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Kick Off for 2026-2027 School Year

Gail Hall MSN, RN, CSN-NJ

Stephanie Reilly, BSN, RN, CSN- NJ

Legislation Team , NJSSNA

2026-27 School Year

Gail Welcome to the New School Year! This recorded presentation serves to update NJ State School Nurses with legislation procedures, current watch lists, and newly signed legislation. It also includes updates to enhance our school nurse practice- we have included ways to advocate for students and school health related issues,

We are reminded how the advocacy of one can positively influence many. Robin Cogan, New Jersey State School Nurse’s Association’s NASN representive who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year was a relentless advocate for student health and her fierce determination to make a difference in student lives- Robin serves as a model for us all.

My name is Gail Hall and Stephanie Reilly and I are school nurses who serve as co- chairs of the NJSSNA’s legislative team.

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Disclosure:

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(Gail) 1-Any Senator or General Assembly member may propose or sponsor a new law. Ideas for laws can come from school nurses, concerned parents or other sources, such as citizens, interest groups, public officials or the Governor.

2-At the legislator's direction, the idea is written as a bill. The legislator may ask other legislators to become co-sponsors.

3-The bill is introduced when the Senate Secretary or General Assembly Clerk reads the bill's number, sponsor and title aloud during a legislative session.

4-The bill is usually sent to a committee which studies it and makes changes, or amendments if needed. Committees have open meetings where the public may speak about the bill. At this time in a bills’s life, school Nurses can influence legislation.

5-If the committee approves the bill, it is reported back to the House where it began, and its title is read again. This is the bill’s second reading

6-When scheduled by the Senate President or General Assembly Speaker, the bill's title is read for the third time, and it is debated and voted on. A bill passes if it receives a majority of votes.

7-The bill follows a similar path of first reading, committee consideration, second reading, third reading and final passage in the second House. After both Houses agree on the bill, it is sent to the Governor. In most cases, the bill becomes law when signed by the Governor.

8-If the Governor rejects the bill, it is called a veto. Sometimes, the Governor will ask the Legislature to make changes to the bill. The Legislature may make the Governor’s changes. It is also possible for the Legislature to pass the vetoed bill in its original form with a 2/3 majority vote in both Houses. This is called overriding the veto.

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New Jersey Legislative Process

Basically the same as Federal Process
A special non- partisan committee researches and writes the bill in correct form
Bill has 3 readings in each house
Bill presented to Governor must have both house and senate votes and has identical text
A Bill becomes law with Governor’s signature or after 45 days of initial house of origin if not time extended until recess is over

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Bills on the Move

A5044 S4195 Establish Cardiac Response in Schools

Summary:

Establishes Cardiac Emergency Response in Schools Grant Program in DOE, appropriates $600,000.

Progress:

1st House: Referred to Committee

Status:

05/11/2026 — Assembly Education Committee

History:

05/11/2026 — Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee.

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Bills on the Move

A5085/ S4260 Establishing a pilot program in certain counties for non public nursing services through city consortiums on Non-public schools

Summary:

Establishes pilot program in certain counties to provide funding for nonpublic school nursing services through county consortium of nonpublic schools.

Progress:

1st House: Referred to Committee

Status:

06/15/2026 — Assembly Appropriations Committee

referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

History:

05/14/2026 — Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee.

06/15/2026 — Reported out of committee

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Bills on the Move

A5183/ S4385 requires school district to have excused absences for illness

Summary:

Requires school districts to permit students excused absences for student illness.

Progress:

1st House: Referred to Committee

Status:

06/01/2026 — Assembly Education Committee

History:

06/01/2026 — Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee.

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Bills on the Move

S1340/ A2042 Requires Commissioner of Education develop guidance on accommodations for certain students fasting for religious or medical reasons

Progress: 2nd House: Referred to Committee

Status: 06/15/2026 — Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee

History:

01/13/2026 — Introduced and referred to Senate Education Committee.

History continued:

05/11/2026 — Reported out of committee with committee substitute, 2nd reading in Senate.

