Several committees met at the State House over the past week and advanced a variety of bills relevant to boards of education in New Jersey. In addition to normal activity, the Legislature continues to work on the FY2027 budget, facing a June 30 deadline to pass an appropriations bill for the governor’s signature.
The New Jersey School Boards Association is monitoring all bills relevant to boards of education and will continue to post timely Legislative Updates in School Board Notes to highlight recent legislative action. For recordings of committee meetings and the most up-to-date information regarding specific legislation, please visit the New Jersey Legislature’s website.
Assembly Education Committee
The Assembly Education Committee met on Monday, June 15 and approved the following bills relevant to boards of education:
Guidance on Accommodations for Fasting Students A-2042/S-1340 would, as amended, require the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to develop and distribute guidance to public schools concerning accommodations for students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons. The bill would require the guidance to include recommendations on flexibility, differentiated instruction, and alternative educational activities for physical education classes, athletic participation, examinations, and other school activities; strategies to support students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons without adversely affecting the students’ academic standing or access to instruction aligned with the NJSLS; communication with parents or guardians; and professional development resources and best practices.
The NJSBA supports the bill as amended, which was passed by the Senate on May 28.
Seniority Service Credit for Educational Support Professionals A-2746/S-2962 would allow every educational support professional who has served in the active military of the United States and is declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be eligible for federal veterans’ benefits, to receive equivalent years of employment or seniority credit, up to four years, for that service as if the professional had been employed for the same period of time at the school district. Any military service would be credited towards this employment or seniority credit, including service that occurred before the professional’s employment as an educational support professional. Current law provides that a teaching staff member may receive up to four years of credit, in computing length of service for seniority purposes, for military service. This bill would provide a similar benefit to educational support professionals.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill, which was passed by the Senate on May 28.
SFRA Reform (Coughlin/Stanley/Reynolds-Jackson) A-3881 would modify certain provisions of the state school funding law, including requiring the Commissioner of Education to take certain action concerning preliminary state school aid notices and school district budgets, and would create the New Jersey Education Funding Portal.
The bill would require that the commissioner annually, no later than the end of the first week in December, provide each district with a preliminary state aid notice that details the minimum amount of state aid payable to the district in the succeeding school year. Additionally, within two days following the transmittal of the state budget message by the Governor, the commissioner is to notify each district of the projected statewide property value rate and the projected statewide income rate to be used in the calculation of a district’s local share in the year following the succeeding school year. The bill would also amend provisions of law governing the Educational Adequacy Report to require that the Legislature adopt a concurrent resolution to approve the report or that advises the Governor of the Legislature’s specific objections to the report, rather than deeming the report to be approved unless a concurrent resolution is adopted objecting to all or part of the report.
The bill would revise the definition of equalized valuation and district income used in a school district’s calculation of local share to provide that both measures are equal to the average of the district’s values for the most recent three years available, with certain limits on year-to-year growth in the values used to calculate those averages. Additionally, the bill would allow a school district which is proposed to experience a state school aid reduction to first submit its budget to the commissioner no later than five days following the enactment of the appropriations act for the budget year and to revise the district’s budget at any point within the first six months of the budget year.
The bill would also require NJDOE to establish a New Jersey Education Funding Portal on the department’s website to make available to school districts and members of the public the data inputs and calculations used by the department in formulating state school aid for all districts. The portal would allow individuals to adjust certain data inputs for a school district, including enrollment, equalized property values, and district income, and provide an estimate of the impact of these changes on the district’s state aid. Finally, the bill stipulates that, for the 2026-2027 school year, the statewide property value rate and the statewide income rate would be the same as the rates used in the 2025-2026 school year, and the total amount of statewide equalization aid available for the 2026-2027 school year would be equal to the sum of each school district’s allocation of equalization aid.
In testimony before the committee, the NJSBA expressed its appreciation for the intent of A-3881 to increase transparency, stability, and predictability in the school funding process. The testimony specifically noted the advanced notice of state aid figures, the switch to multi-year averages for property value and income when calculating local share, and other provisions, while also cautioning that additional amendments may be needed to ensure the bill does not inadvertently pose any negative impacts on districts’ budget planning. Additionally, the NJSBA reiterated the importance of a more holistic look at state school aid and school district budget planning.
