Bills in the 2026–2027 Session, General Assembly.
Gabriel Rodriguez
Sponsored
Became law1
Modifies eligibility for alternative business calculation adjustment allowed under gross income tax.
Out of committee3
Requires DHS to establish system to ensure distribution of funds for certain support services for General Assistance beneficiaries ceases upon beneficiary's exit from support service.
Establishes EMT Workforce Development Partnership in DOH.*
Concerns temporary use of funding for open space, recreation, floodplain protection, farmland and historic preservation for certain municipalities.
In committee47
"Palisades Cliffs Protection and Planning Act"; concerns preservation of Palisades cliffs and creates Palisades Cliffs Preservation Council.
Establishes "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" for certain defendants.
Allows person on police officer or firefighter eligible list who is unable to complete requirements for employment due to certain military service to have name placed on subsequent eligible list.
Allows certain senior citizens to apply for rent increase limit.
Requires New Jersey Law Revision Commission to identify statutes containing racially discriminatory language.
"HOPE Initiative Act"; requires establishment of public awareness campaign to educate citizens about dangers and causes of, and appropriate responses to, heroin and opioid addiction.
Prohibits certain employment actions against employees affected by a declared state of emergency.
Imposes $0.25 surcharge on alcoholic beverages to be dedicated to Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund.
Requires certain local government community benefit agreements dedicate resources for affordable housing purposes.
Directs Commission on Human Trafficking to meet and compile report related to prevention of human trafficking during 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Limits home improvement contractor from entering into contract with full indemnification provision.
Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for hospitalizations resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 without imposing cost-sharing requirements.
Extends early voting period for primary elections and May municipal elections.
Allows voter to vote in any political party primary by changing party affiliation at polling place on primary election day; allows mail-in voter to complete any political party primary ballot.
Requires governing boards of public institutions of higher education to adopt tuition and fee schedules for ensuing academic year during Spring semester after issuance of Governor's recommended budget.
Provides for filing extension and alternate medical documentation in PFRS, SPRS, or PERS for accidental disability retirement in certain circumstances; extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees.
Establishes Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council in DOH; requires council to create report on human trafficking and 2026 FIFA World Cup; appropriates $1 million.
Codifies and expands "rescue doctrine" to permit recovery of damages by certain rescuers.
Establishes affirmative defense to prosecution for any crime committed by victim of human trafficking under certain circumstances.
Enhances access to public health emergency supplies and services.
Upgrades to third degree crime for cyber-harassment of public servant or family member of public servant; establishes Office of Cyber-Harassment Support in DLPS; appropriates funds.
Requires transportation network companies to share information concerning sexual misconduct investigation of driver; authorizes transportation network company to ban drivers from accessing digital network during and following investigation.
Requires defibrillators in certain multiple dwellings; establishes Affordable Housing Defibrillator Fund.
Permits certain local units and authorities to reduce water, sewer, and stormwater fees and other charges for low-income persons.
Requires public safety risk assessment to include additional consideration for firearms as public safety risk.
Establishes penalty for withholding identification to hinder apprehension or prosecution.
Requires chief law enforcement officer of municipal police departments to hold two community roundtables on police relations each year.
Increases certain penalties for leaving scene of motor vehicle accident resulting in death or injury.
Codifies and enhances use of breach of implied warranty of habitability as defense to certain eviction actions.
Requires municipal clerk to post municipal documents online.
Requires certain residential buildings to have fire barriers in common attic areas.
Restricts certain billing practices for early intervention program services.
Permits municipalities to place lien on fire-damaged property's insurance proceeds in certain instances and requires fire and explosion insurance coverage for certain individuals.
Establishes fire safety standards and protocols for certain light frame residential construction; requires placards identifying primary structural systems of buildings.
Prohibits sale of certain lithium-ion devices; establishes restrictions on sale, lease, or rental of certain bicycles and scooters; creates fire risk awareness campaigns.
