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A 5891

Establishes a tax on noise from non-essential helicopter and seaplane flights in cities with a population of one million or more

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and 5 co-sponsors

Establishes a statewide guaranteed admissions program that automatically offers eligible New Jersey public high-school seniors conditional admission to public colleges and universi

PRINT NUMBER 5891A
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Bill Summary · A 5891

Summary — A5891 (PRINT 5891A)

Note on discrepancy: The title provided at the top of your request (a tax on noise from non‑essential helicopter and seaplane flights) does not match the text of the bill version you supplied. The supplied bill language and statement concern a guaranteed admissions program for New Jersey public higher‑education institutions. This summary describes the actual text provided (guaranteed admissions). If you intended the noise‑tax bill, please supply the matching text.

Main purpose

Establish a statewide guaranteed admissions program so that eligible New Jersey public high‑school seniors are automatically offered conditional admission to undergraduate degree programs at public institutions of higher education based on academic merit.

Key provisions

  • Secretary of Higher Education responsibilities

    • In consultation with the Department of Education and the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, establish the guaranteed admissions program and set minimum academic‑merit requirements.
    • Submit an annual implementation report to the Governor and Legislature.

  • Automatic conditional offers

    • Public institutions must, within space and fiscal constraints, automatically offer conditional admission to eligible grade‑12 public‑school students who meet the secretary’s minimum academic‑merit thresholds.
    • Such automatic admission does not guarantee admission to a particular major, program, or specialized track.

  • Eligibility criteria for students

    • Must be a New Jersey resident for at least one year prior to application.
    • Must be a first‑time applicant to a full‑time, degree‑granting program at a public institution.

  • Academic‑merit factors the secretary will consider

    • Cumulative GPA and class rank (end of grade 11)
    • Complexity of coursework (honors, AP, IB, other college‑level courses taken in grades 9–11)
    • Standardized test scores
    • Performance on statewide assessments
    • Any other information the secretary deems necessary
    • The secretary may set different thresholds for each public institution to reflect institutional selectivity.

  • Reporting requirements (annual)

    • Number of students offered admission, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, age, family income at admission, gender, and first‑generation status.
    • Assessment of program effectiveness on out‑migration of graduates and enrollment among low‑income and underserved populations.
    • Recommendations for program improvement.

  • Effective date / timeline

    • The act would take effect immediately; guaranteed admissions would first be offered in the first full academic year following enactment.

Who is affected

  • Directly: New Jersey public high‑school seniors who meet residency and merit criteria; public colleges and universities required to extend conditional offers within space/fiscal limits.
  • Indirectly: K–12 guidance/counseling services, college admissions offices, students from low‑income and traditionally underserved groups (targeted in reporting), and state higher‑education policy/planning entities.

Fiscal and practical considerations

  • The bill conditions institutional obligations on "space and fiscal constraints," indicating potential capacity and budget implications for public institutions; no specific appropriation or cost estimate is included in the text.
  • Implementation will require coordination among K–12, higher‑education institutions, and the Secretary’s office to set thresholds, notify students, and manage capacity.

Legislative status and sponsors

  • Introduced: June 26, 2025. Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee; later amended and recommitted to Ways and Means; PRINT NUMBER 5891A (8/27/2025).
  • Primary sponsor: Robert C. Carroll. Cosponsors include Jo Anne Simon, Linda Rosenthal, Jaime R. Williams, Rebecca Seawright, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.
  • Related/companion Senate bills: S4791, S1140 (and prior‑session S7216).

If you want a summary of the noise‑tax measure referenced in the title instead, please provide the bill text or clarify which version you want summarized.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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