LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 4440

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: DECEMBER 8, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires key boxes at public school buildings; appropriates $2.5 million.

Type of Impact:

One-time State expenditure increase; one-time school district revenue and expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Education; school districts

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

One-Time Fiscal Impact

 

 

State Expenditure Increase

Up to $2.5 million

 

School District Revenue Increase

Up to $2.5 million

 

School District Expenditure increase

Up to $2.5 million

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that school districts will collectively incur one-time costs of up to $2.5 million to provide the key boxes required by the bill.

 

·         The Department of Education will experience a one-time expenditure increase of up to $2.5 million dollars to reimburse school districts for the costs of installing the required key boxes at each public school, charter school, and renaissance school project in the State.  All school districts are required to provide the lock boxes by June 30, 2027.  The reimbursement would constitute one-time revenue increases for the school districts.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      The bill requires the board of education of each school district and board of trustees of each charter school or renaissance school project to provide for the installation of at least one exterior key box meeting certain standards at each school building no later than June 30, 2027.

      Each key box would contain keys and other access control devices necessary to access each building and room located on the school grounds and the most recently updated critical incident mapping data in a printed format. The school district, charter school, or renaissance school project would be required to install the key boxes at appropriate locations for permitting emergency responders access to the building.

      Finally, the bill appropriates $2.5 million to the Department of Education to effectuate the provisions of the bill.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds that school districts will collectively incur one-time costs of up to $2.5 million to provide the key boxes required by the bill.  The Department of Education will experience a one-time expenditure increase of up to $2.5 million dollars to reimburse school districts for the costs of installing these key boxes at each public school, charter school, and renaissance school project in the State.  All school districts are required to provide the lock boxes by June 30, 2027.  The State reimbursement would constitute one-time revenue increases for the school districts.

      For the purposes of illustration, the OLS notes that one company that sells key boxes lists three separate models that meet Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037 as required by the bill.  The models retail for between roughly $500 and $1,500 per unit.  According to the Department of Education’s Public Schools Fact Sheet for the 2024-2025 school year, there were 2,506 schools in the State.  Consequently, the $2.5 million appropriation included in the bill would be sufficient to reimburse school districts for average expenditures of about $998 per school, assuming all school districts will have to newly purchase key boxes meeting the specified standard.

 

 

Section:

Education

Analyst:

Abigail Chambers

Senior Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).