New Laws
Since the July 2026 edition of Capitol Watch, the Governor has signed the following education-related bills into law.
A-4015/S-3413 | Support
Summary “New Jersey Kids Code Act”; adopts New Jersey Age-Appropriate Design Code and requires certain online service providers to implement certain measures concerning minors’ use of online service.
Sponsors Asw. Katz (D8), Asw. Sweeney (D25), Asw. Peterpaul (D11) / Sen. Mukherji (D32), Sen. Greenstein (D14)
Status Signed by the governor on Aug. 11, 2026 (P.L.2026, c.73).
Notes The NJSBA was invited to attend Gov. Sherrill’s bill signing ceremony. “NJSBA is proud to support this legislative package. Technology is advancing at a speed that our safeguards have struggled to match, and our children are living in that gap every day. These measures represent the bold action this moment requires, and they give educators the tools they need to protect the health and well-being of New Jersey’s students,” said Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA executive director. “We are grateful to the sponsors, legislative leadership and Governor Sherrill for keeping student safety at the center of this work.”
A-4014/S-3411 | Support
Summary Establishes Social Media Research Center at four-year public institution of higher education.
Sponsors Asw. Katz (D8), Asw. Morales (D34) / Sen. Mukherji (D32), Sen. Greenstein (D14)
Status Signed by the governor on Aug. 11, 2026 (P.L.2026, c.72).
Notes The NJSBA was invited by Gov. Sherrill to attend the announcement of the Social Media Research Center. “Keeping our students safe is a shared responsibility, and today that responsibility reaches into the phones in their pockets,” said Dr. Timothy Purnell, Executive Director/CEO, New Jersey School Boards Association. “NJSBA looks forward to the recommendations the Social Media Research Center will make once its work is complete, and we stand ready to help local boards put them into practice. With the right tools, educators can better prepare students to use social media responsibly and safely. We applaud Governor Sherrill and the Legislature for keeping student safety at the center of our work.”
S-3412/A-4013 | Support
Summary Requires Social Media Research Center to research and make recommendations concerning addictive social media behaviors.
Sponsors Sen. Mukherji (D32), Sen. Greenstein (D14) / Asw. Katz (D8), Asm. Miller (D4), Asw. Drulis (D16)
Status Signed by the governor on Aug. 11, 2026 (P.L.2026, c.71).
S-2962/A-2746 | Monitoring
Summary Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for military service.
Sponsors Sen. Mukherji (D32), Sen. Amato (R9) / Asw. Katz (D8), Asw. Murphy (D7), Asw. McCoy (D14)
Status Signed by the governor on Sept. 28, 2026 (P.L.2026, c.93).
S-4413/A-5235 | Support
Summary Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program in DCF; requires school districts to develop mental health support and partnership programs.
Sponsors Sen. Scutari (D22), Sen. Vitale (D19) / Asw. Carter (D22), Asw. Katz (D8), Asm. Kearney (D21)
Status Signed by the governor on Sept. 28, 2026 (P.L.2026, c.92).
Notes Throughout the legislative process, the NJSBA provided verbal testimony citing the need for stronger student mental health infrastructure that preserves the success of NJ4S while simultaneously empowering districts to enhance services for high-acuity mental health needs.
S-170/A-5167 | Monitoring
Summary Requires Commissioner of Education to recommend dates for spring break in school districts.
Sponsors Sen. Diegnan (D18), Sen. Ruiz (D29) / Asm. Karabinchak (D18)
Status Signed by the governor on July 30, 2026 (P.L.2026, c.56).
S-4307/A-5251 | Support
Summary “New Jersey History Day Act.”
Sponsors Sen. Diegnan (D18), Sen. Beach (D6) / Asm. Moen (D5), Asw. Rowan (D2), Asm. Karabinchak (D18)
Status Signed by the governor on Oct. 27, 2026 (P.L.2026, c.100).
Bills on the Governor’s Desk
A-5439/S-4664 | Support
Summary Amends Fiscal Year 2027 annual appropriations act to require portion of funding for Working Class Families State Supplement to be used for outreach purposes.
