Bills in the 2026–2027 Session, Senate.
Vincent J. Polistina
Sponsored
Out of committee3
Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances.
Authorizes Division of Gaming Enforcement to participate in national self-exclusion list for gaming activities, and to create necessary forms for participation.
Authorizes soil conservation districts to have more than five supervisors.
In committee76
Provides amounts remaining in inactive Internet gaming accounts will be abandoned property after three years under unclaimed property law.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to conduct study to determine extent and cause of outmigration of high school graduates to out-of-State colleges.
Establishes New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission.
Establishes "Supporting Educational and Entrepreneurial Development (S.E.E.D.) Program" in Office of Secretary of Higher Education.
Establishes pilot program to provide guidance to students applying for federal financial aid.
Establishes "New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission."
Requires preservation of employee benefits and contractual rights as condition of sale of Atlantic City International Airport.
Establishes "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" within Department of Treasury to provide funding for grants to counties to support tourism advertising and promotion.
Requires MVC to issue one license plate instead of two.
Enhances State fiscal oversight of certain school districts.
Establishes certain exceptions for emergency personnel operating personal watercraft while providing rescue services.
Establishes presumption of joint legal and physical custody in child custody matters.
Expands definition of child under PFRS and SPRS.
Authorizes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security at public and private colleges.
Creates offenses related to election officials; permits election workers to shield personal information from public.
Provides tuition-free credits to certain institutions of higher education for certain law enforcement officers and firefighters and their spouses and dependents.
Requires professional boards to issue licenses under certain circumstances to veterans with credentials in good standing from another jurisdiction.
Establishes school district grant program in DOE to reimburse public school teachers for classroom material expenditures.
Provides paid leave for employee to attend certain events of child of employee; establishes tax credits for employer that provide those leave benefits.
Requires public institutions of higher education to adopt test-optional admissions policy.
Permits appointment of Class Three special law enforcement officers by county sheriffs.
Establishes "ATV Law Enforcement Task Force" to enhance and coordinate efforts to enforce laws pertaining to ATVs.
Provides sales tax exemption for maintaining, servicing, or repairing of aircraft and sales of machinery or equipment and replacement parts installed on aircraft within aviation district.
Establishes New Jersey Grow Your Own Teacher Pilot Program.
Creates Wind and Nuclear Production Apprenticeship Grant Program.
Provides that certain sending school districts will continue to have representation on certain receiving boards of education despite decreases in enrollment numbers.
Requires cost of living increase to be granted in each of two calendar years for certain retired members and beneficiaries of PFRS; makes appropriation.
Requires temporary detention and notification to parent or guardian of underage person who unlawfully purchases or possesses alcoholic beverages or cannabis.
Increases gross income tax relief based on rent constituting property taxes for residential tenants and establishes refundable gross income tax credit in place of gross income tax deduction for residential tenants.
Exempts from "Sales and Use Tax Act" certain retail sales of computers and school supplies; allows $500 gross income tax deduction to teachers purchasing school supplies for classroom use.
Requires DOLWD to undertake study on effects of temporary employment on work force.
Establishes Elementary Home Reading Grant Program; appropriates $500,000 to DOE from federal funds.
Requires institutions of higher education to maintain supply of opioid antidotes and permits emergency administration of opioid antidote by campus medical professional or trained employee.
Prohibits State Board of Education from limiting number of certain two-year college credits that may be applied towards meeting teacher certification requirements.
Requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish guidelines regarding best practices for student financial aid offers.
Establishes "Scientific Conference Grant Program"; appropriates $250,000.
Requires grading of offenses involving manufacturing, distributing, and dispensing heroin based on dosage units in addition to weight.
Classifies xylazine as Schedule III controlled dangerous substance under certain circumstances.
Requires public employers that offer deferred compensation retirement plans to also offer Roth contribution option.
Creates behavioral health court pilot program.
Clarifies regional municipal court jurisdiction over State Police and other matters originating outside of participating municipalities.
Establishes penalties for use of unmanned aircraft in furtherance of commission of criminal offense; requires forfeiture of device upon conviction.
Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor.
Establishes Military Funeral Honors Grant Program to provide grants to certain veteran organizations that provide military funeral honors.
Concerns pretrial and post-trial considerations for certain crimes involving operation of vehicles, including rebuttable presumption for pretrial detention, pretial recommendation of no release from detention, suspension or revocation of license, and vehicle forfeiture.
Requires SJTA to suspend certain tolls on the Atlantic City Expressway in certain circumstances.
Permits certain State employees to receive unpaid and paid leave to be census enumerators.
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to consider combined income of all cosigners on application for participation in New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program.
Establishes loan redemption program and gross income tax credit for mental health professionals who serve children and adolescents.
Establishes pilot program to study feasibility of regionalization of certain school districts; appropriates $150,000.
Establishes Textbook Grant Program for State Interns.
Establishes the "School District Shared Services Task Force."
Revises tax lien foreclosure process to protect equity accrued by property owner in tax lien foreclosure.
Provides for immediate issuance of marriage and civil union licenses; provides for 72 hour waiting period prior to ceremony.
Permits board of county commissioners to establish "Sharing Resources" grant and loan program to encourage shared services and municipal consolidation.
Requires Cannabis Regulatory Commission to establish procedure for persons to voluntarily prohibit self from entering dispensary.
Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes.
Excludes tips from gross income tax.
Establishes special enrollment period for individual health plan enrollees and dependents when health care providers become out-of-network.
Allows veteran service organizations to obtain license to serve members alcoholic beverages.
Establishes registration and training program for commercial applicators of substances for snow and ice removal.
Imposes certain requirements on businesses that make automatic renewal or continuous service offers.
"Political Donation Transparency Act;" prohibits automatic enrollment in recurring political contributions and establishes penalties for violators.
Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members.
Requires all revenue generated by casino hotel parking fee to be provided to CRDA; expands permitted uses of parking fee revenues by CRDA.
Increases penalty for crime of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing certain Schedule I or II controlled dangerous substances.
Requires all revenue generated by casino hotel facility room occupancy fee to be provided to CRDA.
Extends certain provisions of CRDA Urban Revitalization Program.
Requires low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters to be insured and registered with MVC; requires MVC to develop a safety training module for registration.
Conforms statute to reflect court ruling regarding minimum age for eligibility as municipal police officer.
Restricts purchase of single-family homes by certain institutional investors.
Requires CRDA board membership to include at least three voting members who are Atlantic County residents.
Allows gross income taxpayers to claim deduction for certain losses for which federal theft loss deduction is allowed.
Expands child tax credit eligibility to resident taxpayers with children ages six to 11.
Modifies capital reserve funding requirement for associations of planned real estate developments.
Upgrades trespass in or upon casino gaming property to fourth degree crime.
Filed5
Establishes digital democracy online portal for submission of legislative proposals by public.
Requires sellers to include certain fees and surcharges in advertised price of goods and services.
Expands duty of Commission on Human Trafficking to include studying connection between human trafficking and illicit massage parlor businesses.
Expands Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program including eligible neighborhoods and annual tax credit limit.
Establishes first-time homebuyer savings program and provides gross income tax benefits for accounts established under the program.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law1
Authorizes soil conservation districts to have more than five supervisors.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 3
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program projects for FY2027.
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2027.
Appropriates $77,406,208 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects, and for certain administrative expenses.
Passed the Senate · 3
Bans unauthorized restaurant reservation arrangement by third-party reservation service.*
Requires annual report on New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program to include information on borrower delinquency and administrative wage garnishments.
Expands criminal and civil penalties for human trafficking, and expands human trafficking training requirements for law enforcement. *
Out of committee · 13
Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to beneficiary eligible for brain injury services.
Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day.
Revises penalty for underage gambling to be civil penalty; provides for all associated fines to be used for gambling addiction treatment.
Establishes "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to support "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" Cop 2 Cop telephone hotline program; appropriates $500,000.
Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign.
Provides access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters through SHBP physicians and other providers.
Increases annual limit of total tax credits certified for qualified projects under Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program.
