This bill requires all school buses transporting students with special needs in New Jersey to install two safety features: (1) an electronic seat belt alert system that audibly and visually notifies drivers if any seat belt is unfastened during motion, and (2) unique barcodes on the bus interior/exterior that drivers scan after trips to confirm no students were left behind. It directly affects school bus operators and drivers serving special needs students. The Commissioner of Education will develop implementation rules with the Motor Vehicle Commission, and the law takes effect six months after enactment. The bill aims to prevent accidents and ensure student safety during transportation.
This bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to increase Hispanic and Latino representation in leadership roles. It mandates the Secretary of Higher Education to create leadership development programs for Hispanic/Latino faculty, expand pathways for students into academic careers, and develop institutional strategies to address barriers in recruitment and retention. Public institutions must adopt diversity-focused policies for leadership search committees and submit annual reports tracking leadership demographics and program effectiveness. These requirements apply to all 11 public institutions of higher education in New Jersey, with implementation deadlines within 180 days of guidance issuance.
This bill (S 1934) clarifies that New Jersey courts must consider post-high school educational expenses when determining child support for unemancipated children. It specifically adds "higher education factors" to the list of considerations courts must weigh, including a child's need for college and the parents' financial capacity. The bill does not create new funding but requires courts to account for foreseeable college costs in support orders. It directly affects parents obligated to pay child support and courts handling those cases. The change applies only to children who have not become legally independent (e.g., due to disability or ongoing education).
This bill (S 2651) aims to amend New Jersey's Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) eligibility rules. The title indicates it would permit certain substitute teachers to enroll in TPAF, though the provided bill text only includes definitions (like "compensation" and "teacher") without showing the specific amendment enabling this change. The text references existing definitions but does not detail how the bill would alter eligibility for substitute teachers. Without the actual amendment language or clear policy changes in the provided text, a detailed summary of the bill's mechanisms cannot be confirmed. The bill is currently in committee referral status (introduced January 13, 2026).
This bill, the "Textbook Access Act," requires textbook publishers to disclose pricing and availability information to faculty or departments at New Jersey's public colleges and universities (like Rutgers, NJIT, and Rowan) when they select course materials. Publishers must reveal the price for college bookstores and indicate when unbundled textbook options (without extra materials like CD-ROMs) are available in the same edition. It also mandates that institutions establish policies encouraging timely ordering to check for used books or digital alternatives, and requires publishers to provide substitute product pricing if the requested textbook is unavailable. The goal is to increase transparency in textbook purchasing to help students save money on required course materials.
This bill establishes a 22-member Special Education Transportation Task Force in New Jersey to study and recommend best practices for transporting students receiving special education services. The task force, including education officials, disability advocates, school staff, and parents, must address medical/emergency protocols, staff training, and transportation requirements within 12 months. It directly affects students with special needs, their families, school districts, and transportation providers. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was incorporated into an existing law (P.L.2025, c.301).
This bill creates a program through New Jersey's Infrastructure Bank to help school districts replace diesel school buses with electric ones. It allocates $20 million annually from state "societal benefits charge" revenues to fund loans and financial assistance for purchasing electric buses and charging infrastructure. School districts must complete energy assessments comparing costs and environmental benefits of electric vs. diesel buses, with priority given to districts in communities disproportionately affected by pollution. The program requires school districts to repay loans using operational savings from electric buses, and the Infrastructure Bank must submit an annual project priority list to the legislature.
New Jersey's S 524 requires public schools with 5% or more students qualifying for federal free/reduced-price meals to offer a school breakfast program, lowering the current threshold from 20%. This applies to all schools meeting the 5% eligibility rate, including those serving pre-K through 6th grade (requiring implementation by September 1, 2023) and other grades (by September 1, 2024). School districts must submit implementation plans to the Department of Agriculture by specific deadlines, with waivers available for schools lacking resources to comply. The bill aligns breakfast program requirements with existing lunch program rules, aiming to expand access to school breakfasts for more students.
This bill creates a $1,500 nonrefundable state income tax credit for New Jersey residents who meet specific criteria. To qualify, a taxpayer must have graduated from both a New Jersey high school and a New Jersey institution of higher education (public or private nonprofit) with a 3.5+ GPA, then work full-time (25+ hours/week) for a New Jersey-based employer within two years of graduation. The credit applies for the first five consecutive tax years of eligible employment, but cannot reduce tax liability below zero. It directly targets recent NJ college graduates seeking to remain in-state for employment, aiming to incentivize retention in the state's workforce.
This bill sets a 9:1 student-to-employee ratio for calculating state funding toward employee benefits at New Jersey's four-year public colleges. It requires the state to limit funding for fringe benefits to no more than nine full-time students per full-time employee position. Public institutions may use a better ratio (fewer students per employee) if they choose, but the state will not fund more employee positions than actually exist at the college. The rule applies to how state funds cover benefits like health insurance and retirement for college staff.
