SENATE, No. 2457
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
Senator JON M. BRAMNICK
District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Corrado, Space, Tiver, Amato, Mukherji, Beach, Sarlo, Cruz-Perez, Diegnan and O'Scanlon
SYNOPSIS
Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee on February 19, 2026, with amendments.
An Act concerning excused absences from public school for college 1[ ]1visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities and supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, and in order to support multiple pathways to college and career for high school students in New Jersey, a pupil of a public school enrolled in grades 11 or 12 shall be eligible for a cumulative total of three excused absences per school year for the purpose of college visits or visits to postsecondary technical institutions 1and a cumulative total of three excused absences per school year to complete a military recruitment-related activity1. If such pupil is absent from school to complete a military recruitment-related activity, the pupil shall have the absence for that purpose recorded as an excused absence on the pupil’s attendance record. Any transcript, application, employment form, or any similar form on which information concerning a pupil's attendance record is requested shall not show excused absences authorized pursuant to this subsection. In making a determination on whether a student has a perfect attendance record for the school year, a public school shall not consider as an absence an excused absence authorized pursuant to this subsection.
b. A pupil shall provide any documentation the superintendent or administrative principal of the school district deems necessary to prove the pupil meets the requirements for the excused absence pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
c. As used in this section:
“Military recruitment-related activity” means any activity required by the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard to be eligible to enlist in military service, including, but not limited to, any testing, medical or physical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting.
“Military service” means the active and reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States, or the National Guard.
2. This act shall take effect in the first full school year following the date of enactment.