SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2912

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 1, 2026

      The Senate Education Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2912.

      As amended, this bill requires the State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies pertaining to voting and ensure that instruction on voting is incorporated in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grade 12. The standards adopted by the State Board would occur concurrent with each update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards as provided under current law.

      The bill also requires that, beginning with the first full school year following the enactment of the bill, each board of education of a school district to incorporate instruction on voting in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students in grade 12 as part of the school district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.

      The instruction will provide students with information on: the importance of voting, including the role and responsibilities of citizens as voters; voter registration, including eligibility requirements, and information on the pre-registration and registration processes; and how to vote, including locating polling places or requesting an absentee ballot.

      School districts may collaborate with election officials to develop the instruction on voting.  School districts may also collaborate with local boards of elections to assist in providing students with voter pre-registration or registration forms.

     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.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

· require the State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies pertaining to voting and ensure that instruction on voting is incorporated in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grade 12;

· provide that the standards adopted by the State Board would occur concurrent with each update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards; and

· provide that each board of education of a school district is required to incorporate instruction on voting beginning with the first full school year following the enactment of the bill.