The New Jersey School Boards Association’s Legislative Committee met Saturday, March 15, with Assemblyman Cody D. Miller, a Democrat representing Legislative District 4, serving as a guest speaker.
Dr. Timothy Purnell, executive director and CEO of NJSBA, joined Karen Cortellino, M.D., president of NJSBA, in welcoming attendees to the virtual meeting. He thanked the Association’s Governmental Relations team; and Chanta L. Jackson, vice president for legislation/resolutions at NJSBA, for their tireless work in advocating for members.
He noted that a number of Association staff and members participated in a recent virtual forum with Matthew J. Platkin, New Jersey’s attorney general, which also included representatives from other associations.
Although there have been multiple executive orders issued by President Donald J. Trump, the message that Platkin delivered during the discussion was clear: “New Jersey should continue to abide by state law and stay the course,” Purnell said.
He noted that the Association’s general counsel, Carl Tanksley Jr.; as well as Jonathan Pushman, senior director of advocacy at NJSBA; and other NJSBA leaders remain in close contact with the state attorney general as well as members of the LEE Group, a coalition of the state’s major education organizations, about how decisions in Washington, D.C. may impact boards of education in New Jersey.
Ray Pinney, chief membership engagement officer at NJSBA, recognized the committee’s new members.
Pushman shared a high-level view of Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee will hold two public hearings to solicit input and feedback on the budget, as per below:
Assembly Budget Committee
- Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 9:30 a.m. | State House Annex: Committee Room 11, 4th Floor 145 West State St., Trenton
- Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 9:30 a.m. | State House Annex: Committee Room 11, 4th Floor 145 West State St., Trenton
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
- Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 10 a.m. | New Jersey Institute of Technology, Campus Center Atrium 150 Bleeker Street, Newark
- Thursday, April 10, 2025, 10 a.m. Remote / Online.
Members of the public may register to testify and find additional information on the Budget Public Hearings webpage.
A detailed analysis of the proposed budget as it relates to public education was recently published in School Board Notes.
The NJSBA will submit testimony on the budget, Pushman said.
Pushman echoed Purnell in noting that the NJSBA is closely monitoring developments in Washington, D.C. He urged members to “stay calm, stay the course and don’t overreact to any news from one day to the next.” He also noted that board members and school districts should consult with their board attorney as necessary regarding any executive orders, ‘Dear Colleague’ letters or other news originating from Washington.
Assemblyman Addresses a Variety of Topics
Jackson introduced Miller, who has an impressive resume.
“Assemblyman Cody Miller serves in the New Jersey General Assembly for the 4th Legislative District since 2024. He is a member of the Higher Education Committee; Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee; and Science, Innovation and Technology Committee,” Jackson said. “Assemblyman Miller is the executive director of advancement and foundation at Rowan College of South Jersey. Before his election to the Legislature, he served on the Monroe Board of Education for three years and the Monroe Township Council for four years. He was the youngest Democratic council member elected in township history at age 23.”
Miller told attendees that he knows how hard it is being a volunteer school board member, as well as the funding challenges that school districts face.
He engaged in a discussion about the school funding formula, including the challenges of navigating larger-than-expected cuts. One way to provide some relief to school districts is to offer additional incentives for regionalization or the sharing of services with other districts, he said.
Miller is a sponsor of S-3695/A-4882, which requires cell phone and social media guidelines to be developed by the New Jersey Department of Education and policy to be adopted by each school district. Cell phone policies were one of the focal points of his conversation with Legislative Committee members.
While technology has advantages, cell phone and social media use by students during instruction time has become a distraction and has impacted learning, he said. “Having a cell phone all the time is a huge problem, and we are seeking to address it,” he said.
Turning to federal funding, he said the idea of cutting special education or school meal programs is abhorrent. He urged attendees to call their U.S. senators and congressional representatives to ask them to advocate on behalf of students. New Jersey is simply not in the position to fund all the programs that could be cut, he said.
Miller also shared his personal story of how he made his way into politics in the first place, observing that he felt it was important for his legislative district to elect someone who knows the issues.
Governmental Relations Update
Joining Pushman in delivering a detailed update on recently enacted legislation as well as bills on the move were Harrison Silver, legislative advocate at NJSBA; and John Burns, senior legislative counsel.
They highlighted numerous bills that were recently enacted to become law, including:
Temporary Relief for Posting Public Notices S-3957/A-5151 (P.L.2024, c.106): Allows public bodies to continue using newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements until March 1, 2025, regardless of format.
S-4136/A-5343 (P.L.2025, c.22): Authorizes public bodies to continue using newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements until June 30, 2025, regardless of format; requires submission of certain subscription and other data.
School Board Election Petitions A-5117/S-3994 (P.L.2025, c.20): Modifies the number of signatures required for candidates to be placed on primary, general, nonpartisan municipal, and school election ballots; requires the secretary of state to publish certain nominating petition forms by Jan. 1 of each year.
Rescheduling Primary Election Day A-5152/S-3965: Reschedules June 2025 primary election date to June 10; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines.
The Governmental Relations team also addressed a number of bills that have received consideration by the Legislature since the Association’s December 2024 Legislative Committee meeting, including:
Staffing and Labor Issues
Heat Stress/Illness A-5022: Establishes “Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program” and occupational heat stress standard in the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Job Posting Requirements S-3509: Requires employers to include in job posting whether posting is for existing position and sets additional job posting requirements.
Common Applications for Educators S-2498/S-2505/A-3864: Requires the NJDOE to establish a web portal for educators and substitutes to submit common applications for employment at New Jersey public schools.
TPAF Reenrollment Changes A-1675/S-2078: Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination.
Jersey Strong Public Service Scholarship Program A-3984: Establishes Jersey Strong Public Service Scholarship Program to provide scholarships to eligible students who are employed in a public service sector experiencing critical workforce shortages.
School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program A-5075: Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000.
School Funding
SFRA Updates S-3917: Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force.
Student Health and Safety
Mental Health Referrals A-1657: Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to professional counselors.
Sunscreen Policies A-1028/S-1548: Requires districts to adopt policies concerning student use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored events.
Air Quality in Schools S-1033: Requires the DEP to study indoor air quality at public schools, develop a list of common indoor air contaminants at public schools and establish guidance regarding potential mitigation measures.
No-Fee Option for School Lunch Payments S-3961: Requires public and nonpublic schools to offer a no-fee option to parents for making school lunch and other payments; requires payment processing platforms used by these schools to provide users with information on user fees.
Mercury Floor Removal A-3019: Requires new flooring for schools and childcare centers to be certified mercury free.
School Counselor Certification A-3424: Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines the role and duties of a school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in the NJDOE.
Curriculum and Instruction
Labor Instruction A-1682/S-1054: Requires school districts to provide instruction on the labor movement as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.
Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Education S-1659: Requires school districts to incorporate age-appropriate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome and requires the installation of signage in certain women’s rooms to enhance public awareness of menstrual toxic shock syndrome.
Instruction on Cursive Handwriting S-1783/S-2712/A-3865: Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum for grades three through five.
Instruction on Compulsive Gambling S-3666: Requires school districts to provide instruction on risks of compulsive gambling as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
The above is not an exhaustive list of the legislation covered during the Legislative Committee meeting. You can refer to recent issues of School Board Notes to stay updated on legislative developments in more detail.
To view the full text of any of the bills summarized above, please visit the New Jersey Legislature’s website.