05/28/2026 — Passed in Senate 36-0. Received in Assembly and referred to Assembly Education Comm.

06/15/2026 — Reported out of committee with committee amendments, referred to Assembly Community Development and Womens Affairs Committee.

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Bills on the Move

S2456/ A132

Requires school bus drivers and school bus aides to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transporting students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features.

Progress: 1st House: 2nd Reading

Status: 06/24/2026 — 2nd reading in the Senate

History:

01/13/2026 — Introduced and referred to Senate Education Committee.

05/11/2026 — Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

06/24/2026 — Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate.

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Bills on the Move

A4656/ S3869

Summary: Broadens epinephrine administration mechanisms permitted in schools, institutions of higher education, and youth camps.

History:

Progress: 1st House: Referred to Committee

Related: 2026:S3869

Progress: 1st House: Referred to Committee

Status: 03/10/2026 — Assembly Health Committee

03/10/2026 — Introduced and referred to Assembly Health Committee

History: 03/10/2026 — Introduced and referred to Assembly Health Committee; Introduced and referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

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A Nasal Epinephrine Practice Update

NEFFY FDA Approved in August, 2024
Cannot be delegated yet- legislators are being

Contacted. Why?

Request a Demo from:

https://www.neffypro.com/#sign-up

Upcoming- Watch for:

Anaphylm SL Film Aquestive- size of a postage stamp. Not FDA approved but they accepted application in June, 2025

Anaphylm Epinephrine

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Practice Update: Inhaled Insulin

AFREZZA®

Approved on May 29, 2026 by the FDA for glycemic management in those 6-17 years of age

Stay tuned: NJSSNA Fall Webinar Series 10/29/26

6pm. Topic IDDM.

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Advocacy in NJSSNA

Laura Jannone, NJSSNA Standards and Practice Chair; Town Council, Red Bank

Appropriations of $100,000 to NJSSNA to update Promoting Health and Learning: School Nursing Practice in NJ Public Schools and transition it to a web based format.

School Nurse Practice Guide

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Seizure Bills Update:

A1442/no Senate Bill

NJSSNA Supports with Amendment (all delegates must hold current CPR Certification)

Summary: Requires public schools to develop policy for emergency administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and use of manual vagus nerve stimulators on students with seizure disorders.

Progress: 1st House: Referred to Committee

Status: 01/13/2026 — Assembly Education Committee

History: 01/13/26 Introduced and referred to Assembly Education Committee

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Seizure Bill Update

Bill: A445/S3728

NJSSNA Strongly Opposes

Summary: Requires school districts to maintain supply of nasal rescue medication and oxygen for seizure emergencies; provides for training of designees to administer nasal rescue medication and oxygen when school nurse is not physical present.

Progress: Proposed for introduction

Status: 1/13/26— Assembly Education Committee /3/5/26 Senate Education Committee

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P.L. 2024, c 103 Addresses Diabetes Education

Summary: Requires the DOH to develop informational materials on Type 1 Diabetes and DOE to distribute to parents of enrolled students

Status: 12/12/2024- Signed by Governor Murphy

NJSSNA Fall Webinar 10/29 Type 1 Diabetes

NJDOE Broadcast memo Diabetes 2025

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Practice Update: NJDOE

Broadcast Memos

NJDOE Keeping our Students Safe,

Healthy and In School

NJDOE Broadcast Memos

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Practice Update:

School Nurse Consultant

Position has not yet been filled. Stay tuned.

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School Nursing Practicing Framework

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Leadership: Advocacy: Participate in Change

Write /email the sponsors legislators:

NJ Legislature Contact information

njleg.state.nj.us

NASN Advocacy Resources

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https://njssna.nursingnetwork.com/

NJSSNA on the Web

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Stay Tuned!

NJSSNA Fall Webinar Series

9/23/26

Keeping Schools Proteted: NJ’s Updated Immunization Rules

10/29/26

IDDM Screening

A Novel Inhaled Mealtime Insulin

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Questions?

Thank you!

https://njssna.nursingnetwork.com/contact