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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