Requires county prosecutor to initiate municipal, county, and higher education law enforcement internal affairs investigations.
Expands list of animals prohibited from use in traveling animal acts; limits certain exceptions to apply only at educational institutions.
Allows political subdivisions of State to purchase unused sick leave from officer or employee under certain circumstances; prohibits authorizing special emergency appropriations for unused sick leave purchases.
Directs Dept. of Agriculture to consult with US Dept. of Agriculture to determine methods and implementation of geese control.
Requires removal of double utility poles upon notification by electric public utilities.
Requires circulator of recall petition to take oath by affidavit before officer duly qualified to administer oath.
Establishes mortgage assistance program for benefit of certain low- and moderate-income homeowners; appropriates $200 million.
Prohibits public utilities from discontinuing residential electric, gas, water, and sewer service during coronavirus 2019 state of emergency; requires those utilities to implement deferred payment agreements for those services.
Prohibits hospital from billing patient for facility fee for services rendered to patient at outpatient facility affiliated with hospital.
Permits payment of unused sick leave earned by certain local government officers and employees under certain circumstances.
The "Safeguarding Livable Units through Municipal Landlord Oversight and Regulation by DCA" or "SLUMLORD Act"; strengthens habitability protections for residential tenants; appropriates $5 million.
Establishes certain manufacturing requirements and penalties concerning wearable recording devices.
Carried from the Senate
Vetoed1
Concerns temporary use of funding for open space, recreation, floodplain protection, farmland and historic preservation for certain municipalities.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 5
Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey." **
Establishes "Privacy Protection Act"; concerns collection and sharing of certain personal information.
Codifies AG directive, "Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities."
Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract.
Permits extension of early voting period for regular municipal elections in May.
Passed the General Assembly · 11
Requires inspection for pest infestation prior to certain demolitions.*
Modifies collective statewide transfer agreement and reverse transfer agreement; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within Office of Secretary of Higher Education.
Requires AG to review Statewide policy regarding investigation of human trafficking.
Upgrades penalties for certain prostitution crimes; creates crimes of leader of prostitution network and participant in prostitution network.
Broadens public awareness signage to include notices in Chinese and Korean.
Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments.
Requires child abuse reporting hotline maintained by DCPP to provide information on resources available to victims and families.
Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO.
Revises "Homelessness Prevention Program"; requires new charge for filing of eviction action.
Imposes various taxes and fees on correctional service businesses to offset social costs of incarceration.*
Increases scope of practice for licensed practical nurses and patient care technicians under certain circumstances.
Out of committee · 15
Requires municipalities to provide basic life support services; establishes basic life support services as essential.
Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening. *
Requires new flooring for schools, community centers, and child care centers to be certified mercury-free.
Requires law enforcement officer to reveal facial identity during certain public interactions and to present sufficient identification prior to arresting or detaining person.
Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury to develop and implement programs to increase utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State.
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.
The "Certified Medication Aide in Nursing Homes Staffing Support Act;" authorizes certified medication aides to administer medications to nursing home residents.
Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing reproductive health care services; establishes right of residents to reproductive health care activity that is restricted in other states.*
Requires Chief Diversity Officer in Department of Treasury and other State officers to conduct certain outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for minority and women-owned businesses.
"Polluters Pay to Make New Jersey More Affordable Act"; imposes cost recovery payments on certain fossil fuel companies for funds needed for climate change adaptation; establishes program in DEP to collect and oversee distribution of funds.**
"Immigrant Tenant Protection Act"; provides certain protections to residential tenants and codifies certain warranty of habitability protections.
Prohibits advertising generative artificial intelligence as able to practice regulated profession or occupation.
Establishes "New Jersey Holistic Representation Model" in Office of Public Defender.
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2027.
Requires return of unexpended balances from certain FY2023, FY2024, and FY2025 appropriations to Hudson County; authorizes supplemental appropriation to Hudson County for general operating aid.
