"Everyone Counts in New Jersey Act"; establishes "New Jersey Census Complete Count Commission," "New Jersey Office of Census," and "New Jersey Census Complete Count Trust Fund." *

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Beach and 2 co-sponsors

The bill creates a dedicated state Census Complete Count Trust Fund to finance outreach and other activities aiming to achieve a full and accurate New Jersey population count in th

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

Overview

S 4419 (New Jersey, Session 222) proposes the creation of a dedicated funding mechanism to support New Jersey’s efforts to achieve a full population count in the federal decennial census. The bill establishes a state-level trust fund within the Department of State, titled the Census Complete Count Trust Fund, to finance activities that aim to maximize participation and accuracy in the census.

Purpose and intent

To ensure a complete and accurate count of New Jersey’s population in the U.S. decennial census.

To provide a stable funding stream specifically earmarked for outreach, education, data logistics, and other initiatives that promote Census participation.

To coordinate state resources and align with federal census timelines and requirements.

Key provisions

Establishment of the Census Complete Count Trust Fund within the Department of State.

The fund is designated for financing statewide census outreach and related activities intended to achieve a full population count.

The bill outlines parameters for fund management, which may include:

Sources of funding (e.g., state appropriations, grants, or revenue allocations authorized by statute).
Eligible uses for the fund (outreach campaigns, translation and accessibility efforts, partnership with communities and local governments, data dissemination, and program administration).
Oversight and reporting requirements to ensure accountability and track progress toward census goals.

Administrative framework and potential governance structure for how decisions regarding expenditures are made.

Who/what would be affected

State government operations, particularly the Department of State, which would administer the fund.

State-funded census outreach programs and initiatives, including partnerships with local governments, community organizations, and minority/underrepresented populations.

Communities targeted by census outreach efforts, especially groups historically undercounted or hard to reach.

Potential beneficiaries include organizations contracted to run outreach programs and residents who benefit from enhanced awareness and accessibility of census participation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The bill sets up a long-term fund with the aim of supporting all federal decennial censuses during the fund’s existence.

It would require ongoing oversight, reporting, and likely annual or periodic appropriation actions to sustain funding.

Implementation would align with the federal census cycle, ensuring readiness before each decennial count.

Potential impact (informational)

By creating a dedicated fund, the state seeks to mitigate undercounts and improve accuracy, which can influence federal funding distribution, congressional representation considerations, and state planning.

The initiative signals a proactive, stable financial commitment to census participation infrastructure beyond ad hoc or one-off spending.

Success depends on effective use of funds, collaboration with community stakeholders, and alignment with federal census timelines.

Note: This summary is based on the bill’s stated title and sponsor information. For precise statutory language, funding amounts, eligibility criteria, governance details, and reporting requirements, refer to the official bill text and any accompanying fiscal notes or amendments.