Members of the Legislature returned to the State House last week following the holiday recess and acted on the bill below, which has significant ramifications for current and prospective school board members seeking election in New Jersey.

School Board Election Petitions A-5117/S-3994 would increase the number of signatures required for candidates to be eligible to be placed on primary, general, nonpartisan municipal and school election ballots. With respect to boards of education, the bill would require candidates to collect 25 signatures on their direct nominating petitions – an increase from 10.

During a Senate voting session Tuesday, Jan. 14, the bill received floor amendments that would make its effective date retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. Therefore, even if the amended bill were to be passed by both houses and signed by the governor later in the year, it would be effective retroactively to the beginning of the year. While further changes are always possible, the New Jersey School Boards Association believes that the bill is on track to become law and expects it to be sent to the governor in the coming weeks.

If enacted as currently written, a nominating petition for the April 2025 school board election (and all following elections) would need to include 25 signatures. Out of an abundance of caution, the NJSBA recommends that candidates for April board of education elections obtain at least 25 signatures on their nominating petitions to avoid having their petition invalidated for an insufficient number of signatures or having to submit a new petition before the filing deadline. The NJSBA’s Candidate Kit contains additional information and resources for anyone considering running for their local school board. 

This bill was introduced following testimony received by the Assembly Select Committee on Ballot Design, which was tasked with reviewing the design of primary and general election ballots in New Jersey. The intention of the bill is to bring New Jersey more in line with its neighboring states regarding nominating petition signatures; ensure that ballots are manageable from the perspective of voters; and make updates to the current signature requirements for nominating petitions that have been in place since 1937. In addition to making updates to nominating petition requirements for board of education elections, it would also make changes to petitions for candidates running for election to statewide office, countywide office, congressional office, the state Legislature and municipal offices.

Senate Environment and Energy Committee

The Senate Environment and Energy Committee met Monday, Jan. 13, and approved the following bill relevant to school districts:

Air Quality in Schools S-1033 would require the Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, to conduct a public school indoor air quality study using a sampling of public schools in the state that represent varying regions, education levels and age of buildings. The DEP would extrapolate the total number of schools in the state where air contaminants are present, compile a list of the most common indoor air contaminants in public schools, and develop and publish guidance documents for school districts describing the ways in which they may take action to reduce the presence or mitigate the effects of indoor air contaminants.

The NJSBA is monitoring the bill.

To view the full text of any of the bills summarized above, please visit the New Jersey Legislature’s website.