Sponsors Asm. Coughlin (D19), Asw. Pintor Marin (D29) / Sen. Ruiz (D29), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Passed in Assembly 58-16-1 on Sept. 24; Passed in Senate 36-2 and sent to Governor on Oct. 22.
S-4349/A-5218 | Support
Summary Concerns enrollment of twins or higher order multiples in public preschool programs.
Sponsors Sen. Holzapfel (R10), Sen. McKnight (D31) / Asm. McGuckin (R10), Asw. Fantasia (R24), Asw. Bagolie (D27)
Status Passed in Senate 39-0 on Oct. 22; approved by the Assembly Education Committee.
Other Legislative Activity
The Legislature also took action on the following bills this quarter. As of this writing, these bills have not yet made it to the Governor’s desk and are at various stages of the legislative process. For additional information, please visit the Legislature’s webpage.
Board Governance and Elections
A-5205/A-5208 | Support & Express Concerns
Summary Concerns school district finances regarding unanticipated cost increases and unused leave liabilities.
Sponsors Asw. Bagolie (D27), Asm. Miller (D4), Asw. Sweeney (D25)
Status Passed in Assembly 65-12-1 on Oct. 29.
Notes The NJSBA provided verbal testimony on the fiscal reform bill package of A-5205/A-5208, A-5206, and A-5207, expressing appreciation for numerous components of the package while also expressing a need to further ensure that school districts have the resources and capacity to execute on these additional oversight measures with fidelity.
A-5206 | Support & Express Concerns
Summary Establishes additional procedures for financial oversight and reporting to ensure fiscal stability of school districts.
Sponsors Asw. Bagolie (D27), Asw. Brennan (D32), Asw. Katz (D8)
Status Passed in Assembly 76-1-0 on Oct. 29.
A-5207 | Support & Express Concerns
Summary Expands duties of executive county business official; establishes processes for fiscal review of school districts by executive county superintendent and Commissioner of Education.
Sponsors Asw. Bagolie (D27), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asw. Brennan (D32)
Status Passed in Assembly 58-13-7 on Oct. 29.
A-3346 | Support
Summary Requires Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy to undertake study to determine efficiency and scaling in delivery of local government services.
Sponsors Asm. Stanley (D18), Asw. McCoy (D14)
Status Approved by the Assembly Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee and referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Curriculum and Instruction
S-4457 | Support
Summary Requires State Board of Education to include bullying awareness and prevention in New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
Sponsors Sen. Singleton (D7), Sen. McKnight (D31)
Status Approved by the Senate Education Committee.
Notes The NJSBA testified in support of the bill after successfully seeking amendments to align the instructional requirement with the State Board’s standards review process and to eliminate a requirement for districts to incorporate instruction into their curriculum prior to the next scheduled NJSLS and NJPTLS updates.
School Funding
Statewide School Funding Outreach: On Aug. 5, the Sherrill Administration announced the launch of a statewide school funding outreach effort to “overhaul New Jersey’s school funding system” and “bring together families, educators, students, school leaders, legislators, advocates, community partners, and taxpayers to build a shared understanding of how school funding works today and to identify ways to make the system more predictable, transparent, accountable, fair, and responsive to student needs.” To date, the outreach effort includes:
- School funding steering committee (NJSBA is represented);
- School funding outreach survey;
- Series of statewide stakeholder engagement sessions, including public testimony opportunities and community roundtables;
- School Finance Learning Series of informational videos and one-pagers designed to explain New Jersey’s school funding system in plain language; and
- Email newsletter for future updates.
For additional information on the items above, please visit the NJDOE’s Statewide School Funding Outreach webpage.
School Security
A-5186 | Monitoring
Summary Establishes School Security Pilot Program in DOE; appropriates $15 million.
Sponsors Asw. Bagolie (D27), Asm. Greenwald (D6)
Status Approved by the Assembly Education Committee and referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Special Education
A-4954 | Express Concerns
Summary Modifies certain provisions of law concerning speech-language specialists.
Sponsors Asw. Swain (D38)
Status Approved by the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee and referred to the Assembly Education Committee.
Notes The NJSBA provided verbal testimony asking that the bill be second-referenced to the Assembly Education Committee in order to give the full education community an opportunity to comment. The NJSBA also expressed concerns about the potential of the contracting provision of the bill to narrow current flexibility provided by NJDOE regulations to contract out for speech-language services under certain circumstances.
