Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1013: Authorizes creation of Mental Health Awareness license plates.

This bill would allow New Jersey vehicle owners to apply for special "Mental Health Awareness" license plates. Owners would pay a $50 application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee, with all fees deposited into a dedicated fund. The fund, managed by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, would use these monies exclusively for mental health research and programs across the state. The plates would be designed in consultation with mental health services and require no state funding for initial production costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health research and programs via license plate fees, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1597: Requires DMVA create Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of certain veterans.

S 1597 requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to create a free bereavement counseling program for family members and volunteer caregivers of veterans who died by suicide. The program provides up to 24 months of counseling (max 30 hours yearly) through clinicians licensed in mental health fields, matching participants with available clinicians after application. Eligible participants include spouses, parents, siblings, or unpaid volunteer caregivers from qualified veterans' organizations who provided care for at least three months before the veteran's death. The DMVA must proactively inform grieving families through Veteran Service Officers and funeral directors when a veteran's death is by suicide, and the program will be advertised online. This bill directly affects New Jersey veterans' families and unpaid caregivers grieving suicide losses, with implementation beginning six months after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates free bereavement counseling program for veterans' families, expanding mental health services access through state-funded program.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates DMVA to create free bereavement counseling for veterans' families/caregivers, directly expanding mental health support services for veterans' dependents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2495: Establishes New Jersey Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordination and Oversight Council in DHS.

This bill establishes the New Jersey Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordination and Oversight Council within the Department of Human Services. The council will collect and analyze non-personal data on suicide attempts and completions from all suicide prevention organizations across the state, including details like age, gender, race, method, and mental health history. It will develop standardized reporting requirements for these organizations and provide guidance on best practices for suicide prevention materials and programs. The council will include state agency representatives and appointed members with mental health expertise, including survivors of suicide, to coordinate statewide efforts and improve data-driven prevention strategies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes suicide prevention council to standardize data collection and develop best practices, strengthening mental health services within healthcare framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3138: Establishes "Gambling Treatment Diversion Court Pilot Program" within the criminal justice system.

This bill establishes a pilot program in New Jersey's criminal justice system for individuals convicted of crimes related to gambling disorders. It targets people with disordered gambling who committed offenses "in furtherance of or because of" their gambling, requiring them to complete treatment and pay restitution before sentencing. The program mandates participation in counseling, education, and referrals through qualified mental health professionals, with costs covered by participants where possible or through state/federal funding. A court coordinator will track progress, including treatment attendance and financial restitution, to ensure program completion.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDiverts gambling-related offenders to treatment instead of standard sentencing, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health treatment via court program for gambling disorders, advancing access to services through qualified professionals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Victims' Rights Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2581: Establishes "Recovery Tax Credit Program"; incentivizes hiring and continued employment of certain individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.

S 2581 establishes a tax credit program in New Jersey to incentivize employers to hire and retain individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. Employers must become "certified" by partnering with treatment providers, offering qualifying health insurance, and meeting other criteria to qualify for the program. Certified employers can claim a tax credit of $1 per hour worked by eligible employees, up to $2,000 per employee annually, for part-time or full-time employment. The program, administered by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, allocates up to $2 million yearly and requires employers to verify employee eligibility and recovery status. This bill directly affects New Jersey employers seeking tax incentives and individuals with substance use disorder seeking stable employment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit ($1/hr up to $2k/employee) for employers hiring recovery individuals, reducing tax liability to incentivize employment - fiscal support via tax relief for workforce development.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires qualifying health insurance for employer certification, directly incentivizing expanded health coverage for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncentivizes hiring/retention of individuals in recovery through tax credits, directly advancing employment opportunities for vulnerable workers under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2793: Establishes three-year pilot program for school-based mentoring in public schools located within 1,000 feet of gunfire.

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program for school-based mentoring in New Jersey public schools located within 1,000 feet of where gunfire occurred in the prior school year (a "crisis zone"). It directly affects kindergarten through third-grade students at risk for mental health issues or substance abuse, targeting improvements in their emotional resilience, social skills, and behavior. The program requires participating schools to use a weekly, 25-minute one-on-one mentoring curriculum focused on monitoring emotions, building coping skills, and maintaining emotional control, with schools selecting mentors and evaluating student progress at three intervals. After the pilot, the Commissioner of Education must report on whether the program could be expanded statewide.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mentoring program for K-3 students in crisis zones to improve emotional resilience and social skills, directly enhancing student support programs in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill targets mental health issues in at-risk students via school-based mentoring program, directly supporting mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2048: Establishes loan redemption program and gross income tax credit for mental health professionals who serve children and adolescents.

This bill creates a program to help mental health professionals working with children and adolescents in New Jersey reduce student loan debt. It provides two direct financial incentives: (1) up to $1,000 per year in loan redemption payments (capped at four years total) for licensed professionals employed full-time in this field, and (2) a $1,000 tax credit against state income tax for qualifying professionals. To qualify, participants must be New Jersey residents, hold relevant licenses, maintain full-time employment serving minors, and have outstanding eligible student loans. The program is administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and requires annual proof of residency and employment. The bill is pending before the Senate Higher Education Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $1,000 annual tax credit for mental health professionals, providing direct tax relief for public service workers in a critical sector.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides financial incentives for mental health professionals serving students, improving access to educational support services and student well-being in school settings.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides financial incentives (loan redemption/tax credit) for mental health professionals serving children, directly strengthening mental health services access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Student Financial Aid Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1432: Establishes New Jersey Center for Study and Prevention of Suicide at Rutgers School of Public Health.

This bill establishes the New Jersey Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide at Rutgers School of Public Health. The center will research suicide causes, prevention methods, and treatment approaches - including individual, community, and societal factors - and work with state policymakers to develop evidence-based programs. It will recruit new researchers, run a competitive grant program for suicide research, and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on its activities and funding. The bill requires annual state funding for the center and allows it to accept additional grants or donations for suicide-related research.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes suicide prevention research center at public health school, directly supporting mental health services through funding, evidence-based program development, and policy collaboration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2125: Requires DCF to publish and disseminate information on early childhood mental health to certain professionals.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) to publish and share early childhood mental health information on its website and distribute it directly to social workers, teachers, and child care workers who primarily serve children under age 5. The information must cover three key areas: raising awareness about early mental health, properly sharing concerns with parents/guardians, and connecting families to state or community resources for mental health assessments. DCF may also offer in-service training for these professionals on the shared materials. The law aims to equip frontline workers with consistent, accessible resources to support young children's mental health needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates DCF to disseminate early childhood mental health resources to professionals, connecting families to assessments and support, directly advancing mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2375: Requires suicide prevention training for mental health practitioners.

S 2375 requires mental health practitioners licensed in New Jersey - including clinical social workers, psychologists, counselors, and therapists - to complete four hours of approved suicide prevention training. New license applicants must complete this training before licensure, and all licensed practitioners must renew it every six years. Existing practitioners must complete the initial training within one year of the law's effective date. The Division of Consumer Affairs will maintain a list of approved training programs, which must cover suicide prevention, assessment, screening, treatment, and management in clinical settings. This bill directly affects all 9 licensed mental health practitioner categories under Title 45 of New Jersey law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates suicide prevention training for mental health practitioners, enhancing service quality and patient safety in mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health

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