The Legislative Committee of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) convened on May 31, 2025, for a comprehensive meeting that addressed critical educational legislation, budget negotiations, and emerging challenges facing school districts. The meeting highlighted the ongoing efforts of the NJSBA’s governmental relations and advocacy team.
Dr. Timothy Purnell opened the meeting, extending thanks to Jonathan Pushman and his team for their work. He also acknowledged Ray Pinney and Charlie Muller, and introduced Barry Walker, NJSBA vice president for county activities, who was sitting in for NJSBA President Tammeisha D. Smith.
Jonathan Pushman, senior director of advocacy, underscored his team’s dedication, recognizing John Burns, Harrison Silver, and Anette Airey. He also announced the approval of next year’s Legislative Committee meeting dates, with September and May sessions planned in-person, and December and March meetings as virtual events, leveraging online meeting platforms for higher-profile guest speakers and adding convenience for participants.
A significant portion of the meeting featured Dan Harris, former Woodbridge Board of Education member and current Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. Harris, who recently joined the Woodbridge Town Council, offered valuable insights from his 12 years on the Board of Education and 17 years in the legislature. He highlighted several key legislative accomplishments, including the school construction bill aimed at streamlining the Schools Development Authority (SDA) and the Department of Education (DOE) processes. This bill, currently navigating regulatory procedures, seeks to enhance the efficiency of school construction projects and establish new financing mechanisms for school infrastructure improvements.
Harris also discussed provisions in the law concerning PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreements, a recurring issue of discussion at recent Legislative Committee meetings. He explained how the law empowers districts and municipalities to partner with each other to finance facility projects with PILOT revenues and minimize the tax impact. Provisions were also included to allow school districts to reject contractors with a history of poor performance in other districts.
Other legislative achievements mentioned by Harris included the school bracketing law for re-election, allowing candidates to run under a slogan while still permitting voters to split tickets, and efforts to address food security by raising eligibility for free and reduced-price lunches. He emphasized the importance of business administrators and building-level school officials promoting applications to ensure eligible students receive benefits, noting that approximately 80% of eligible children are still not receiving free or reduced-price lunches.
The discussion shifted to the upcoming state budget, with Harris noting Speaker Coughlin’s comments on the “trickier-than-usual” negotiations due to a small structural deficit. While revenue is projected to be stronger for next year, spending cuts are anticipated. He also addressed that under proposed budget language, districts may be able to utilize the new Tax Levy Incentive Aid program to exceed the 2% tax levy cap and spend to adequacy to provide a thorough and efficient education. This program would offer a one-time exception for districts that are both “under adequacy” (meaning they aren’t spending enough to meet state standards) and “under their calculated local fair share” of funding. A key concern raised was the misalignment between the state budget process and the school district budget calendar, which is further exacerbated due to occasional surprises in state aid numbers for some districts. Harris acknowledged the ongoing conversation about re-evaluating the state funding formula to provide greater transparency and predictability, particularly for districts experiencing significant aid changes.
Beyond the budget, legislative priorities include potential cell phone bans in schools, mandated full-day kindergarten, and community solar initiatives to address rising electricity costs. While a bill restricting student cell phone usage is currently advancing, the legislature is re-evaluating it, making the timeline of its final passage unclear at this time. Harris also mentioned efforts to encourage 12-month school employees to work four-day weeks in the summer to save on utilities, and to consider work-from-home policies.
Other legislative initiatives discussed included pending bill A1675, aiming to maintain previous pension tier status for teachers returning to the workforce after taking extended leaves of absence, many of whom do so to raise a family. He also highlighted a 2024 law requiring an evaluation of recent laws that have shifted the deadline for the completion of annual school audits.
The member comments section sparked further discussion on PILOTs, the importance of completing free lunch applications, and the impact of mandates on schools.
Harrison Silver, Legislative Advocate for the NJSBA, provided an update on legislative activity, including the “Capitol Watch” newsletter and new laws. He highlighted A1028, a new law allowing students to self-administer sunscreen without a doctor’s note. Noteworthy bill movements included A5469, which limits the information required for FAFSA waivers and is currently on the Governor’s desk, and S3910, the Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act. NJSBA cited its support for the latter’s unmandated, incentive-based approach towards achieving universal preschool, but has expressed some concerns about the potentially unfunded mandate for free, full-day kindergarten.
Other bills tracked by the NJSBA include S3905, establishing a statewide database for legal notices to address the ongoing issue of how local governing bodies will be able to comply with public notice requirements as print editions of newspaper continue to decline. NJSBA staff noted that while supportive of this bill, its preferred solution would be to allow boards of education to post notices on their own public websites. Staff also described a bill requiring cost-benefit analyses for PILOTs, and legislation addressing staffing and labor issues, including the previously mentioned measure regarding TPAF reenrollment. Discussions also covered extending the pause on Student Growth Objectives, a school supervisor mentorship pilot program, cell phone and social media usage guidelines, a social media public awareness campaign, and requirements for eating disorder training and services.
In special education, discussions centered on S3447, a Special Education Transportation Task Force, and A5492, which proposes changes to IEP meeting processes, including requiring schools to provide parents with specific information two days prior to the meeting.
Looking ahead, charter school reform may be on the horizon, with Senator Gopal expected to introduce legislation after holding a public hearing on the issue last December. The NJSBA is advocating for greater transparency and to strengthen the training it provides to charter school trustees.
The meeting wrapped up with Dr. Purnell thanking all presenters for the “rich conversation,” emphasizing the NJSBA’s dedication to advocating for policies that benefit New Jersey’s public schools and students.
