NJ State Policy Updates

Public Administration Gov. Sherrill Signs Off on FY2027 Budget – On June 30th, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the fiscal year 2027 budget into law, marking it the largest budget in state history with nearly $61 billion earmarked in funding. Total appropriations are $60.7 billion, 3.7% higher than FY2026’s budget, with $7.3 billion in spending reserved […]

Public Administration Senate and Assembly Budget Committees Approve $60.7B Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 – On June 29th, several outlets reported that the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Budget Committees approved a $60.7 billion annual spending bill and additionally advanced hundreds of millions of dollars in additional spending for legislators’ priorities in a separate bill […]

Health Bill Advances to Add Vitamin B9 to Corn Masa Products – On June 15, Bill A5119 unanimously passed the bipartisan Assembly Agriculture Committee with amendments. The “Fortifying Corn Masa Act” would require manufacturers to add folic acid, otherwise known as folate or vitamin B9, to corn masa flour to increase the beneficial nutrients. Folate, which […]

Health Bill Introduced to Strengthen Pediatric Psychiatric Care – New Jersey Assembly Bill A5236, sponsored by Andrea Katz (D-8), Linda S. Carter (D-22), and James J. Kennedy (D-22), aims to strengthen pediatric psychiatric care and behavioral health care to children and their families who are served by the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (NJPCC). Introduced on […]

Education Senate Advances Therapy Dog Pilot Program Bill – On May 28th, the New Jersey Senate unanimously passed Bill S-3453, sponsored by Senators James Beach and Anthony M. Bucco, which aims to establish a three-year pilot program within the Department of Education to evaluate the academic and health benefits of therapy dogs in public elementary […]

Transportation Bill Introduced to Publish Monthly NJ Transit Performance Data – On May 28th Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40) introduced Bill S4344 that would require NJ Transit to make publicly available information on its website information pertaining to delays, cancellations, and on-time performance. Under this legislation, the New Jersey Transit Corporation would be obligated to publish the […]

Digital/Tech AI Image Disclosure Bill Introduced to Add Labels to Online AI Generated Content – On May 14th, Assemblyman Andrew Macurdy (D-21) introduced Bill A5089, which requires makers of publicly accessible GenAI software within New Jersey to include a label on AI-generated content. Under the bill, AI-generated content must contain easily accessible information on the […]

Economics Assembly Lawmakers Advance Bill Allowing Alcohol Sales at Movie Theaters – On May 14th, the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee advanced Bill A4666 that would allow qualifying for-profit movie theaters in New Jersey to obtain special liquor licenses and sell alcoholic beverages during movie screenings. The bill would establish a new license […]

Economics Governor Sherril Signs Law Banning Restaurant Reservation Scalping – On May 7th, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation (A3318/SCS for S1193 and 1197) banning the practice of “restaurant reservation scalping,” a policy aimed at protecting both consumers and small businesses ahead of major tourism events such as the FIFA World Cup. The law (P.L.2026, c.12.) […]

Education Bill to Improve Access to School Meal Assistance Programs Advances – On March 23rd, the date of the most recent legislative digest, the New Jersey General Assembly approved Bill A3882 by a unanimous 73-0 vote. Sponsored by Assemblymembers Craig Coughlin (D-19), Annette Quijano (D-20) and Dan Hutchison (D-4), the bill would require public schools […]

Economics Legislature Advances Five Bills to Regulate AI Data Centers – New Jersey state lawmakers are advancing bills to limit the data center industry’s impact on ratepayers, the grid, and the environment. First, Bill S731/A796, approved by the Assembly, would mainly require large data centers using 100 megawatts or more to pay for at least […]

Education NJ’s School Funding Formula Faces Scrutiny at Budget Hearing – On April 15th, Education Commissioner Lily Laux testified before the Assembly Budget Committee in defense the proposed $22.5 billion education budget, which includes a record $12.4 billion in school aid. Commissioner Laux acknowledged that the funding formula, nearly 20 years old, was groundbreaking when […]