In committee · 122
Extends protected tenancy period for certain tenants who are senior citizens and certain tenants with disabilities.
Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry.
Replaces certain fixed interest rate award in eminent domain cases with interest rate based on just compensation awards.
Requires local recreation departments, youth serving organizations, and youth camps to have defibrillators for youth athletic events.
Permits certain students not enrolled in public schools to participate in interscholastic athletics.
Transfers Division of Food and Nutrition from Department of Agriculture to DHS; appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes.
"Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Requires Commissioner of Health to establish maternity care public awareness campaign.
Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000.
Requires certain insurance carriers to include firearm liability insurance as policy option.
Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads.
Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy.
Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members.
Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day.
Prohibits BPU from approving electric public utility rate increase without full rate review.
Requires Office of Information Technology to establish centralized, one-stop website resource guide to assist persons in navigating the State's mental health and substance use disorder service systems.
Requires DHS to take action to raise public awareness of privacy laws that prevent disclosure of health care enrollment information to immigration authorities.
Extends child care subsidies to families earning up to 300 percent of federal poverty level; appropriates funds.
Concerns AG guidelines on bias incident investigation standards.
Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act."
Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property taxes paid to veteran.
Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."
Criminalizes certain actions of individuals who offer rental of residential property that they do not own or legally possess.
Authorizes State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct disparity study concerning utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State procurement process.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas.
Establishes Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as principal department in Executive Branch and specifies functions, powers, and duties of department.
Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems.
Establishes Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007.
Prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing mask or disguise while interacting with public.
Establishes confidentiality of landlord-tenant court records; addresses adverse actions on rental applications.
Requires electric, gas, and water public utilities to disseminate outage information to customers through autodialed telephone call, text message, and electronic mail alert service.
Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees.
Requires Homelessness Prevention Program agencies to remain open during public health emergency and provides for funding of each agency.
Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release.
Makes various changes to SHBP plan offerings and governance.
Permits 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in elections for local school board.
Requires DOH to establish maternity care evaluation protocols.
Establishes "Security Deposit Assistance Pilot Program" in Passaic, Union, Essex, Hudson, Gloucester, Atlantic, Camden, and Mercer counties; appropriates $400,000.
Requires ingredients of menstrual products to be listed on package.
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 occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD.
Establishes "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act."
Permits service credit in Prosecutors Part of PERS for judicial clerk service; increases salary of Presiding Judge of Appellate Division and county prosecutor; permits retired judges to collect pension while serving as county prosecutor.
Establishes "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program"; appropriates $95,000.
Requires water supplier to notify affected municipalities, school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and institutions of higher education of violations of drinking water quality standards.
Establishes NJT Office of Customer Advocate and Rider Advocacy Commission.
Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act."
Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions.
Establishes EMS part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency medical services employees.
Requires helmet while operating bicycle, scooter, or motorized scooter.
Modernizes responsibilities of New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
Expands duties of Commission on Human Trafficking to prevent human trafficking in women and children of color.
Requires public institutions of higher education to provide menstrual products in all campus buildings; appropriates $85,000 from General Fund to Office of Secretary of Higher Education.
Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students.
Requires certain libraries to provide free menstrual hygiene products and requires State to pay costs.
Clarifies consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in a sexual manner does not include or imply consent to disclosure of image.
Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions.
Permits spouses and dependents of military service members to qualify for in-State tuition in event that service member is transferred to another state.
Mandates certain child care centers to retain audio-visual recordings for 180 days and requires review of such recordings before recordings can be deleted.
"New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million.
Concerns carbon monoxide detectors in certain multiple dwellings and certain hotels.
"Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act."
Vacant Storefront Registry Program; establishes public database of vacant commercial space for small businesses.
Creates advisory council to oversee revision of core curriculum content standards.
Allows social worker to acquire four hours of continuing education credit for volunteering as poll worker.
Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons.
Establishes "Substance Use Disorder and Addiction Treatment Best Practices Task Force."
