Capitol Watch: Fall 2025
View below to see the NJSBA Capitol Watch Newsletter roundup of education-related legislation advancing in Trenton and our Association’s positions.
Scroll down to read the entire listing of education-related legislation NJSBA is monitoring this quarter; to go to a specific topic, click on the appropriate topic category button below. This quarter’s newsletter also features a recap of November’s gubernatorial and Assembly elections.
To view the full text of any of the bills summarized below, please visit the New Jersey Legislature’s website.
Board Governance and Elections
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 Passed in Assembly 79-1-0; passed in Senate 36-3; awaiting governor’s signature.
Curriculum and Instruction
New Law: S-2335/S-3096/A-3871 | Support
Summary Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
Sponsors Sen. Ruiz (D29), Sen. Stack (D33), Sen. McKnight (D31) / Asm. Marenco (D33), Asw. Pintor Marin (D29), Asw. Morales (D34), Asw. Quijano (D20)
Status Signed by the governor on Sept. 29, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.146).
Notes “The NJSBA proudly recognizes the invaluable contributions of our Hispanic community. Hispanic students, educators, administrators, staff, and community members enrich our schools with their knowledge, culture, and spirit. Many also serve as members of local boards of education, further strengthening diversity and representation in our school environments. Hispanic Heritage Month is a meaningful opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the history, traditions, and achievements that continue to shape and inspire our communities,” said Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA executive director and CEO, in a press release issued by Gov. Murphy upon signing of the bill at a Hispanic Heritage Month event.
New Law: A-1682/S-1054 | Express Concerns
Summary Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement.
Sponsors Asm. Atkins (D20), Asw. Carter (D22), Asm. Sampson (D31) / Sen. Greenstein (D14), Sen. Gopal (D11)
Status Signed by the governor on Sept. 3, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.137).
School Funding
No activity this quarter! Check back in Winter 2026.
School Security
No activity this quarter! Check back in Winter 2026.
Special Education
New Law: S-3982/A-5492 | Support
Summary Requires certain information be provided to parents at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE.
Sponsor Sen. Ruiz (D29) / Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asw. Carter (D22), Asw. Morales (D34)
Status Signed by the governor on July 22, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.107).
Notes The Working Group will include two school board members.
Staffing and Labor Issues
New Law: A-1675/S-2078 | Monitoring
Summary Extends membership in the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund 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.
Sponsors Asw. Lampitt (D6), Asw. Bagolie (D27), Asm. Stanley (D18) / Sen. Gopal (D11), Sen. Greenstein (D14)
Status Signed by the governor on Oct. 1, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.147).
A-3323/S-3713 | Monitoring
Summary Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund purposes.
Sponsors Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asm. Simonsen (R1) / Sen. Polistina (R2), Sen. Turner (D15)
Status Passed in Assembly 66-10-1; passed in Senate 31-6; awaiting governor’s signature.
Student Health and Safety
New Law: A-3424/S-1784 | Support
Summary Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE.
Sponsors Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15), Asw. Matsikoudis (R21) / Sen. McKnight (D31)
Status Signed by the governor on Aug. 21, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.133).
New Law: A-4897/S-3769 | Support
Summary Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline.
Sponsors Asw. Carter (D22), Asm. Atkins (D20), Asw. Reynolds-Jackson (D15) / Sen. Cryan (D20), Sen. Amato (R9)
Status Signed by the governor on July 22, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.112).
New Law: A-1406/S-2167 | Monitoring
Summary Requires public schools and certain nonpublic schools to comply with the most stringent school lunch and breakfast nutrition standards.
Sponsors Asw. Haider (D37), Asw. Swain (D38) / Sen. Ruiz (D29), Sen. Vitale (D19)
Status Signed by the governor on July 22, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.104).
Transportation
No activity this quarter! Check back in Winter 2026.
Miscellaneous
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 Conditionally vetoed by the governor on Oct. 20, 2025.
Notes The Task Force would include one member upon the recommendation of the NJSBA. The governor’s conditional veto statement, along with his suggested revisions, can be found here. The bill will return to the Legislature, where both the Senate and Assembly will need to concur with the governor’s recommendations before it can be returned to his desk for signature.
November 2025 Elections
The NJSBA closely followed this year’s statewide elections on Tuesday, Nov. 4. See below for more details on the major election results:
Governor
Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, won Tuesday’s election and will succeed New Jersey’s current governor, Phil Murphy (D), who is nearing the end of his second term in office and was ineligible to run again. Sherrill, currently a congresswoman from the 11th Congressional District, defeated Jack Ciattarelli (a former state assemblyman from the 16th Legislative District) in a hotly contested election.
Sherrill will assume office on Jan. 20, 2026.
Note: Prior to Election Day, both candidates sat down with Ray Pinney, NJSBA’s Chief Membership Engagement Officer, to discuss their goals for public education in New Jersey. You can view those interviews here.
New Jersey Senate
The Senate is in the middle of a four-year term, so the full 40-member body will not be up for re-election until November 2027. However, there was one special election in the 35th legislative district to complete the term of former State Senator (now Congresswoman) Nellie Pou. Following Tuesday’s election, Democrats maintain their Senate majority by a margin of 25-15.
New Jersey General Assembly
All 80 seats in the Assembly were on the ballot this year. Democrats came into Election Day holding a 52-28 seat majority and flipped several seats in addition to maintaining those they already controlled, increasing their majority.
Those elected will convene the 222nd Legislature on Jan. 13, 2026.
Lame Duck
The period commonly referred to as “lame duck” commences following Election Day. This is a busy time at the State House, especially in the final year of a governor’s administration. Legislators are typically more comfortable considering legislation during lame duck that may be deemed too controversial prior to the election.
The process for a bill becoming law will also change as we approach the end of the legislative session on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Normally, a bill becomes law when signed by the Governor, or if the Governor takes no action on a bill after 45 days (different rules apply if the Legislature is not in session on the 45th day). If a bill is passed by the Legislature and sent to the Governor between the 45th and 10th days prior to the end of a legislative session (this year, that period is Nov. 29 to Jan. 3), it becomes law unless the Governor vetoes it before noon on the day prior to the end of the session – this year, that is Monday, Jan. 12. If a bill is passed after the 10th day prior to the end of the session (this year, after Jan. 3), then it will only become law with the Governor’s signature; otherwise, the bill is “pocket vetoed.”
The NJSBA will continue to provide legislative updates through its quarterly Capitol Watch newsletter and weekly School Board Notes publication.