Including Accounting in STEM A-4236 would amend existing law to designate accounting as a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) subject. The STEM definition would be updated to include accounting in reference to the following: a grant program to provide eligible teachers additional remuneration to teach STEM classes at nonpublic schools; the Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES) Program to increase participation of unrepresented students in STEM fields and develop a more diverse STEM workforce; a loan redemption program for teachers who teach STEM classes; a tuition reimbursement program for teachers of STEM subjects; and a grant program to support funding for adult apprenticeship programs in high-growth industries including STEM.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill.
Nonpublic School Nursing Services Pilot Program A-5085 would require the commissioner of education to establish, supervise, and fund a three-year non-public school nursing services pilot program in an eligible county through a county consortium. It would require NJDOE to disburse directly to the county consortium an amount equal to the nonpublic nursing services aid that would otherwise be paid to a school district for nursing services provided to students enrolled at a nonpublic school that is part of the county consortium.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill, which was passed by the Legislature in the 2024-2025 legislative session but was pocket vetoed by Gov. Murphy. Its counterpart in the Senate, S-4260, was approved by the Senate Education Committee on June 1.
Unexpended Aid for Nonpublic Programs A-5153, as amended, would require any unexpended nonpublic school nursing services aid or nonpublic school security aid refunded to the state after the completion of a school year to be used to increase the maximum amount of nonpublic school transportation costs for the following school year.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill. Its Senate counterpart, S-4366, was approved by the Senate Education Committee on June 1.
Spring Break Recommendations A-5167 would require the commissioner of education to annually recommend – but not require – the dates on which a school district would be permitted to close its schools for spring break. To assist school districts in the development of their school calendars, the commissioner would be required to inform districts of the recommended dates for spring break no later than June 30 of the prior school year.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill. Its Senate counterpart, S-170, was approved by the Senate Education Committee on June 1.
Assembly State and Local Government Committee
The Assembly State and Local Government met on Monday, June 15 and approved the following bill relevant to boards of education:
Renewable Energy Contracts A-4959, designated as the “Affordable Power Purchase Agreements Extension Act,” would amend current law regarding renewable energy power purchase agreements. Under current law, certain public entities, including boards of education, are authorized to enter into – without public advertising for bids – energy contracts for a term not to exceed 15 years. The bill would extend that maximum allowable term to 30 years.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill, which was previously approved by the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee on May 28. Its Senate counterpart, S-4162, was approved by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee on June 8.
Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee met on Thursday, June 11 and approved the following bills relevant to boards of education:
School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids S-4413, as amended, would require school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects to establish a comprehensive mental health support and partnership program for students. The purpose of the program would be to connect students, identified as requiring ongoing mental health care or having high-acuity behavioral health needs, with community-based behavioral health services via the School-Based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids (SPARK) program. The bill would create a two-year pilot program with certain school districts first being required to establish such a program, after which all districts would be required to do so. Participating districts would also be required to annually report certain information to the state, and the Commissioner of Children and Families would issue an annual report to the Governor and Legislature. (Note: Gov. Sherrill also proposed a program with the same acronym – “SPARK” – in her single-year FY2027 state budget proposal, which has not yet been finalized.)
SPARK, which would be established in the Department of Children and Families, would provide the following services for students in grades K-12: same-day psychiatric consultation, assessment, and triage support for schools; referrals and linkages to outpatient psychiatry and community-based therapists; behavioral health care navigation, coordination, and family engagement; short-term medication management, stabilization, and bridging services; school re-entry planning, psychiatric clearance, and transition coordination following behavioral health crises, hospitalizations, or emergency department visits; educational support and consultation for school personnel; and consultation and guidance for state and local school leaders to implement evidence-based student mental health policies. The bill would appropriate $44 million to administer SPARK.
Additionally, each school district, charter school, and renaissance school project would also be required to have either a designated staff member to provide school-based counseling services for students, or a formalized arrangement with a community-based mental health provider or with the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) program.
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.
Social Media Use and Advertising S-3412, as amended, would require the Social Media Research Center (to be established pursuant to other pending legislation) to research and make recommendations – in coordination with the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness within the Department of Health – regarding various aspects of youth social media behaviors.
The NJSBA supports the bill. Its Assembly counterpart, A-4013, was previously approved by the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on February 5.
Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee
The Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee met on Thursday, June 11 and approved the following bill relevant to boards of education:
Paid Leave of Absence for Reserve Members S-4264 would require public employers to provide a paid leave of absence of 90 days per calendar year for members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces while they are engaged in active duty. Current law only provides 30 days of paid leave for such public employees while engaged in active duty.
The NJSBA testified in support of the bill, while seeking an amendment that would allow local governments (including boards of education) to apply to the state for reimbursement of costs incurred due to the proposed increase in benefits. Under current law and the 30-day period of leave, boards of education are entitled to such reimbursement.
Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee
The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee met on Thursday, June 11 and approved the following bill relevant to boards of education:
New Jersey History Day S-4307, known as the “New Jersey History Day Act,” would designate December 18 of each year as “New Jersey History Day.” The bill would permit each school district to annually observe “New Jersey History Day” by designating one day or one week to celebrate the state’s history through appropriate instructional activities. The Department of Education would be required to provide guidelines and information to school districts for use in planning such activities. The bill also provides that the New Jersey Historical Commission, in consultation with the Department of Education, would develop and distribute resource materials for school districts, promote statewide participation in the celebration of “New Jersey History Day,” and provide grants to support appropriate programs and activities to observe “New Jersey History Day.”
The NJSBA supports the bill.
Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee met on Thursday, June 11 and approved the following bills relevant to boards of education:
New Jersey Kids Code Act S-3413, as amended, would be designated as the “New Jersey Kids Code Act,” would be cited as the “New Jersey Age-Appropriate Design Code,” and would require covered online service providers to implement certain measures to protect minors’ online privacy.
The NJSBA supports the bill. Its counterpart in the Assembly, A-4015, was approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Monday, June 8 and amended on the Assembly floor on Thursday, June 11. The Senate and Assembly versions of the bill are now identical.
Background Checks for Youth Sports Organizations S-4043/S-3016, as amended, would expand the criminal history record background check requirement for current or prospective employees, volunteers, and organizers of any “youth serving organization,” which is defined in the bill as a sports team, league, athletic association, any person or organization that provides private athletic lessons, or any other corporation, private or non-profit association or other organization that provides recreational, cultural, charitable, social or other activities or services for persons under 18 years of age. The term “youth serving organization” does not include public and nonpublic schools and licensed youth camps.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill.
Assembly Appropriations Committee
The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on Monday, June 8 and approved the following bill relevant to boards of education:
“Farm to School” Grant Program A-1492 would establish a $4.5 million grant program in the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to reimburse school districts for the costs of expanding local food procurement activities. The program would provide reimbursements to school districts to allow them to implement local food procurement practices to increase the types or amounts of local foods being procured for students, the meal periods during which such local foods are served to students, or the total number or type of students being offered such local foods, during either the school year or the summer months, or both. School districts would be eligible to receive program funding based upon submission of an attestation form.
The NJSBA supports the bill. Its counterpart in the Senate, S-1650, was also approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee on Monday, June 8.
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee met on Thursday, June 4 and approved the following bills relevant to boards of education:
Payments for Non-Resident Students in Renaissance Schools S-3614/A-4678 concerns the provision of payments for non-resident students who enroll at a renaissance school project. Under the bill, the school district in which a renaissance school project is located would be required to pay the per pupil amount for each student that resides in the district, but for all students enrolled in the renaissance school project that do not reside in the district in which the renaissance school project is located, the bill would require the student’s school district of residence to pay the per pupil amount to the nonprofit entity.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill, which was passed by the Assembly on March 23.
Service Dog Training for Employees S-533, as amended, would require any employer who has one or more employees serving customers or other individuals in a place of public accommodation or other public facility, or who otherwise have the ability to provide or deny access to the place or facility, to provide training to those employees regarding the right of an individual with a disability to have a guide or service dog, within 30 days of initial hire of those employees and again at least once every two years. The amended bill would also require employers who have the ability to provide or deny access to the facility to take the training. The bill provides that the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety would be required to set minimum standards for the training, make those standards available on its website, and create and make available (at no cost) on its website a recorded training that an employer may utilize to satisfy the bill’s training requirements.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill.
To view the full text of any of the bills summarized above, please visit the New Jersey Legislature’s website.
