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A 1653

Prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring students who have children to purchase meal plans, live in on-campus housing, or pay gym fees.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dave Bailey and 1 co-sponsor

New Jersey bill exempts student-parents from mandatory college meal plans, on-campus housing, and gym fees to reduce financial barriers and improve degree completion.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee
#childcustod #education #highered
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Bill Summary · A 1653

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 1653 prohibits New Jersey colleges and universities from mandating that student-parents purchase meal plans, reside in on-campus housing, or pay gym fees. The bill creates an exemption category for students with dependent children, allowing them to opt out of these otherwise standard institutional requirements.

Why is this important

Student-parents face significant financial and logistical barriers to completing degrees. Meal plans, housing requirements, and gym fees represent substantial costs that may be unnecessary for students managing childcare responsibilities off-campus. Reducing these mandatory expenses could improve retention and graduation rates for this vulnerable student population.

Potential points of contention

  • Institutional revenue impact: On-campus housing and meal plans generate substantial revenue for colleges; exempting student-parents could force institutions to raise costs for other students or reduce services
  • Equity concerns: The exemption benefits only student-parents, potentially creating fairness questions about why other students with financial hardship lack similar options
  • Administrative complexity: Colleges would need verification systems to confirm dependent status and manage partial enrollment in typically bundled service packages
  • Housing and food access: Exempting students from these services doesn't guarantee they have adequate housing or nutrition; the bill addresses cost but not underlying support needs

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

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