Education (Higher Education)

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

A 2092: Broadens eligibility of NJ STARS Program by permitting later entry into program.

This bill amends New Jersey's NJ STARS scholarship program to remove a one-year deadline for students who qualify for the scholarship but initially lack college readiness. It directly affects high school seniors in New Jersey who meet NJ STARS eligibility criteria but need remedial coursework to take college-level classes. The key change eliminates the requirement that these students must demonstrate readiness within one year of graduation, instead allowing their eligibility to remain active indefinitely as long as they meet the program's criteria when they enroll. This provides more time for students to complete necessary remediation before accessing the scholarship for up to five semesters of county college study.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves one-year deadline, expanding NJ STARS eligibility for students needing remedial coursework, directly increasing access to higher education funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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

A 3218: Requires institutions of higher education to review employment history of prospective employees who will have regular contact with students to ascertain allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct.

This bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to review the employment history of job applicants who will regularly interact with students (including teaching assistants and staff). Specifically, institutions must verify if applicants were investigated for child abuse or sexual misconduct at any employer within the past 20 years, and require applicants to disclose such allegations or related disciplinary actions. Employers must respond to these checks within 20 days, and false disclosures can lead to employment denial or civil penalties. The policy directly affects higher education institutions, prospective employees in student-facing roles, and their previous employers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires higher ed institutions to vet staff for child abuse/sexual misconduct history, enhancing student safety and institutional protection in educational settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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

A 252: Allows credit against gross income tax for certain eligible taxpayers pursuing education and employment in State.

This bill creates a $1,500 nonrefundable tax credit for New Jersey residents who meet specific criteria: graduating from a New Jersey high school and a New Jersey institution of higher education with a 3.5+ GPA, then working full-time (25+ hours/week) for a New Jersey employer within two years of graduation. The credit applies only to the first five consecutive tax years of eligible employment and cannot reduce tax liability below zero. It directly affects New Jersey graduates who pursue higher education and employment within the state, aiming to encourage retention in the state workforce. The credit is limited to undergraduate degree holders from public or private NJ institutions meeting the GPA and employment requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides $1,500 nonrefundable tax credit reducing liability for eligible NJ graduates, aligning with tax relief for targeted education/workforce participants.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTax credit incentivizes higher education completion and local employment, promoting educational attainment and workforce development in NJ.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credit to incentivize full-time employment for NJ graduates, supporting workforce retention and education-to-career pathways.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Higher Education K-12 Education Public Employees

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

A 3275: Requires certain school districts to enter into dual enrollment agreements with one or more institutions of higher education.

This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts with high schools to enter into mandatory dual enrollment agreements with public institutions of higher education. It directly affects school districts and public colleges/universities, mandating partnerships that allow high school students to earn college credit or career certificates through courses taught on campus. Key provisions include ensuring no student is excluded due to cost, requiring equivalent course rigor regardless of location, and detailing student eligibility and participation processes. The agreement must cover course offerings, student notification methods, and other specifics approved by education officials. The law takes effect immediately, applying to the first full school year after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates dual enrollment partnerships enabling K-12 students to earn college credits without cost barriers, expanding educational access and opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education K-12 Education

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

A 2773: Establishes four-year Performing Arts Education Improvement Grant Program.

This bill (A 2773) creates a four-year grant program to fund performing arts education in eligible New Jersey school districts. It requires districts to demonstrate that a majority of their schools serve high concentrations of multilingual learners, students in resource family care, rural students, or at-risk pupils to qualify for grants. Funds can be used for arts materials, teacher training, program development (including college/career pathways), and extracurricular activities. Participating districts must report annually on program participation and outcomes, and the Commissioner of Education must submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature recommending whether to continue the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for arts education grants, increasing public service funding under state budget appropriations.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program funding performing arts education in schools serving underserved students, expanding access and supporting arts programs through direct funding and teacher training.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Teachers

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 2, 2026

S 3462: Requires high school students to receive financial literacy instruction.

This bill requires all New Jersey high school students pursuing a state-endorsed diploma to complete a one-semester financial literacy course. It directly affects high school students by mandating curriculum covering budgeting, savings, credit, debt, taxes, college financial planning, banking, and consumer skills. The course must be taught by teachers with appropriate endorsements and cannot be satisfied by existing economics or business courses. The requirement applies to students entering 12th grade in the 2027-2028 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates required financial literacy curriculum for all high school students, enhancing student financial education programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education

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died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2123: Requires public institution of higher education to provide students with information on food assistance programs.

This bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to provide incoming and enrolled students with information about federal food assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and local resources. Specifically, institutions must include a link to the SNAP application and NJ 211 (a state service for human services referrals) in initial admission offers and semester registration emails. They must also share details about campus food pantries, meal swipe programs, or community food assistance options. The bill, which was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.213, aims to address food insecurity among college students by improving access to existing support systems.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides students with access to food assistance resources, removing barriers to educational access and supporting retention in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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

A 450: Requires public institution of higher education to provide alternative scholarship to student-athlete who loses athletic scholarship due to injury.

This bill requires New Jersey public colleges to provide a replacement scholarship to student-athletes who lose their athletic scholarship due to an injury or illness directly related to intercollegiate athletics. If the injury makes a student-athlete medically ineligible to compete (as determined by the institution's medical staff), the school must offer a scholarship equal in value for the remainder of their undergraduate degree program or up to five years total - whichever is shorter. It specifically applies to student-athletes enrolled at public institutions of higher education in New Jersey. The law defines "incapacitating injury or illness" as one directly tied to athletic participation that causes medical ineligibility for competition.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides replacement scholarship funding for injured student-athletes, ensuring continued educational access and financial support in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Aug 11, 2026

A 4014: Establishes Social Media Research Center at four-year public institution of higher education.

This bill establishes a Social Media Research Center at a New Jersey four-year public university selected by the Higher Education Secretary. The center will conduct research on social media's effects on youth mental health, develop online safety resources for public schools, and provide recommendations to state agencies. It will also administer grants for social media research using a peer-reviewed process modeled after the NIH, and require annual reports on its work. The bill directly affects New Jersey public universities (as hosts), public schools (through educational resources), and state agencies (by requiring data sharing).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates research center to develop school safety resources and study youth mental health impacts, directly supporting student well-being in educational settings.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directly researches social media's impact on youth mental health and develops safety resources, aligning with mental health service support indicators.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes social media research center to study youth mental health impacts and develop safety resources, funding peer-reviewed research on technology's societal effects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Mental Health Online Safety Social Media

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1688: Exempts public institutions of higher education from motor vehicle registration fee.

This bill exempts public institutions of higher education (like state colleges, universities, and county colleges) from paying motor vehicle registration fees for vehicles not used for personal pleasure or commercial hire. It adds these institutions to an existing list of exempt entities, such as government agencies, hospitals, and volunteer emergency services, under New Jersey law. The exemption applies specifically to vehicles used for institutional purposes, not for general personal or business use. This change aligns public colleges and universities with other public entities already covered by the registration fee exemption.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts public higher education institutions from motor vehicle fees, reducing operational costs for educational entities.70% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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