SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 840

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 16, 2026

      The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 840.

      This bill, entitled the "Student-Parent Protection Act," ensures equal rights and opportunities for parenting students enrolled in institutions of higher education.

      Under current law, an institution of higher education offering associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree programs is: 

· prohibited from requiring a student to take a leave of absence, withdraw from an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate program, or limit associate, baccalaureate, or graduate studies solely due to pregnancy or pregnancy-related issues;

· required to provide reasonable accommodations to a pregnant student to enable the student to complete coursework and research; and

· required to develop and adopt a written policy for students on pregnancy discrimination and procedures for addressing pregnancy discrimination complaints under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 or under State law.

      Current law further provides that an enrolled student in good academic standing who chooses to take a leave of absence because she is pregnant or has recently given birth is to return to the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate program in good academic standing following a leave period consistent with the policies of the institution of higher education or of up to one academic year, whichever period is longer.  If there is a medical reason for a longer absence, the student’s standing in the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate program is required to be maintained during that period of absence.   

      This bill expands the protections provided under current law for pregnant students to parenting students.  The bill modifies a reasonable accommodation listed in current law to require an institution of higher education to excuse absences for medical necessities and urgent caregiving obligations, provided that the student submits to the instructor any necessary documentation for the absence.  The bill also requires the institution’s discrimination policy to be posted at a publicly available location on its Internet website. The bill clarifies that a student is not required to reapply for admission at the institution following a leave period.

      Under the bill, a parenting student is defined as a student enrolled in an institution of higher education who is the parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 years of age. 

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.