at Virtua Health College. The legislation directly affects how state funds are allocated between higher education and health planning agencies, shifting the money from an institutional support grant to a healthcare systems analysis line item. By reassigning these specific funds, the bill maintains the total amount appropriated for the fiscal year while changing the designated recipient agency and purpose of the expenditure.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill removes $2M from a higher education institution (Virtua Health College of Medicine) to fund hospital support, reducing direct funding for educational programs.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 5005: Prohibits undocumented student from receiving Tuition Aid Grant and Summer Tuition Aid Grant.

This bill prohibits undocumented students in New Jersey from receiving the State Tuition Aid Grant and Summer Tuition Aid Grant. While it maintains eligibility for other financial aid programs permitted by federal law, it specifically bars access to these two state-funded grants for students without lawful immigration status. The legislation requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and the Secretary of Higher Education to update application procedures to verify citizenship or eligible noncitizen status before awarding these specific grants.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts financial aid access for undocumented students, limiting educational opportunities and funding support.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts access to state-funded tuition grants for undocumented students, limiting immigrant educational services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Citizenship & Naturalization DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs

Track

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

A 4645: Revises law permitting undocumented students to pay in-State tuition rate at public institution of higher education and receive certain student financial assistance.

This bill would remove eligibility for in-state tuition rates and certain state financial aid programs at New Jersey public colleges and universities for students without lawful immigration status. Under the proposed changes, only U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens would qualify for these benefits, even if they meet other requirements like attending New Jersey high school for three years or more. The legislation also repeals existing provisions that allowed some undocumented students to participate in these programs, while leaving unchanged the eligibility rules for students holding T or U visas or dependents of certain visa holders.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill removes in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented students, restricting educational access and limiting financial support for a vulnerable student population.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill removes in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented students, restricting access to education services for immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

Track

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

A 4384: Directs State Treasurer to debit from State operating aid allocated to public research university amount equal to costs incurred by institution in implementing agreements reached with certain student protestors.

This bill requires the State Treasurer to withhold state operating funds from New Jersey's public research universities to cover costs incurred by institutions in implementing agreements made with student protestors during the Israel-Hamas conflict protests (starting October 7, 2023). It specifically targets expenses like accepting displaced Gazan students, creating cultural centers, forming partnerships with Birzeit University, hiring specialists in Palestine/Middle East studies, establishing new academic programs, displaying certain flags, and granting amnesty to participants in anti-Semitic protests. The bill mandates that these costs be deducted directly from the universities' state aid allocations. It was introduced as a response to agreements reached at Rutgers University following campus protests, aiming to prevent taxpayer funding of these specific protest-related initiatives.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds public universities by withholding state operating aid to cover protest-related costs, restricting state spending on education programs.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill defunds public universities by withholding state operating aid to cover protest-related costs, restricting institutional funding for education initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

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

A 3136: Bars certain employees of certain public agencies from participating in PERS; repeals law permitting PERS and TPAF members on leave who work for labor organization to purchase pension credit.

This bill prevents new employees of school board and county college insurance groups from joining New Jersey's state retirement system (PERS). It also ends retirement coverage for current employees in these groups with fewer than 10 years of service credit. Employees with 10 or more years may keep their retirement coverage if they continue working without interruption. The bill repeals prior laws that allowed certain employees on leave to purchase additional pension credit.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationReduces retirement benefits for school employees, limiting teacher compensation and retirement security.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts retirement benefits for public employees by denying PERS access to new hires and reducing coverage for under-10-year employees, weakening worker compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 3362: Phases out State tuition aid grants for students enrolled in proprietary institutions.

This bill phases out New Jersey's state tuition aid grants for students attending proprietary (for-profit) colleges. Starting with the first full academic year after enactment, new students at these institutions will no longer qualify for state aid grants. Current students who received aid before the phase-out period can continue receiving it until they are no longer eligible under existing rules. The policy directly affects students at licensed for-profit colleges seeking state financial assistance for tuition.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesPhases out state tuition aid grants for for-profit colleges, reducing government spending on education subsidies.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationPhases out state tuition aid for for-profit colleges, directly reducing state funding for a segment of higher education institutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

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

A 570: Eliminates eligibility of certain students including undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria to receive State student financial aid or to qualify for in-State tuition at public institutions of higher education.

This bill repeals New Jersey laws that allowed certain undocumented students meeting specific criteria to qualify for in-state tuition and state financial aid at public colleges. It eliminates the requirement that students must have attended a New Jersey high school for three or more years, graduated from a New Jersey high school (or equivalent), and enrolled as an entering student or currently enrolled as of a specified date. The bill also removes the requirement for undocumented students to file an affidavit about applying for legal immigration status. This change directly affects undocumented students who previously met these criteria but no longer qualifies them for these benefits. Provisions for students with T/U visas or dependents of H-1B/O-1/O-2 visa holders remain unchanged.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts in-state tuition and financial aid access for undocumented students, limiting higher education opportunities and removing eligibility criteria.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill eliminates in-state tuition and financial aid eligibility for undocumented students, directly restricting access to state education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

Track

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

AR 20: Urges U.S. Congress to remove federal courts' jurisdiction in certain education matters, or alternatively, overturn certain prior case law.

This New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 20) urges the U.S. Congress to remove federal court jurisdiction over cases where states require undocumented immigrant children to pay school tuition. It also asks the Supreme Court to overturn *Plyler v. Doe* (1981), which established that states cannot deny public education to undocumented children. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests federal action to return education policy authority to states. It directly addresses how states may fund education for undocumented students, referencing the Supreme Court's conflicting rulings on the issue. This is a non-binding request, not a legislative proposal.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationSeeks to overturn *Plyler v. Doe*, which guarantees public education access for undocumented children, thereby restricting educational access for this group.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationSeeks to overturn *Plyler v. Doe*, which protects undocumented children's right to public education, aiming to allow states to require tuition from them.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education DACA & Dreamers Sanctuary Policies

Track

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

A 532: Provides that public school parent who objects to learning material or activity that parent considers harmful may receive voucher from school district to enroll student in nonpublic school.

This New Jersey bill (A-532) would require public school districts to provide vouchers covering 75% of tuition at nonpublic schools for students whose parents withdraw them due to objections about curriculum content. It specifically protects objections related to material conflicting with parental beliefs about sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or morality. The voucher amount is calculated based on the district's per-pupil spending, prorated for remaining school days. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Education Committee (introduced January 13, 2026) and would directly affect parents who withdraw children over curriculum disputes and the school districts funding those vouchers.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationDiverts public school funds to private schools via vouchers, reducing public education funding and restricting curriculum choices in public schools.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education School Choice

Track

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

A 323: "Protecting Legally-Present Youngsters' Limited Educational Resources Act"; requires students who are not U.S. citizens or legal immigrants to pay tuition to attend public schools.

This New Jersey bill (A 323) requires public school districts to charge tuition to students who are not U.S. citizens or legal immigrants, while allowing citizens and legal immigrants to attend free. Specifically, schools must verify a child's citizenship or immigration status before enrollment; students without documentation must pay annual tuition of at least $1,000 per year. Districts must report the number of tuition-paying students and collected funds in school report cards, and post this data online. The bill directly affects non-citizen students, including undocumented children, and aims to shift educational costs away from taxpayers by requiring tuition payments from this group.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates tuition for non-citizens in public schools, restricting educational access for immigrant students and limiting free attendance for a specific group.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires non-citizens/non-legal immigrants to pay tuition for public education, restricting access to a state service as defined by the topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Citizenship & Naturalization DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs

Track