In his final act as New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy signed over 120 bills into law on January 20, 2026, just hours before Governor Sherrill was sworn in. In addition to the new laws from last week’s article, the following bills that impact public education in NJ also became law.
P.L.2025, c.278 Curriculum Mandate on Dangers of Illicit Opioid Substances, (A-3909) – Takes effect in the first full school year following the State Board’s update of these learning standards.
This bill, the “Illicit Opioid Supply Substances Poisoning Awareness Act,” requires school districts to provide instruction to students in grades 6-12 on the dangers of substances that are most prevalent or emerging in the illicit opioid supply in New Jersey. This instruction will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Health and Physical Education curriculum. The instruction must include prevention, poisoning awareness, the dangers of synthetic opioidsand counterfeit drugs, the symptomsand treatment of opioid poisoning, and immunity laws for naloxone and other opioid antidotes. The Commissioner of Education shall provide existing age-appropriate resources compiled by the Commissioner of Health to assist local districts. The legislation also requires school districts to provide age-appropriate information on where to access opioid antidotes, including naloxone, on school premises and in the community as determined by the district. The NJDOE is also required to post and maintain instructional, safety, resource organizations, preventative mental health resources, and other information on its website. The State Board of Education must review and update the NJ Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education to include this instruction. The effective date of this requirement is linked to the next regularly scheduled update to the Health and Physical Education standards. The curriculum requirement will be implemented NJPSA was able to obtain a number of notable amendments to this legislation over the time it traversed the Legislature. This law will come into full effect in the first full school year after the Health and Phys. Ed. standards are next updated.
P.L.2025, c.370 Health Care Benefits for Disabled Public Employees, TPAF and PERS (A-5118) – Takes effect immediately
This bill ensures that members of TPAF and PERS who become disabled and receive disability insurance (rather than a disability pension) are also entitled to free State-provided health benefits. It would apply to employees hired after 2010 who are not eligible for disability retirement and instead receive a State-purchased disability insurance benefit equal to 60% of salary. The bill guarantees that these disabled members receive health coverage through the State or School Employees’ Health Benefits Programs with no premium contributions, no enrollment deadlines, and no additional eligibility requirements. The bill also preserves pension service credit during disability, allows limited return-to-work, creates an appeals process, and takes effect immediately. NJPSA supported this bill.
P.L.2025, c.281 Expanded definition of Child Abuse/Neglect (S-3751) – takes effect February 1, 2027
This bill revises the definition of child abuse or neglect to include persons between 18 and 21 years of age in certain settings. Specifically, the bill amends the definition of “child” in section 1 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.21) to mean any (1) person less than 18 years of age alleged to have been abused or neglected, or (2) any person less than 21 years of age alleged to have been abused or neglected, or subject to exploitation by a teacher, employee, contractor, or volunteer, whether compensated or uncompensated, of an institution responsible for the care or supervision of that person, as regulated by the Department of Children and Families (department), including employees of day schools. The bill also amends the definition of “abused or neglected child” in section 1 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.21), so that the term will also apply to persons between 18 and 21 years of age.
P.L.2025, c.301 Special Education Transportation Task Force (S-3447) – takes effect immediately
NJPSA supports this legislation to establish the Special Education Task Force whose mission is to review and develop recommendations for best practices in the transportation of students with disabilities. This review must include issues of identifying concerns, developing strong protocols in emergency situations and working to prevent safety issues. NJPSA will have a member on the Task Force.
P.L.2025, c.317 Retired STEM Teachers in NonPublic Schools, (S-4678) – takes effect July 1, 2026
This bill expands New Jersey’s existing STEM teacher grant program so that retired public school teachers and county college STEM faculty can also be paid to teach STEM subjects in nonpublic (private/parochial) schools. The bill adds two new categories of eligible instructors: Eligible retired teachers and Former NJ public school teachers.These individuals join currently employed public school teachers, who were already eligible under existing law. NJPSA supports this legislation.
