New Jersey 222nd Legislature Status: Introduced Bipartisan · 2 D · 1 R cosponsors

S 3245 — Revises high school student financial aid application requirements.

Last action — AA 2RA

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed General Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 02, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 48% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    2 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (2 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill revises financial aid application requirements for high school students.

This legislation aims to change the requirements for high school students applying for financial aid. The specific details on how the application process will be altered are not provided.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families of high school students may experience changes in how their children apply for financial aid.

Summary

High school student financial aid application-revises requirements

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

29 added · 28 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment changes the language of the bill to specify "State or federal" financial aid applications instead of just "financial aid" applications, clarifying the type of applications students must complete to receive a high school diploma. It also maintains instructions and resources for completing these applications, emphasizing support to school staff for sharing this information with students and their families. Additionally, it clarifies that compliance with the section does not create a private right of action against schools or the State regarding the aid application requirement.

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Latest
S3245 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.
S3245 2R [Second Reprint] SENATE, No.
SINGER District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)         SYNOPSIS      Revises high school student financial aid application requirements.
SINGER District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)   Co-Sponsored by:
  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Senate Education Committee on June 1, 2026, with amendments.
Senator Timberlake         SYNOPSIS      Revises high school student financial aid application requirements.
  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As amended by the Senate on June 18, 2026.
Beginning with the 2023-2024 grade 11 class, [and for two school years thereafter,] a board of education or a board of trustees of a charter school shall require a student, and the student’s parent or guardian, if applicable, to complete and submit a financial aid application in a form prescribed by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority as a prerequisite to the student receiving a high school diploma from a public high school or charter school unless a waiver is submitted to the school district or charter school as set forth in subsection b.
Beginning with the 2023-2024 grade 11 class, [and for two school years thereafter,] a board of education or a board of trustees of a charter school shall require a student, and the student’s parent or guardian, if applicable, to complete and submit a 2State or federal2 financial aid application in a form prescribed by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority as a prerequisite to the student receiving a high school diploma from a public high school or charter school unless a waiver is submitted to the school district or charter school as set forth in subsection b.
      c.   The Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall provide resources for school districts, charter schools, parents, guardians, and students that include instructions on how to complete a financial aid application prescribed by the authority.  The resources shall include webinars, presentations, guidance documents, and a list of available State and federal resources.  The executive director of the authority shall make available [such] resources as are necessary directly to school counselors or other school employees who shall share the resources with students and with the students’ parents or guardians.
      c.   The Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall provide resources for school districts, charter schools, parents, guardians, and students that include instructions on how to complete a 2State or federal2 financial aid application prescribed by the authority.  The resources shall include webinars, presentations, guidance documents, and a list of available State and federal resources.  The executive director of the authority shall make available [such] resources as are necessary directly to school counselors or other school employees who shall share the resources with students and with the students’ parents or guardians.
      e.   No adverse action shall be taken by a board of education or a board of trustees of a charter school against any student due to a student’s receipt of an exemption from the requirement to complete and submit a financial aid application pursuant to subsection b.
      e.   No adverse action shall be taken by a board of education or a board of trustees of a charter school against any student due to a student’s receipt of an exemption from the requirement to complete and submit a 2State or federal2 financial aid application pursuant to subsection b.
      f.    Nothing in this [act] section shall be construed as requiring school counselors, or any other school employee, to assist students in completing the financial aid application.  Nothing in this [act] section shall be construed as creating a private right of action against the school district, charter school, or the State upon compliance or noncompliance with the provisions of this [act] section.        g.   The Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority shall make the resources listed in subsection c.
      f.    Nothing in this [act] section shall be construed as requiring school counselors, or any other school employee, to assist students in completing the 2State or federal2 financial aid application.  Nothing in this [act] section shall be construed as creating a private right of action against the school district, charter school, or the State upon compliance or noncompliance with the provisions of this [act] section.        g.   The Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority shall make the resources listed in subsection c.
      i.    The executive director of the authority shall annually prepare and issue to the Department of Education, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a report that includes the number of students that completed a financial aid form pursuant to subsection a.
      i.    The executive director of the authority shall annually prepare and issue to the Department of Education, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a report that includes the number of students that completed a 2State or federal2 financial aid form pursuant to subsection a.
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How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the New Jersey statutes: Section 1 of P.L.2023, c.295.

  • Section 1 of P.L.2023, c.295

    and for two school years thereafter,

    amended

  • Section 1 of P.L.2023, c.295

    and for two school years thereafter, such act act act act no later than three years following the effective date of this act P.L.2025, c.95 → State or federal guardians, State or federal State or federal section State or federal section section section annually State or federal this section

    amended

Action History

  1. AA 2RA

  2. REP 2RA

  3. R/A REF AHI

  4. PS

  5. SA 2RS

  6. REP/SCA 2RS

  7. INT 1RS REF SED

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 117 not signed on · 8 voted No

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (117)

117 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 117 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Floor vote

Passed 34 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 9600
Democrat 25000
Total 34600
% of votes cast 85%15%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Beach, James Democrat Yea
Burgess, Renee C. Democrat Yea
Burzichelli, John J. Democrat Yea
Cruz-Perez, Nilsa I. Democrat Yea
Cryan, Joseph P. Democrat Yea
Diegnan Jr., Patrick J. Democrat Yea
Gopal, Vin Democrat Yea
Greenstein, Linda R. Democrat Yea
Johnson, Gordon M. Democrat Yea
Lagana, Joseph A. Democrat Yea
McKeon, John F. Democrat Yea
McKnight, Angela V. Democrat Yea
Moriarty, Paul D. Democrat Yea
Mukherji, Raj Democrat Yea
Ruiz, M. Teresa Democrat Yea
Sarlo, Paul A. Democrat Yea
Scutari, Nicholas P. Democrat Yea
Singleton, Troy Democrat Yea
Smith, Bob Democrat Yea
Stack, Brian P. Democrat Yea
Timberlake, Britnee N. Democrat Yea
Turner, Shirley K. Democrat Yea
Vitale, Joseph F. Democrat Yea
Wimberly, Benjie E. Democrat Yea
Zwicker, Andrew Democrat Yea
Amato Jr., Carmen F. Republican Yea
Bramnick, Jon M. Republican Yea
Bucco, Anthony M. Republican Yea
Corrado, Kristin M. Republican Nay
Henry, Owen Republican Yea
Holzapfel, James W. Republican Yea
O'Scanlon Jr., Declan J. Republican Yea
Pennacchio, Joseph Republican Yea
Polistina, Vincent J. Republican Nay
Schepisi, Holly T. Republican Nay
Singer, Robert W. Republican Yea
Space, Parker Republican Nay
Steinhardt, Douglas J. Republican Nay
Testa Jr., Michael L. Republican Nay
Tiver, Latham Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

finance education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 3245 do?
High school student financial aid application-revises requirements
Who sponsors S 3245?
S 3245 is sponsored by Turner, Shirley K. (Democrat), Singer, Robert W. (Republican), and Timberlake, Britnee N. (Democrat).
What is the current status of S 3245?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 02, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 3245?
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