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Bill > A1626
NJ A1626
NJ A1626Prohibits institution of higher education from using cultural competency as criteria for consideration in making certain personnel determinations.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill prohibits an institution of higher education from including among the criteria used to review a candidate for employment or promotion the following criteria: (1) the candidate's cultural competency skills; or (2) the candidate's knowledge of any particular ethnic or religious group. The bill further provides that, in the event an institution of higher education is determined by the Secretary of Higher Education to not be in compliance with the bill's provisions, the institution becomes ineligible for any State support for its operational and capital costs. The bill includes an exemption to the bill's provisions for positions in which cultural competency skills or knowledge of a particular ethnic or religious group is essential to the position, as determined by the Secretary of Higher Education.
AI Summary
This bill prohibits colleges and universities in New Jersey from using a candidate's "cultural competency skills" (meaning their ability to understand and interact effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds) or their "knowledge of any particular ethnic or religious group" as factors when deciding whether to hire or promote someone. If a college is found by the Secretary of Higher Education (the state official overseeing higher education) to be violating this rule, it will lose all state funding for its day-to-day operations and building projects. However, this prohibition does not apply to jobs where these specific skills or knowledge are absolutely necessary for the position, as determined by the Secretary of Higher Education.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A1626 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A2000/1626_I1.HTM |
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