P.L.2025, c.341 Water Quality Notifications (A-1400) – takes effect immediately
Requires the owner or operator of a public water system to immediately notify certain local government and educational entities when the water system incurs a Tier 2 drinking water violation under federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
Notification requirements under the new law align with federal law by limiting mandatory notice to violations that trigger a Tier 2 Public Notice under EPA drinking water regulations, rather than all water quality standard violations. Coverage extends to all educational institutions served by the system, not only those physically located within a municipality.
Bills that were on the Governor’s desk at the end of the session, but were not signed into law are considered “pocket vetoed”. These bills are now “dead”. If the sponsor desires, he or she may reintroduce the bill in this new legislative session, but the bill would start the process over from the beginning.
Pocket Veto – Nonpublic School Nursing Pilot Program (A-6149)
This bill would have created a three-year pilot program for the provision of nursing services, through a county consortium, to nonpublic school students. The Commissioner of Education would be directed to establish, supervise and fund this pilot program. During the pilot program, the Commissioner would directly disburse nursing services aid to the consortium, not via the current system of having these funds flow through local school districts. The program would be fully audited and a final report issued to the Governor and Legislature.
New Jersey has a New Governor!
Mikie Sherrill was sworn in as the 57th Governor of New Jersey on January 20, 2026, in Newark, NJ. A Democrat and former Congresswoman, she is the second woman to hold the office. Her administration immediately focused on lowering energy costs, improving NJ Transit, enhancing school safety, and increasing government accountability. On her first day of work, Governor Sherrill signed six executive orders.
Executive Order No. 1 uses state authority to offset upcoming rate increases due to the regional grid operator PJM’s mismanagement and hold utilities accountable for keeping rates from continuing to climb at an unsustainable rate.
Executive Order No. 2 declares a State of Emergency under the Disaster Control Act and creates and expands multiple, expedited state programs to develop massive amounts of new power generation in New Jersey, because more power means lower costs – and we must move quickly as the federal government cuts support for energy production. It also tackles permitting challenges at the state level and interconnection delays at the utility level that hold up projects and drive up costs.
Executive Order No. 3 establishes the ethical standards to be followed by public employees and officers serving in the Sherrill administration, creating a culture of accountability and strengthening trust in state government.
Executive Order No. 4 establishes the Office of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) within the Office of the Governor – a position designed to drive efficiency, transparency, and accountability across state government. The order outlines key roles and responsibilities of the COO, as well as the structure of the Office and how state agencies will interact with the Office of the COO. Previously, Governor Sherrill announced that Kellie Doucette would be New Jersey’s first COO.
Executive Order No. 5 takes action to reduce permitting delays and costs, boost accountability in the permitting and regulatory process, and expand transparency into how taxpayer dollars are spent.
Executive Order No. 6 takes action to protect kids online and improve children’s mental health. It creates a new office within the Department of Health to coordinate whole-of-government efforts to keep kids safe online and directs all state agencies with jurisdiction over issues pertaining to children and their interaction with technology platforms to prioritize children’s mental health outcomes.
Sherrill announced Lily Laux as her nominee to be the next Commissioner of Education. Laux has nearly two decades of experience as an educator, in nonprofit work, and leading statewide education departments, including serving as the Deputy Commissioner for the Texas Education Agency. Alongside Gov.-elect Sherrill and Lt. Gov.-elect Caldwell, Laux will help improve literacy outcomes, expand access to pre-K, increase mental health resources, modernize and stabilize the school funding formula, and invest in high-impact tutoring so every child has the opportunity to succeed.
NJPSA extends our deepest gratitude to Kevin Dehmer for his partnership, dedication, and service to NJ and looks forward to working with the new Commissioner. Moving forward together for New Jersey’s 1.4 million students!
For additional information about new laws, current legislation or the new incoming Administration, please contact the NJPSA Government Relations Team, Debbie Bradley, Director and Jennie Lamon and Chris Nelson, Assistant Directors.