Board Governance and Elections
New Law: A-2784/S-2548 | Support
Summary Authorizes school district that moves its annual school election to November to submit separate proposals for additional spending for budget year and subsequent budget year.
Sponsors Asm. Greenwald (D6), Asm. Karabinchak (D18), Asm. Wimberly (D35) / Sen. Beach (D6), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.234).
Notes The NJSBA supported the bill following a resolution approved at the Association’s May 2023 Delegate Assembly.
A-5847/S-4608 | Monitoring
Summary Extends deadline for completion of school district’s annual audit for 2024-2025 school year.
Sponsors Asm. Coughlin (D19) / Sen. Sarlo (D36)
Status Bill died — Governor issued conditional veto on Nov. 13, 2025; governor’s recommendations were not approved by the Legislature.
S-2922 | Monitoring
Summary Requires development of universal financial disclosure form for persons required to file financial disclosure statements with multiple public bodies; authorizes Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to accept form; codifies financial disclosure requirement for municipal prosecutors.
Sponsors Sen. Scutari (D22)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
S-2001 | Monitoring
Summary Allows certain individuals, including those on active duty or fulfilling reserve obligations, to participate remotely in certain governmental meetings.
Sponsors Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Beach (D6)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
S-4373 | Monitoring
Summary Makes various changes to provisions of “Administrative Procedure Act”; establishes Commission on Efficiency and Regulatory Review in Office of Administrative Law.
Sponsors Sen. Scutari (D22)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
Curriculum and Instruction
New Law: A-3909/S-2818 | Support
Summary “Illicit Opioid Supply Substances Poisoning Awareness Act”; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of illicit opioid substances.
Sponsors Asm. Azzariti (R39), Asm. Verrelli (D15) / Sen. Schepisi (R39), Sen. Gopal (D11)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 17, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.278).
New Law: S-1783/S-2712/A-3865 | Seeking Amendments
Summary Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum for grades three through five.
Sponsors Sen. McKnight (D31), Sen. Turner (D15) / Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asw. Speight (D29), Asw. Bagolie (D27)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 19, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.284).
Notes The NJSBA sought an amendment to make the bill’s requirements permissive so that the decision to include cursive in the curriculum may be made at the local level.
A-4121 | Support
Summary Eliminates high school graduation proficiency test.
Sponsors Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Matsikoudis (R21), Asw. Collazos-Gill (D27)
Status Bill died — Passed by the Assembly on Dec. 8, 2025; did not move in the Senate.
SCR-116 | Support
Summary Establishes “Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force” to promote importance of civility to students in grades kindergarten through 12.
Sponsors Sen. Bramnick (R21), Sen. Diegnan (D18)
Status Resolution died — Did not receive a floor vote.
School Funding
New Law: A-4854/S-4312 | Monitoring
Summary Modifies method of allocating State aid for providing auxiliary and remedial services to nonpublic school students.
Sponsors Asm. Schnall (D30), Asm. Schaer (D36), Asw. Pintor Marin (D29) / Sen. Diegnan (D18)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.252).
S-3917/A-5310 | Support
Summary Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force.
Sponsors Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Singleton (D7) / Asw. Donlon (D11), Asw. Peterpaul (D11), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15)
Status Bill died — Passed by the Senate on June 30, 2025; did not receive a floor vote in the Assembly.
A-5966/S-4885 | Support
Summary Requires Commissioner of Education to take certain action concerning preliminary State school aid notices and school district budgets and creates New Jersey Education Funding Portal; modifies certain provisions in school funding law.
Sponsors Asm. Coughlin (D19), Asm. Stanley (D18), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15) / Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Singleton (D7)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
S-3915 | Support
Summary Requires municipalities to share certain payments in lieu of property taxes with school districts; informs counties, school districts, and DCA of certain information related to property tax exemptions and abatements.
Sponsors Sen. Singleton (D7), Sen. Wimberly (D35)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
School Security
New Law: A-6308/S-5036 | Monitoring
Summary “Safe Communities Act”; requires AG to develop certain model policies.
