S 1603 creates a 90-day tax amnesty period ending January 15, 2026, allowing New Jersey taxpayers with overdue state taxes (for returns due between September 2017 and January 2025) to pay with only half the interest due as of November 1, 2025 and without penalties like late fees. Taxpayers must pay the full tax amount plus reduced interest to participate, and they forfeit all rights to appeal the tax liability. All revenue collected during this period will fund a dedicated Stabilization Aid Account, which provides financial support to school districts experiencing reduced state school aid compared to the prior year. The bill also allocates up to $15 million from this account to cover administrative costs of running the amnesty program.
This bill prohibits any entity receiving a grant from the New Jersey State Council on Arts from scheduling in-person or online educational courses, classes, or lectures on days when local schools are closed for a religious holiday. The restriction applies for 12 months after receiving the grant and covers all public courses - whether fee-based or free. It specifically targets the scheduling of educational programming offered by grantees during school closures for religious holidays. The law applies to all courses requiring attendance (in-person or online) held within the school district where the grantee operates.
This non-binding Senate Resolution (SR 20) urges New Jersey's Governor to adopt the federal tax credit scholarship program created by the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (Pub.L.119-21). If adopted, the program would allow New Jersey taxpayers to claim a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 annually for donations to state-recognized scholarship organizations, which would then provide scholarships covering elementary/secondary education costs like tuition, books, and transportation. The resolution directly affects New Jersey families seeking educational options, as state participation would determine whether residents can access these tax benefits and scholarship funds starting January 2027. States have sole discretion to opt into the program, and this resolution formally requests the Governor take necessary steps to join it.
This bill requires all New Jersey high schools serving grades 9-12 to offer at least one computer science course starting in the 2022-2023 school year. The course must cover computing principles, hardware/software design, and technology's societal impact, as defined in the bill. Schools must provide high-quality courses in flexible formats - including traditional classrooms, online, or blended learning - to accommodate all students. It directly affects public high school students and district boards of education across New Jersey.
S 621 requires New Jersey school districts to include environmental sustainability goals in their long-range facilities plans, which must be updated at least every five years. This amendment to existing law (P.L.2000, c.72) mandates that districts submit these plans to the commissioner for approval, ensuring sustainability is integrated into school infrastructure planning. The bill directly affects all public school districts in New Jersey, requiring them to address environmental goals alongside enrollment, safety, and facility needs. It does not specify particular sustainability measures but establishes a recurring planning requirement for district facilities management.
New Jersey's S 779 requires high school students in grade 11 and above to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of their graduation requirements, starting in the first full school year after the bill takes effect. Students may request an exemption by submitting a signed form from a parent/guardian or, if 18+, by their own request. The bill also mandates that the state education commissioner provide schools and families clear resources with step-by-step instructions for completing the FAFSA. This policy directly affects New Jersey public high school students and aims to increase access to federal financial aid by integrating FAFSA completion into graduation pathways.
This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to provide full-day kindergarten programs by specific deadlines: high-need districts (A, B, CD, DE) by 2020-2021, and others by 2021-2022. It also establishes a uniform age requirement, mandating that children must turn 5 years old by October 1 of the school year to enroll in kindergarten - replacing current district-determined cutoff dates. The bill directly affects all school districts and kindergarten students, standardizing enrollment rules and program requirements statewide. It amends existing education laws to ensure consistent access to full-day kindergarten programs across all districts.
S 280 would lower New Jersey's mandatory school attendance age from six to five years old. This change would require parents and guardians to enroll children aged five to 16 in public school or equivalent instruction, instead of starting at age six. The bill amends multiple statutes to update age references in attendance rules, truancy definitions, and penalties for non-compliance. The law would take effect for the second full school year after enactment.
This bill requires New Jersey school districts with a chronic absenteeism rate of 10% or higher (or individual schools at 15%+) to form attendance review teams. These teams, including school staff and community partners, must address cases of chronically absent students and recommend interventions. The Department of Education must also create an online prevention plan within six months, including definitions of chronic absenteeism, causes, academic impacts, and data-tracking methods to monitor attendance by school, grade, and student demographics. The plan may also include mentorship models and incentives for schools improving attendance.
This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to appoint a licensed mental health specialist for student-athletes participating in interscholastic or intramural sports programs. The specialist must conduct three annual mental health screenings per season (more for multi-sport athletes), provide weekly support for injured athletes, and develop a district-wide mental health policy. Schools must collect aggregated, non-identifiable data from screenings and submit it to the state department annually. Parental consent is required for screenings, and students without consent cannot participate in sports. The bill also creates a state mental health registry for aggregated data and makes funding available for implementation. (Introduced January 13, 2026; pending in Senate Education Committee)