Establishes child care contribution tax credit to employers subject to CBT or GIT for certain child care expenses for children of employees.
Permits spouses and dependents of military service members to qualify for in-State tuition in event that service member is transferred to another state.
Exempts volunteer first responder stipends from certain payroll and income taxes.
Requires food service businesses to provide written notice of major food allergens in each menu item.
Provides certain volunteer and other workers with maximum compensation benefit for workers' compensation claim regardless of outside employment.
Establishes "Fair Price Protection Act."*
In committee · 53
Eliminates supplemental realty transfer fee.
Concerns rights of juvenile defendants who elect to be tried as adults.
Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Establishes procedures and standards regarding public service privatization contracts.
Criminalizes unlawful occupancy of dwellings.
Amends felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated assault statutes to include death or bodily injury occurring during commission of auto theft.
Requires Administrative Law Judges to be enrolled in Workers Compensation Judges Part of PERS.
Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act."
Establishes mortgage assistance program for benefit of certain low- and moderate-income homeowners; appropriates $200 million.
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education tuition and fee expenses.
Establishes a gross income tax credit for attendance at New Jersey county colleges.
Provides gross income tax deduction to eligible educators and paraprofessionals for expense of classroom supplies.
Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $25,000 appropriation.
Appropriates $450,000 for Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program.
Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands.
Amends "Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act" to exclude full-time students and au pairs from definition of domestic worker and remove joint and several liability provision from law.
Requires regional representation for members of BPU.
Requires NJT to establish pilot program to support commuting needs of residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties to Atlantic City.
Establishes third degree crime of gang assault.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemptions.
Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities.
Revises law on extended employment programs for persons with disabilities.
Requires public schools to develop policy for administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and use of manual vagas nerve stimulators for students with seizure disorder on emergent basis.
Requires health insurance coverage of diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing.
Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems.
Improves management and administration of New Jersey Better Education Savings Trust program; establishes grants and additional tax incentives for New Jersey Better Education Savings and Trust account contributions; creates New Jersey Better Education Savings and Trust Advisory Council.
Increases PFRS accidental disability pension when disability is caused by weapon.
Requires public utility to charge volunteer emergency service organization residential rate.
Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy.
"Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan.
Suspends sales and use tax and societal benefits charge on electric and gas public utility bills during one year period beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026.
Exempts local utilities from certain reporting requirements.
Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard.
Requires AG to establish ballistics analysis device pilot program in certain municipalities.
Permits police officers to travel to and from and remain within police station located within 100 feet of polling place; permits Class Three special law enforcement officers to be assigned to certain polling places.
Provides for certain pediatric NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries to maintain private duty nursing hours when transitioning to Managed Long Term Services and Supports; codifies and expands appeals provisions for private duty nursing services.
Requires petition circulators and candidates to take bona fide candidacy oath; makes violation third degree crime; reinstitutes prompt pre-election reporting for independent expenditure committees; affirms court jurisdiction of campaign finance laws.
Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension.
Credits $2.35 billion to "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund"; appropriates $4.32 billion to Department of Treasury to provide funds to municipalities and counties for debt retirement and avoidance.
Makes local government business administrators eligible for membership in PERS; provides for transfer from Defined Contribution Retirement Program to PERS.
Requires certain animals used in testing to be offered for adoption; requires establishment of procedures for assessment and disposition of animals; establishes penalties for noncompliance.
Permits surviving spouse of retired member of PFRS to be enrolled in SHBP and to continue to receive pension benefit after remarriage in certain circumstances.
Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments.
Permits conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games.
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
Requires school districts to maintain supply of nasal rescue medication and oxygen for seizure emergencies; provides for training of designees to administer nasal rescue medication and oxygen when school nurse is not physically present.
Prohibits certain businesses from using dynamic, surveillance, or personalized algorithmic pricing when selling groceries to consumers.
Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000.
Clarifies that amateur sports official is independent contractor for purposes of State employment laws.
Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing and treatments to slow progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
"Public School Employees' Health Benefits Trust Act."
Makes various changes to SHBP governance and administration.