Sponsors Asw. Park (D37), Asw. Pintor Marin (D29), Asm. Danielsen (D17), Asw. Quijano (D20) / Sen. Johnson (D37), Sen. Mukherji (D32), Sen. Diegnan (D18)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 20, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.401).
S-4440/A-5720 | Support
Summary Requires key boxes at public school buildings with certain exceptions; permits reimbursement of costs related to key box installation.
Sponsors Sen. McKnight (D31), Sen. Turner (D15) / Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asw. Carter (D22)
Status Bill died — Passed by the Senate on Dec. 22, 2025; did not receive a floor vote in the Assembly.
A-4639 | Support
Summary Requires boards of education to adopt policy on use of surveillance systems with artificial intelligence capabilities.
Sponsors Asm. Miller (D4)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
Notes The NJSBA successfully sought amendments to add a definition of artificial intelligence, remove a provision in the bill that would have required a board to include information on the benefits and challenges of utilizing its surveillance system, and add references to state and federal student records laws.
A-1792 | Support
Summary Directs Attorney General to establish program for anonymous reporting of potential threats to school safety.
Sponsors Asw. Carter (D22), Asm. Verrelli (D15), Asw. Bagolie (D27)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
Special Education
New Law: S-3447/A-4607 | Support
Summary Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force.
Sponsors Sen. Corrado (R40), Sen. Diegnan (D18) / Asm. Barlas (R40), Asm. DePhillips (R40), Asm. Stanley (D18)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 20, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.301).
Notes The task force will include one representative of the NJSBA.
Staffing and Labor Issues
New Law: S-4515/A-5824 | Support
Summary Limits certain requirements for certification of career and technical education teachers.
Sponsors Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Turner (D15) / Asw. Morales (D34), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Venezia (D34)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.216).
New Law: A-1997/S-2867 | Support
Summary Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students.
Sponsors Asw. Speight (D29), Asw. Carter (D22), Asm. Venezia (D34) / Sen. Ruiz (D29), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.227).
New Law: S-2498/S-2505/A-3864 | Support
Summary Requires Commissioner of Education to establish employment web portal and virtual applicant profile system.
Sponsors Sen. Ruiz (D29), Sen. Turner (D15), Sen. McKnight (D31) / Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asw. Quijano (D20)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.208).
New Law: A-3451/S-2950 | Monitoring
Summary Revises law concerning family leave to extend protection by reducing employee threshold from 30 employees to 15 employees in definition of employer.
Sponsors Asw. Quijano (D20), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Coughlin (D19) / Sen. Moriarty (D4), Sen. Zwicker (D16)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 17, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.279).
New Law: A-5118/S-4223 | Monitoring
Summary Provides health care benefits to disabled members of TPAF and PERS.
Sponsors Asw. Swain (D38) / Sen. Lagana (D38), Sen. Mukherji (D32)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 20, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.370).
New Law: S-4678/A-5930 | Monitoring
Summary Includes retired teachers and county college faculty members in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher grant program.
Sponsors Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Mukherji (D32) / Asw. Swain (D38), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 20, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.317).
Notes The NJSBA successfully sought an amendment that eliminated a requirement that districts notify previously employed, now-retired teachers about the grant program.
A-3323/S-3713 | Monitoring
Summary Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes.
Sponsors Asm. Wimberly (D35), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Simonsen (R1) / Sen. Polistina (R2), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Bill died — Governor issued absolute veto on Nov. 13, 2025; governor’s veto was not overridden by the Legislature.
S-4428/A-4941 | 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 Bill died — Passed by the Assembly on Dec. 8, 2025; did not receive a floor vote in the Senate.
A-5160 | Express Concerns
Summary Requires transfer of certain participants of DCRP to PERS.
Sponsors Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Verrelli (D15), Asw. Carter (D22)
Status Bill died — Passed by the Assembly on Jan. 12, 2026; did not move in the Senate.
