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Bill > ACR47


NJ ACR47

NJ ACR47
Proposes an amendment to Constitution specifying a method of providing for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools and allocating all income tax receipts to school districts.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Whereas, paragraph 1 of Article III states, "The powers of the government shall be divided among three distinct branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial. No person or persons belonging to or constituting one branch shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others, except as expressly provided in this Constitution." Whereas, paragraph 1 of Section IV of Article VIII states, "The Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State between the ages of five and eighteen years." Whereas, paragraph 2 of Section IV of Article VIII states, "The fund for the support of free public schools...shall be annually appropriated to the support of free public schools, and for the equal benefit of all the people of the State." Whereas, paragraph 7 of Section I of Article VIII states that the income tax is to be, "...annually appropriated...exclusively for the purpose of reducing or offsetting property taxes." This proposed constitutional amendment provides that the Legislature will provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools by appropriating the net receipts from the gross income tax to school districts on a per pupil basis. The amendment also clarifies that nothing in the constitutional provision would restrict, limit, or otherwise affect the right of the Legislature to regulate additional funding to districts. Last, it amends the constitutional provision that authorizes the gross income tax to specify that all of the revenue will be appropriated to school districts, as opposed to school districts, counties and municipalities.

AI Summary

This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution to change how free public schools are funded. Currently, income tax receipts are used to reduce property taxes, but this amendment would direct all net receipts from the gross income tax, which is a tax on individuals' and estates' earnings, to be allocated directly to school districts on a per-pupil basis to support a "thorough and efficient system of free public schools" for all children between five and eighteen years old. The resolution also clarifies that the Legislature can still provide additional funding for schools beyond what the income tax revenue provides, and it amends the existing constitutional provision about the gross income tax to ensure all its revenue goes to school districts, rather than being shared with counties and municipalities.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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