Staffing and Labor Issues
A-4704 | Monitoring
Summary Requires employer to provide certain accommodations to employee who is breastfeeding or expressing milk.
Sponsors Asw. Speight (D29), Asw. McCoy (D14)
Status Approved by the Assembly Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee and referred to the Assembly Health Committee.
A-5046 | Support
Summary Requires health care claims experience data to be shared with local governments.
Sponsors Asm. Venezia (D34), Asw. Simmons (D3)
Status Approved by the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
S-2046 | Monitoring
Summary Establishes protected leave under “Family Leave Act” and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances.
Sponsors Sen. Polistina (R2), Sen. Mukherji (D32)
Status Approved by the Senate Labor Committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
S-4075 | Express Concerns & Seeking Amendments
Summary Regulates use of artificial intelligence-based systems for electronic monitoring regarding employment and public services.
Sponsors Sen. Zwicker (D16), Sen. Turner (D15), Sen. Scutari (D22)
Status Approved by the Senate Labor Committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
S-4285 | Monitoring
Summary Concerns discrimination based on membership in a labor organization.
Sponsors Sen. McKnight (D31)
Status Approved by the Senate Labor Committee.
A-1429 | Support
Summary Permits board of education to employ certain veterans in coaching positions in school district’s interscholastic athletic program.
Sponsors Asm. Simonsen (R1), Asm. Bailey (D3)
Status Approved by the Assembly Education Committee and referred to the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
S-4438 | Express Concerns
Summary “Public School Employees’ Health Benefits Trust Act.”
Sponsors Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Vitale (D19)
Status Heard “For Discussion Only” by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.
Notes The NJSBA expressed numerous concerns with the bill through verbal testimony in front of the committee and in written comments submitted to the bills’ sponsors.
State Health Benefits Program Reform Working Group: On Oct. 1, Gov. Sherrill announced the launch of the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) Reform Working Group. According to the press release issued by her office, this move fulfills a commitment made in September as part of the Administration’s agreement with 17 unions representing state employees. The NJSBA will have a representative on the working group.
The working group will bring together organizations representing the state, unions, and stakeholders with relevant healthcare and program expertise. Participants will undertake a sustained review of the structural challenges facing the SHBP and develop concrete, evidence-backed recommendations for making high-quality health benefits more affordable and sustainable. The Administration will coordinate the working group’s recommendations with parallel work addressing the Local Government Group and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program.
“The creation of this working group demonstrates Governor Sherrill’s commitment to addressing the fiscal crisis school districts across New Jersey are facing due to rising healthcare costs,” said NJSBA Executive Director/CEO Dr. Timothy Purnell. “As these costs soar, districts have been forced to make incredibly difficult decisions as they continue to crowd out important educational programming. Reining in these costs will help districts prioritize investments in students and staff, without putting more strain on local taxpayers. The NJSBA greatly appreciates having a seat at the table as we continue to advocate in the best interest of our members and looks forward to bringing the school district perspective to this critical discussion.”
Student Health and Safety
A-5254/S-4467 | Monitoring
Summary “Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act”; prohibits harassment or bullying of nonpublic school students and requires nonpublic schools to adopt anti-harassment and bullying policy.
Sponsors Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asw. Carter (D22), Asw. Katz (D8) / Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status A-5254 was passed by the Assembly 73-4-0 on Oct. 29; S-4467 has been approved by the Senate Education Committee.
S-1340/A-2042 | Support
Summary Requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidance on accommodations for certain students fasting for religious or medical reasons.
Sponsors Sen. Pennacchio (R26), Sen. Stack (D33) / Asw. Haider (D37), Asm. Barlas (R40), Asm. Abdelaziz (D35)
Status Passed in Senate 36-0 on May 28; amended and passed in Assembly 71-0-1 on Sept. 24; awaiting a concurrence vote in the Senate following Assembly amendments.
S-175 | Monitoring
Summary Establishes Anti-Bullying Commission and Anti-Bullying Youth Council in DOE.