S-4488 | Oppose
Summary Revises requirements for proceedings concerning nonrenewal of nontenured staff members of district boards of education.
Sponsors Sen. Timberlake
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
S-1518/A-919 | Oppose
Summary Establishes procedures and standards regarding public services privatization contracts.
Sponsors Sen. Turner (D15), Sen. Greenstein (D14) / Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Verrelli (D15), Asw. Quijano (D20)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
Student Health and Safety
New Law: S-3695/A-4882 | Support
Summary Requires guidelines on student use of internet-enabled devices to be developed by DOE and policy to be adopted by governing body of each public school.
Sponsors Sen. Moriarty (D4), Sen. Corrado (R40) / Asw. Bagolie (D27), Asm. Miller (D4), Asw. Morales (D34)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 8, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.195).
Notes The NJDOE released updated guidelines on Jan. 15; the NJSBA was one of the stakeholder organizations NJDOE consulted with when developing the guidelines.
“On behalf of the New Jersey School Boards Association, we welcome this legislation as it provides our districts with clear guidance to create learning environments where students can focus on academics and meaningful peer interaction. School board members across the state have heard from educators about the challenges posed by constant device access in classrooms,” said Dr. Timothy J. Purnell, executive director/CEO of NJSBA, in the governor’s bill signing press release. “This law empowers our schools to prioritize instructional time and student engagement, and we look forward to working with our districts to implement these policies effectively.”
New Law: S-2376/A-2255 | Support
Summary Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years.
Sponsors Sen. Beach (D6), Sen. Vitale (D19) / Asw. Lopez (D19), Asm. Sampson (D31), Asw. Carter (D22)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.205).
New Law: A-1657/S-2380 | Support
Summary Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to professional counselors.
Sponsors Asw. Lampitt (D6), Asm. Greenwald (D6), Asw. Speight (D29) / Sen. Beach (D6), Sen. Burgess (D28)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.225).
New Law: S-4509/A-6295 | Support
Summary Creates regulatory scheme, in line with federal law, on sale of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products; repeals law concerning intoxicating hemp.
Sponsors Sen. Ruiz (D29), Sen. Scutari (D22) / Asm. Karabinchak (D18)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.215).
New Law: A-3340/S-1763 | Monitoring
Summary Clarifies which health care professional may provide documentation to school district of need for home instruction due to student’s health condition.
Sponsors Asm. Greenwald (D6), Asm. Stanley (D18), Asw. Murphy (D7) / Sen. Moriarty (D4), Sen. McKnight (D31)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.240).
New Law: A-4763/S-3767 | Support
Summary Requires development of educational fact sheet on water safety for public and nonpublic schools; requires school districts to maintain list of locations providing swim lessons in certain circumstances.
Sponsors Asw. Collazos-Gill (D27), Asm. Kean (R30), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15) / Sen. McKnight (D31), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.247).
Notes The NJSBA had successfully sought an amendment directing the NJDOE to develop a statewide list of locations, rather than having each district create its own list, but that amendment was removed on the Senate floor.
New Law: A-1400/S-984 | Support
Summary Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and institutions of higher education of violations of drinking water quality standards.
Sponsors Asw. Haider (D37), Asm. Calabrese (D36), Asm. Venezia (D34) / Sen. Greenstein (D14), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 20, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.341).
New Law: S-3751/A-5636 | Monitoring
Summary Revises definition of child abuse or neglect to include persons between 18 and 21 years of age in certain settings.
Sponsors Sen. Cryan (D20), Sen. Vitale (D19) / Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Sauickie (R12), Asw. Bagolie (D27)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 18, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.281).
New Law: S-3195/A-5157 | Monitoring
Summary Prohibits food service business from providing single-use utensils and condiments to customers under certain circumstances and requires DEP to establish education campaign on benefits of reducing single-use utensils and condiments.
