State
New Jersey State Legislation

2026–2027 Session
Rewrites incapacitation in sexual assault cases
Bill would remove the 'without prior knowledge or consent' limit from mentally incapacitated in New Jersey sexual-offense statutes, letting voluntary intoxication inform aggravated-sexual-assault prosecutions.
Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading
Colleges to train freshmen on consent annually
Lawmakers would require annual consent training for incoming undergrad students in New Jersey. The measure would apply to four-year institutions after enactment.
Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
Polling places limit law enforcement presence
The bill would restrict federal, state, and local officers and active-duty troops from standing within 100 feet of polling places or drop boxes.
Reported and Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
Schools pool health benefits bids
County offices could coordinate county-wide health-insurance bids for districts with a premium cap. The Department of Banking and Insurance must decide applications within 60 days.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee
Abandoned-property rehab pilot begins
Lawmakers would establish a temporary abandoned-property pilot ending December 1, 2031, run by the Division of Local Government Services, with DCA or CRDA acquiring designated properties.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee
Plan to create teacher residency program
Lawmakers would establish a three-stage teacher residency program with stipends of $2,000, $10,000, and $15,000 for high school seniors and staff, requiring four years of in-state teaching after completion.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
Bath salts locked-display rule for retailers
Senate bill would require bath salts to be kept locked or behind the counter. First violation would be a warning; later violations could be unlawful practices under Consumer Fraud Act.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee
Teacher Certification Reform Sparks Endorsements
State Board of Education would create new endorsements for disabilities, bilingual education, and general science, rename the deaf-endorsement, and adopt a composite-score rule for elementary candidates.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
Minors Could Get Protection Orders
Bill would create a Minor Protection Order Act for 14+ minors, allowing guardians to seek protective orders against other minors and require firearm surrender.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
AI in schools: new division, curriculum limits
Bill would create the Division of Artificial Intelligence Learning in the DOE and bar AI use for students through grade 10. It would require AI curriculum in grades 11-12.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Bidders face new 10% bid-certification rule
A bill would require low bidders at least 10% below the next-lowest bid to provide estimates and wage certifications within short deadlines on public projects.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee
Early aid notices for school districts
By the end of the first week of November, the bill would require the Commissioner of Education to issue a preliminary State aid notice to districts.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
Data centers face public reporting dashboard
Legislation would require data-center owners to file annual DEP reports and publish a public dashboard within 90 days for existing centers. Nearby residents would get annual notices.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Prevailing wage coverage expands for public works
Bill would expand prevailing wage coverage to public-work projects on leased or publicly owned sites, applying wage rules to contractors, tenants, and others; takes effect 90 days after enactment.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee
Municipal control of development fees tightened
The bill would require at least 30% of development fees to fund transportation projects within the municipality where the development occurs, with the municipality's governing body sole consent, effective immediately.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee
Bill bans cannabis use for safety workers
Lawmakers would ban recreational cannabis use for law enforcement, first responders, commercial drivers, and heavy-equipment operators under this bill.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
Judges' CPI-based salary adjustments extended
A bill would extend annual CPI-based salary adjustments for judges and justices beyond 2027, with increases capped at 2% when CPI rises.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
Mandatory early voting for May elections
May-election municipalities would be required to offer early voting, with the state reimbursing costs for up to three sites.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
Construction official joins planning boards
Lawmakers would require the municipal construction official or a designee to sit on planning, zoning, and redevelopment boards, effective immediately.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
Population-Based Basic Life Support Ambulance Mandate
A bill would require New Jersey municipalities to maintain at least one licensed Basic Life Support ambulance per 10,000 residents, effective the first day of the third month after enactment.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
Restore full school aid
Bill would require the Education Commissioner to stop the 6% increase limit for 2026–2027 and appropriate $332,570,597 from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
Move June primary date later
A bill would move the June primary to the Tuesday after the second Monday.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
Tax break for large UEZ housing communities
The bill would exempt up to $300,000 in annual purchases from sales tax for qualifying large urban enterprise zone communities and their contractors in New Jersey.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee
Local units may accept 10% higher bids
A bill would let local contracting units award contracts up to 10% above the lowest bid, with reasons in a governing resolution.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee