This bill prohibits cloud computing service providers working with New Jersey public, private, and charter schools from disclosing student data collected through their services. It requires providers to certify in writing that they will only share data with school students, teachers, or staff, and only to deliver the service or maintain system security. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $5,000 for first offenses and $10,000 for repeat offenses, enforced through the Superior Court. The law directly affects cloud service companies contracted by schools, aiming to restrict unauthorized sharing of student information.
This bill allows New Jersey parents and guardians to deduct up to $1,200 from their taxable income for eligible school supply purchases made for students in public or private K-12 schools or higher education institutions. It specifically covers common items like notebooks, pencils, folders, calculators, paper, and other standard classroom materials. The deduction applies to purchases made during the taxable year and takes effect for years beginning after the bill's enactment date. This creates a direct tax benefit for families covering recurring school-related expenses.
This bill allows public high school students observing Ramadan to substitute required physical education classes with an instructional course or study hall during the marking period containing Ramadan. Students must provide written notice to their principal before schedule creation, and the substitute must award the same graduation credits as physical education. It also permits student-athletes to be excused from sports, intramural, or cheerleading programs during Ramadan by submitting written notice to their coach, with coaches prohibited from penalizing such absences. The bill takes effect immediately for the first full academic year after enactment.
This bill would provide tuition-free credits (up to 16 per semester for eight semesters) at public or degree-granting colleges to:
1) Retired law enforcement officers/firefighters who retired due to service-related injuries/illnesses, and
2) Dependents or spouses of officers/firefighters who died in the line of duty.
To qualify, recipients must apply for all available federal and state student aid first, and maintain enrollment in good academic standing. The state would reimburse institutions for uncovered tuition costs after other aid is applied.
This bill expands New Jersey's school restraint and seclusion rules to apply to **all students** (previously limited to students with disabilities). It requires schools to:
1) Use physical restraint or seclusion **only in emergencies** posing immediate danger,
2) **Notify parents immediately** (by phone/electronic message) and provide a written report within 48 hours,
3) **Collect and report annual data** to the Department of Education (DOE) on usage, including student demographics like race, gender, and disability type.
The DOE must publish this data publicly while protecting student privacy, and schools must hold meetings with parents for repeated incidents.
S 3455 establishes a "Student Mental Health Task Force" to examine mental health challenges faced by New Jersey students, including depression, anxiety, and trauma. The task force, composed of 17 members (including state agency heads and appointed representatives from education, mental health, and community organizations), will survey existing mental health resources in schools and communities across all counties and regions. It must develop recommendations to improve students' access to mental health services and support, focusing on identifying needs, assessing provider networks, funding sources, and potential partnerships with colleges. The bill does not create new programs but mandates a study to inform future policy. (S 3455, introduced February 9, 2026)
This bill establishes a process for New Jersey county colleges to apply for approval to offer four-year nursing degree programs. County colleges must submit detailed proposals to the New Jersey Presidents' Council, including program descriptions, facility details, cost analyses, curriculum plans, and enrollment projections. The Council reviews proposals within 45 days, recommends approval or denial to the Higher Education Secretary, and colleges must also secure accreditation from the New Jersey Board of Nursing. This directly affects county colleges seeking to expand nursing education and addresses a state-level need for more nursing graduates.
This New Jersey bill (A 370) requires public school districts to update anti-bullying policies and staff training to specifically address social media's role in harassment, intimidation, and bullying. It mandates that schools incorporate instruction on social media-related bullying into employee training programs and school-wide prevention efforts, including topics like protected characteristics and digital safety. The bill also revises student learning standards to include social media education within bullying prevention curricula. These changes apply directly to all New Jersey public school districts, staff, and students, with implementation supported through existing state resources and training programs.
This bill (A 3795) provides tuition-free enrollment in New Jersey public colleges for dependent children of veterans who died, are missing in action, or are totally disabled due to service-related injuries (as certified by the VA). It covers up to 60 credits for associate degrees and 120 credits for bachelor's degrees at public institutions. To qualify, students must be New Jersey residents, meet academic progress standards, apply for all other available financial aid (including federal VA benefits), and have classroom space available. The state will reimburse public colleges for waived tuition costs.
This bill creates a program to help New Jersey volunteer emergency responders (like fire department members and first aid squad volunteers) reduce student loan debt. To qualify, applicants must be state residents, have completed an in-state undergraduate degree or certificate, and provide proof of active volunteer status. The program redeems up to $16,000 of eligible student loans over three years of continued service: $4,000 in year one, $4,000 in year two, and $8,000 in year three (capped at specified percentages of the original loan balance). Participants must maintain active volunteer status each year to receive payments.
