SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, Nos. 1783 and 2712

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 8, 2026

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments the Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill Nos. 1783 and 2712.

As amended, this bill requires a school district to incorporate instruction on cursive handwriting into the curriculum for students in grades three through five. The curriculum is required to include activities and instructional materials that help students become proficient in reading cursive and legibly writing in cursive by the end of the grade five.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to provide that:

      (1)  the instruction on cursive handwriting would be required for students in grades three through five instead of kindergarten through five; and

      (2)  the activities and instructional materials required by the bill would help students become proficient in legibly writing in cursive by the end of grade five.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note.