Enacts the single opportunity for legislative equality (SOLE) act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Josh Jensen

The bill lets educational research and services corporations act as lead contracting units for procurement of any goods, services, and now public works, for member entities.

REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Main purpose

A4372 modifies the law governing educational research and services corporations (ERSCs) formed by New Jersey institutions of higher education. It clarifies and broadens the authority of those corporations to act as lead contracting units for procurement, and (as amended) explicitly authorizes them to serve as lead contracting units for public works.

Key provisions

Amends Section 2 of P.L.2015, c.140 (C.18A:3B-6.1).

Expands an ERSC’s authority to act as a lead agency or contracting unit for procurement of “any goods or services” by member entities (not limited to educational-technology-related goods/services).

As amended by the Senate Higher Education Committee (11/17/2025), the bill adds public works to the list of procurements for which an ERSC may act as lead agency/contracting unit.

Confirms that an ERSC is deemed a “local unit” under the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act (allowing it to act as lead agency/contracting unit for municipalities, fire districts, counties, local authorities, school districts, county colleges, state colleges, public research universities, and qualifying independent institutions).

Leaves ERSCs subject to applicable State and local procurement and ethics laws (references to P.L.1977, c.33; P.L.2012, c.25; P.L.2005, c.51). Notably, committee amendments removed an earlier provision in the introduced bill that would have created an explicit exemption from public bidding requirements for contracts between an ERSC and a voting member institution (i.e., the introduced “shared services agreement” bidding exemption was deleted).

Who would be affected

Four-year public research universities, State colleges, county colleges, public colleges located in NJ, and nonprofit independent institutions that receive direct State aid (entities eligible to form or join an ERSC).

Municipalities, counties, school districts, fire districts, and local authorities that might participate or use an ERSC as a lead contracting unit under shared services arrangements.

Private vendors and contractors bidding on goods, services, or public works that an ERSC procures on behalf of members — competitive procurement rules remain applicable after amendments.

Procedural status & timeline (selected)

Introduced in Assembly: 5/16/2024 (sponsored by Asm. Josh Jensen).

Reported favorably by Assembly Higher Ed: 6/3/2024; Assembly State & Local Government: 6/6/2024.

Passed Assembly: 9/26/2024 (75-0-0).

Received in Senate: 9/30/2024; referred to Senate Higher Education Committee.

Referred to Governmental Operations: 2/4/2025.

Senate Higher Education Committee reported with amendments: 11/17/2025 (amendments added public works authority and removed the member-contract bidding-exemption).

Effective date (if enacted): immediate.

Potential impacts / considerations

Could centralize and streamline procurement across multiple higher-education and local entities, potentially achieving economies of scale.

Expanding lead-agency authority to include public works increases the scope of projects ERSCs could coordinate.

Removal of the proposed bidding-exemption preserves state competitive procurement protections and vendor access.

Practical effects will depend on how ERSCs and member institutions use the authority and on implementing procurement practices consistent with State law.

Related bills: S3396 (companion), A4961 (prior session).

Bill