Provides free telecommunication services for incarcerated persons at State, county, and private adult and juvenile correctional facilities.
Requires Secretary of Higher Education and public institutions of higher education to develop programs for improving Hispanic and Latino representation in higher education leadership positions.
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.
Expands definition of landlords required to provide receipt for rent cash payment made by tenant.
Establishes "Menstrual Hygiene Products Program," appropriates $200,000.
Requires school district to notify registered apprenticeship programs of upcoming college or career fair.
Establishes Military Suicide Prevention Task Force.
Establishes Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program.
Requires certain consumer disclosures relating to rabies testing and establishes optional training for veterinarians.
"Mental Health Access Act;" increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services.
Provides that crime of official misconduct involving disclosure of domestic violence or sexual assault victim's personal information is second degree crime.
Specifies that emergency, transitional, and permanent housing for victim of domestic violence would be funded by "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund."
Requires MVC to provide certain services at each MVC agency location and to make available certain informational brochures.
Establishes weatherization and energy efficiency pilot program to address open cockloft space between certain buildings; appropriates $30 million.
Requires local boards of education to employ at least one school social worker per school.
Requires counseling for certain domestic violence offenders.
Establishes Task Force on Child Care Deserts in New Jersey.
Requires racial and gender diversity in membership of certain boards of directors.
Requires racial and gender diversity in membership to be considered for appointments to certain boards and commissions established by statute.
Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events.
Establishes Department of Early Childhood.
Requires each State cabinet level department to establish office dedicated to language and disability access.
Establishes "Guaranteed Rental Payment Pilot Program" for certain low-income tenants; appropriates $10,000,000.
Establishes program in DOH for health care provider evaluation and response for patients who are victims of domestic violence.
Concerns outreach and training for minorities and women in the construction industry.
Establishes teacher recruitment grant program in DOE; appropriates $6 million to DOE.
"New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act"; establishes certain requirements and penalties regarding firearm storage; repeals law governing minor's access to firearm; requires AG to establish public awareness campaign regarding firearm storage; appropriates $500,000.
Requires mail-in ballot applications to include prepaid postage.
Allows gross income tax deduction of up to $1,200 for purchases of school supplies by parents and guardians.
Establishes presumption of pretrial detention for certain vehicular offenses.
Creates first degree crime of home invasion, makes crime subject to No Early Release Act, and upgrades burglary of residence to second degree crime under certain circumstances.
Requires swimming pools to offer deep water swimming tests to children 12 years of age and younger upon request.
Establishes five-year conception to cradle pilot program in DOE.
Requires rental car company to provide notice to renter to delete personal information from motor vehicle computer system upon return of vehicle.
Requires DHS and DOH, respectively, to provide information to SNAP, WFNJ, and WIC recipients regarding card skimming, cloning, and similar fraudulent activities and to replace stolen benefits; makes appropriation.
Requires licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care to offer and screen, upon request, pregnant patients with history of depression for postpartum depression.
Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing.
Removes requirement that local units may only provide broadband telecommunication service via wireless community service network.
Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for purchase of certain hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Requires juveniles to appear before court in county where alleged delinquency complaint occurred.
Concerns keyless locking mechanisms and burglar's tools.
Restricts use of certain artificial intelligence generated communications in election campaigns.
Establishes "Fair Pricing and Transparency Act."
"Behavioral Health Crisis Mobile Response Act."
Requires county and municipal clerks to publish unofficial list of all persons who filed nominating petitions for primary election within five hours of deadline to file nominating petitions.
Establishes municipal election mobile voting pilot program.
Expands child tax credit eligibility to resident taxpayers with children ages six to 11.
"Public School Employees' Health Benefits Trust Act."
Makes various changes to SHBP governance and administration.
Requires DCF to develop child welfare emergency response plan for DCPP caseworkers.
Requires schools to serve free breakfast to all students in public schools.