Sponsors Sen. Smith (D17), Sen. Mukherji (D32) / Asw. Collazos-Gill (D27), Asw. Donlon (D11), Asw. Haider (D37)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 20, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.298).
Notes The NJSBA successfully sought an amendment to exempt schools from the bill’s requirements.
New Resolution: ACR-165/SCR-128 | Support
Summary Urges school districts to establish concussion management teams.
Sponsors Asm. Stanley (D18) / Sen. Diegnan (D18), Sen. Burzichelli (D3)
Status Passed in the Assembly on Dec. 8, 2025; passed in the Senate on Dec. 22, 2025.
Notes This concurrent resolution does not create any new legal requirements.
A-4762/S-3792 | Support
Summary Designates May of each year as “Water Safety Month” in NJ; encourages DOE to provide resources on water safety.
Sponsors Asw. Collazos-Gill (D27), Asm. Kean (R30), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15) / Sen. McKeon (D27), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Bill died — Passed by the Assembly on May 22, 2025; did not receive a floor vote in the Senate.
S-1253/A-1165 | Support
Summary Establishes pilot program in DOE to use therapy dogs in public elementary school wellness programs.
Sponsors Sen. Beach (D6), Sen. Bucco (R25) / Asw. Murphy (D7), Asw. Matsikoudis (R21), Asw. Bagolie (D27)
Status Bill died — Passed by the Senate on Jan. 30, 2025; did not receive a floor vote in the Assembly.
S-4545 | Support
Summary Expands epinephrine administration mechanisms permitted in schools, institutions of higher education, and youth camps.
Sponsors Sen. Testa (R1), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Bill died — Passed by the Senate on Jan. 12, 2026; did not move in the Assembly.
A-276 | Support
Summary Establishes “Student Mental Health Task Force.”
Sponsors Asw. Matsikoudis (R21), Asm. Miller (D4), Asw. Hall (D28)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
Notes The task force would have included one representative of the NJSBA.
S-3016/A-4132 | Monitoring
Summary Prohibits certain substances in sale, distribution, and manufacture of commercial foods for human consumption; bans certain substances in school food.
Sponsors Sen. Zwicker (D16), Sen. Mukherji (D32) / Asw. Haider (D37), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
Transportation
New Law: S-3447/A-4607 | Support
Summary Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force.
Sponsors Sen. Corrado (R40), Sen. Diegnan (D18) / Asm. Barlas (R40), Asm. DePhillips (R40), Asm. Stanley (D18)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 20, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.301).
Notes The task force will include one representative of the NJSBA.
Miscellaneous
New Law: A-5936/S-4713 | Support
Summary Establishes various requirements for charter schools, charter school board of trustees members, charter management organizations, and education management organizations.
Sponsors Asw. Peterpaul (D11), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Stanley (D18) / Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Greenstein (D14)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 16, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.277).
New Law: A-5935/S-4716 | Support
Summary Concerns charter school enrollment, student placements, reporting, and athletics.
Sponsors Asw. Peterpaul (D11), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Stanley (D18) / Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Greenstein (D14)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 16, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.276).
New Law: S-3776/A-5779 | Support
Summary Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force.
Sponsors Sen. Turner (D15), Sen. McKnight (D31) / Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asw. Carter (D22), Asw. Morales (D34)
Status Signed by the governor on Dec. 23, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.181).
Notes The task force will have one member recommended by the NJSBA.
New Law: S-3156/A-4381 | Support
Summary Permits boards of education to lease certain school property to federally qualified health centers without bidding.
Sponsors Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. McKnight (D31) / Asw. Peterpaul (D11)
Status Signed by the governor on Jan. 12, 2026 (P.L.2025, c.210).
A-6149/S-5029 | Monitoring
Summary Establishes nonpublic school nursing services pilot program to provide funding to county consortium of nonpublic schools for nursing services.
Sponsors Asm. Tully (D38) / Sen. Lagana (D38), Sen. Gopal (D11)
Status Bill died — Governor pocket vetoed Jan. 20, 2026.
