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Bill

Bill

S 500

Expands "New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Bucco and 1 co-sponsor

Expands NJNSGP to fund more security needs by increasing grant caps for personnel/training up to $50k and equipment up to $150k, with broader eligible uses.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
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Bill Summary · S 500

Bill Summary: S 500 (Session 222) – Expands New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: New Jersey
  • Bill: S 500
  • Title: Expands "New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program" (NJNSGP)
  • Purpose: Expand and enhance the NJNSGP to broaden eligible uses, raise grant limits, and increase annual funding requests. Administered by the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP).

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Strengthen protection for nonprofit organizations in New Jersey, with emphasis on those at greatest risk of threats or attacks.
  • Provide broader support for security needs, including personnel, training, planning, and target-hardening equipment.
  • Ensure greater flexibility and responsiveness to evolving security threats and inflationary pressures.

Key Provisions and Changes

A. Program Scope and Eligible Uses

  • Keeps NJNSGP within the OHSP.
  • Eligible uses under the program now include:
    • Costs of hiring security personnel (permanent or temporary), and
    • Security-related training or planning, and/or
    • Acquisition of target-hardening equipment.
  • Important clarification: An applicant may be awarded funds for either personnel/training/planning or for equipment in a given fiscal year, but not both categories in the same year (existing framework remains, with explicit consideration of different categories).

B. Grant Amounts (Per Application)

  • Personnel or security-related training/planning:
    • Previously up to $10,000 per approved application.
    • Increased to a maximum of up to $50,000 per approved application.
  • Target-hardening equipment:
    • Previously up to $50,000 per approved application.
    • Increased to a maximum of up to $150,000 per approved application.
  • The director may adjust these amounts based on fund availability, analytical trends, and emerging threats.

C. Application Evaluation and Preferences

  • OHSP will evaluate applications for high-risk factors such as terrorist attack risk, threats, domestic extremism, and other violent acts.
  • Preference criteria:
    • Security personnel/training: Preference for applicants that have not received a federal security grant for hiring personnel in the last two federal grant cycles.
    • Target-hardening equipment: Preference for applicants that have not received either a federal or State security grant for target-hardening equipment in the last two grant cycles.
  • Applicants may apply annually for disbursement for each category and may be approved in successive years.

D. Funding and Budgetary Process

  • Annual budget request: OHSP must request a minimum of $10,000,000 to fund the grants (increased from the current $2,000,000).
  • OHSP will seek additional funding opportunities:
    • Coordinate with the Department of Law and Public Safety, DHS, and other applicable agencies to secure federal, state, local, and private funding.

E. Administrative Allocation

  • Five percent of the appropriated amount for the program is allocated to OHSP for administration.

F. Effective Date

  • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who Is Affected

  • Eligible nonprofit organizations in New Jersey, particularly those at greater risk of threats or attacks.
  • Nonprofits seeking funding for:
    • Security personnel (including events hosted away from the applicant’s primary location but within the state and for which the applicant has liability),
    • Security-related training or planning,
    • Target-hardening equipment.
  • Agencies and partners including OHSP, Department of Law and Public Safety, DHS, and other relevant state/federal entities involved in security grants.

Timeline and Procedural Notes

  • The bill would immediately amend the existing statute (P.L.2021, c.439) to implement enhanced grant amounts, expanded eligible uses, and higher baseline funding requests.
  • Applicants can apply annually and may receive grants in successive years, subject to availability and meeting criteria.
  • OHSP will administer the program and set annual budgets, including the required minimum $10 million funding request.

Potential Impacts

  • Increased access to funding for nonprofit security needs, enabling larger grants for both personnel/training and equipment.
  • Greater flexibility to address inflation and rising security threats.
  • Potentially broader number and mix of nonprofits able to implement security improvements across New Jersey.
  • Administrative workload for OHSP and partners to manage expanded grant categories and funding streams.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text and sponsor statements as of introduction in January 2026.

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

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