Sponsors Sen. Diegnan (D18), Sen. McKnight (D31)
Status Approved by the Senate Education Committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
S-253 | Express Concerns
Summary Broadens definition of “harassment, intimidation, or bullying” in Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act.
Sponsors Sen. Turner (D15), Sen. McKnight (D31)
Status Approved by the Senate Education Committee.
Notes The NJSBA testified in front of the committee and expressed concerns that deleting the “distinguishing characteristic” clause from the current HIB definition could have unintended consequences that make it harder for districts to foster safe, supportive school environments.
S-4102 | Support
Summary Requires school districts to establish procedures for online reporting of harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
Sponsors Sen. McKnight (D31), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Passed in Senate 38-0 on Oct. 22.
SJR-57 | Support
Summary Designates October of each year as “Bullying Prevention Month.”
Sponsors Sen. Timberlake (D34), Sen. McKnight (D31)
Status Passed in Senate 39-0 on Oct. 22.
S-3394 | Monitoring
Summary Requires food service businesses to provide written notice of major food allergens in each menu item.
Sponsors Sen. Diegnan (D18), Sen. McKnight (D31)
Status Approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
A-4676 | Monitoring
Summary Requires public schools to develop policy for administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and use of manual vagus nerve stimulators for students with seizure disorder on emergent basis.
Sponsors Asw. Kane (D6), Asw. Speight (D29), Asm. Venezia (D34)
Status Approved by the Assembly Education Committee and referred to the Assembly Health Committee.
A-1317 | Monitoring
Summary Extends requirements on use of restraint and seclusion to all students; requires immediate parental notification; requires DOE to collect and report data regarding use of restraint and seclusion on students.
Sponsors Asm. Miller (D4)
Status Heard “For Discussion Only” by the Assembly Education Committee.
Miscellaneous
S-3245/A-2470 | Oppose
Summary Revises high school student financial aid application requirements.
Sponsors Sen. Turner (D15), Sen. Singer (R30) / Asw. McCoy (D14), Asw. Morales (D34), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15)
Status Passed in Senate 34-6 on June 30; amended and passed in Assembly 53-23-0 on Oct. 29; awaiting a concurrence vote in the Senate.
Notes The NJSBA testified in opposition to the bill, encouraging the Legislature to wait for the release of the HESAA report due by Jan. 2027 before making the graduation requirement permanent.
A-2534 | Support
Summary Establishes Jersey Strong Public Service Scholarship Program.
Sponsors Asw. Bagolie (D27), Asw. Collazos-Gill (D27), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15)
Status Approved by the Assembly Higher Education Committee and referred to the Assembly Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee.
A-1646 | Monitoring
Summary Establishes timelines for review and approval by Commissioner of Education of annual certified audits submitted by approved private schools for students with disabilities.
Sponsors Asw. Kane (D6), Asw. Bagolie (D27)
Status Passed in Assembly 77-0-0 on Oct. 29.
A-4236 | Monitoring
Summary Designates accounting as STEM subject for various educational and other programs.
Sponsors Asm. Stanley (D18), Asw. Morales (D34), Asw. Haider (D37)
Status Passed in Assembly 63-10-1 on Sept. 24.
S-2597 | Support
Summary Establishes four-year Career and Technical Education Partnership Grant Program.
Sponsors Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Approved by the Senate Education Committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
S-1831 | Support
Summary Establishes Statewide youth apprenticeship program; appropriates $25 million annually.
Sponsors Sen. Singleton (D7), Sen. Beach (D6)
Status Approved by the Senate Labor Committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
S-4128 | Monitoring
Summary Requires county college to notify graduating high school students of acceptance into local county college.
Sponsors Sen. Zwicker (D16), Sen. McKnight (D31)
Status Passed in Senate 39-0 on Oct. 22.
A-4956 | Monitoring
Summary Prohibits contracts for procurement and licensing of electronic literary materials from including certain provisions.
Sponsors Asw. Swain (D38), Asm. DeAngelo (D14), Asw. Drulis (D16)
Status Approved by the Assembly Education Committee.
A-5518 | Support
Summary Establishes New Jersey Imagination Library Program in DOE; appropriates $2 million.
Sponsors Asm. Moen (D5)
Status Approved by the Assembly Education Committee and referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