S-3457/A-2414 | Support
Summary Establishes “New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission” to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs.
Sponsors Sen. McKnight (D31), Sen. Ruiz (D29) / Asw. Quijano (D20), Asw. Sumter (D35), Asw. Bagolie (D27)
Status Bill died — Passed in the Senate on Dec. 22, 2025; did not receive a floor vote in the Assembly.
S-1441 | Support
Summary Establishes School Plastics Upcycling Grant Program in DEP to provide proportional awards to eligible schools based on pro rata share of plastics collected, by each school, for upcycling purposes.
Sponsors Sen. Singleton (D7), Sen. Corrado (R40)
Status Bill died — Passed in the Senate on Dec. 18, 2025; did not move in the Assembly.
A-4819/S-3631 | Express Concerns
Summary Provides increased flexibility in school district enrollment for military-connected students.
Sponsors Asw. Donlon (D11), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15) / Sen. Cryan (D20), Sen. Mukherji (D32)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
S-4861 | Express Concerns
Summary Requires executive county superintendent of schools to establish consolidation plan to combine school districts in county into regional school districts.
Sponsors Sen. Gopal (D11)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
Notes The NJSBA testified at a December meeting of the Senate Education Committee, where the bill was posted for “Discussion Only” and did not receive a committee vote.
S-4679 | Monitoring
Summary Revises membership and duties of NJ Commission on Environmental Education.
Sponsors Sen. Gopal (D11)
Status Bill died — Did not receive a floor vote.
Names to Know for 2026-2027
Following elections in November, there will be some new names at the forefront of policymaking in New Jersey.
Governor
Mikie Sherrill took office on Jan. 20 for the start of a four-year term as governor. She previously represented New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Sherrill’s lieutenant governor is Dr. Dale Caldwell. Caldwell is a former school board member and won NJSBA’s Board Member of the Year award in 2009.
Commissioner of Education
On Jan. 16, Sherrill announced Dr. Lily Laux as her nominee to be the next Commissioner of Education. Laux has previous experience as an educator, in nonprofit work, and leading statewide education departments, including serving as the Deputy Commissioner for the Texas Education Agency. Laux will replace outgoing commissioner Kevin Dehmer.
Senate
The New Jersey Senate is in the middle of a four-year term and there will be no new members to begin the 2026-2027 legislative session.
The top positions in Senate leadership will remain unchanged:
- Sen. Nick Scutari (D22), Senate President
- Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D29), Senate Majority Leader
- Sen. Shirley Turner (D15), Senate President Pro Tempore
- Sen. Paul Sarlo (D36), Deputy Majority Leader and Senate Budget Chair
- Sen. Anthony Bucco (R25), Senate Republican Leader
No changes were made to the makeup of the Senate Education Committee. Its members for the upcoming legislative session are:
- Sen. Vin Gopal (D11), Chair
- Sen. Shirley Turner (D15), Vice Chair
- Sen. Kristin Corrado (R40)
- Sen. Owen Henry (R12)
- Sen. Angela McKnight (D32)
Assembly
All 80 seats in the Assembly were on the ballot in November and 12 new members were sworn in on Jan. 13.
The top positions in Assembly leadership will remain unchanged:
- Asm. Craig Coughlin (D19), Assembly Speaker
- Asm. Louis Greenwald (D6), Assembly Majority Leader
- Asw. Annette Quijano (D20), Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore
- Asm. John DiMaio (R23), Assembly Minority Leader
- Asw. Eliana Pintor Marin (D29), Assembly Budget Chair
The number of members on the Assembly Education Committee has been reduced from nine to seven. The committee’s members for the upcoming session are:
- Asw. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Chair
- Asw. Rosy Bagolie (D27), Vice Chair
- Asw. Katie Brennan (D32)
- Asw. Dawn Fantasia (R24)
- Asm. Erik Simonsen (R1)
- Asw. Lisa Swain (D38)
- Asm. Michael Venezia (D34)
