Housing
Bills Advance to Support First-Time Homebuyers and Limit Investor Purchases – On February 5th, Bill S1756, the “First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Program,” was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The legislation would establish savings accounts for first-time homebuyers and provide state income tax benefits on contributions and earnings in accounts used toward home purchases. On a similar a trajectory, Bill S3097, the “Protection of Homeownership and Limiting Institutional Investor Acquisition Act,” seeks to restrict large investor acquisitions of single-family residences while providing incentives for first-time homebuyers to reduce upfront financial burden.
STAY NJ Property Tax Relief Payments Begin Arriving This Week – On February 9th, the New Jersey Division of Taxation began mailing the first quarterly Stay NJ benefit payments to eligible seniors and disabled homeowners who filed the application. The program’s objective is to help seniors to remain in their homes, rather than move out of state. The average installment payment will be $639, and an estimated 438,000 homeowners have been approved for the benefit so far.
Education
Bill to Require Private Schools and Colleges to Pay for Students in Tax-Exempt Housing – On February 5th, Senator Shirley Turner introduced Bill S3357, reintroducing legislation that would require nonpublic secondary schools and independent institutions of higher education to make payments to school districts for educational costs of students residing in tax-exempt housing upon adoption of resolution by municipal governing body. Under the bill, the adopted resolutions by governing bodies would trigger the payment requirement, with the amount equaling the district’s per pupil general fund local levy amount for the budget year. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Education Committee and is a carryover from the previous session’s bill S1539.
Bill Introduced to Create Grant Program for Teacher School Supplies – In January, Bill A106/S2014 was reintroduced into session and referred to the Assembly Education Committee, which would establish a school district grant program in the Department of Education to reimburse public school teachers for classroom material expenditures. The DOE would annually provide $250 for each full-time teacher employed by the district, and eligible teachers must submit receipts for the purchase of classroom supplies.
Transportation
Federal Judge Blocks Gateway Tunnel Funding Freeze – On February 6th, federal Judge Jeannette A. Vargas in New York issued a temporary restraining order barring the Trump administration from withholding $16 billion in federal funding for the Gateway tunnel project. The ruling came after New Jersey and New York filed separate lawsuits on February 4th arguing that the September 2025 funding freeze was illegal. The lawsuit by the states is set to continue while the temporary restraining order is in place. Acting New Jersey Attorney General Jen Davenport stated that the order should ensure construction continues the multibillion-dollar project, which, according to the Gateway Commission, has already spent nearly $2 billion of its planned budget.
Public Administration
Gov. Sherrill’s Attorney General and Treasurer Picks Clear Senate Committee – On February 3rd, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced Jennifer Davenport’s nomination as Attorney General, while the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee cleared Aaron Binder’s nomination as State Treasurer, marking the first of Governor Mikie Sherrill’s cabinet nominees to pass committee review. Both nominations received bipartisan praise and are expected to advance to full Senate votes as early as February 23rd.
Lawmaker Pushes for Multi-Year Budget and Revenue Forecasting – On February 2nd, newly elected Assemblyman Andrew Macurdy (D-21) announced his first bill, the “Long-Term Budget Outlook Act,” which would require New Jersey to publicly analyze its budget trajectory beyond the next fiscal year for the first time. The legislation would require that the State Treasurer submit forecasts of revenues and expenditures for the subsequent three fiscal years to help detect potential risks in advance. The bill is intended to be introduced this month.