SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 116

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 4, 2025

      The Senate Education Committee reports favorably Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 116.

     This concurrent resolution establishes the “Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force.”  The purpose of the task force is to promote the importance of civility to students in grades kindergarten through 12 across the State and to emphasize the importance of treating each other with respect and dignity in daily interactions and discourse. 

     The task force would be comprised of 12 members of the Legislature, to be appointed as follows: six members of the Senate, three of whom are to be members of the majority party appointed by the Senate President and three of whom are to be members of the minority party appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and six members of the General Assembly, three of whom are to be members of the majority party appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and three of whom are to be members of the minority party appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. 

     In conducting its business, the task force is required to annually travel to schools across the State to, at a minimum, discuss with students:

· the core values that underpin the meaning of civility and how it can be practiced in everyday life, even while in school;

· the importance of engaging with others in a respectful manner and ways in which students can foster meaningful and productive dialogue with each other even when they disagree on a particular topic;

· instances in which the members of the task force worked with others to resolve differences in a civil way;

· cases in which the members of the task force worked with other members of the Legislature, especially those who are of different political affiliations, in order to facilitate the enactment of positive change throughout the legislative process;

· examples of times in which the members of the task force did not agree with others and how the members expressed their disagreement, or otherwise resolved the disagreement, in a civil way; and

· overall how to demonstrate mutual respect and consideration in language, attitudes, behaviors, and verbal, nonverbal, written, and digital communications.

     In fulfilling the requirements of the bill, the task force would annually travel to schools it designates and ensure that it visits a cross section of elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools located in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State, with equal consideration given to schools located in the north, central, and southern geographical regions of the State.