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A 4901

Relates to autonomous vehicle driving

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Anil Beephan and 18 co-sponsors

Creates a temporary Commission on the Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education to study financial transparency, accountability, and oversight and issue recommendations.

PRINT NUMBER 4901A
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Bill Summary · A 4901

Summary — Assembly Bill A4901 (Print No. 4901A)

Important note: the bill metadata includes a title “Relates to autonomous vehicle driving,” but the printed/introduced text provided for A4901 establishes a temporary Commission on the Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education. The summary below describes the text of the introduced bill as provided. Because legislative actions show subsequent referrals and amendments (including referral to Transportation and a Print No. 4901A), the bill may have been amended; readers should consult the latest legislative text before assuming final subject matter.

Main purpose

Create a 12‑member Commission on the Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education to study the structure of New Jersey’s public higher education system and recommend improvements focused on financial transparency, accountability, and oversight.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the Commission on the Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
  • Membership (12 members):
    • Ex officio: Secretary of Higher Education (or designee) and Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (or designee).
    • Two gubernatorial appointees: president (or designee) of a State college/university and president (or designee) of a public research university.
    • Four legislative leadership appointees: two county college presidents/designees (appointed by Senate President and Senate Minority Leader), one public‑sector higher education labor union representative (appointed by Speaker of the Assembly), and one full‑time faculty member at a public institution (appointed by Assembly Minority Leader).
    • One gubernatorial appointee with expertise in fiscal management of higher education institutions.
    • Three student representatives (one each from a public research university, the State colleges/universities, and county colleges), appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the Secretary of Higher Education; students apply to the Secretary and the Secretary will attempt geographic balance.
  • Appointment and compensation:
    • Appointments due within 60 days after the act’s effective date.
    • Members serve without compensation but are reimbursed for necessary expenses within available funds.
  • Organization and operations:
    • Commission must organize as soon as practicable, but no later than 90 days after the act’s effective date.
    • Must select a chair from among its members and appoint a secretary (who need not be a member).
    • Minimum of three meetings; meeting minutes must be posted on the Secretary of Higher Education’s website.
    • The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education supplies staff, and the commission may use staff from other government entities as available.
  • Study scope:
    • Examine financial transparency (tuition/fees disclosures, total net price, student loan debt information).
    • Evaluate institutional accountability (performance evaluation, program quality, student outcomes, protections against predatory lending).
    • Review oversight structures for public institutions.
  • Reporting and sunset:
    • Final report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature no later than 180 days after the commission organizes.
    • The act takes effect immediately and the commission expires 30 days after report submission.

Who is affected

  • Public higher education institutions in New Jersey (state colleges/universities, public research universities, county colleges) — subject of the study and potential future policy or structural recommendations.
  • Students and families — will be a focus of transparency and consumer‑protection evaluation.
  • Institutional leadership, faculty, and public‑sector unions — represented on the commission and potentially affected by recommended governance/oversight changes.
  • State agencies (Secretary’s Office, HESAA) — will support the commission.

Timeline and procedural status

  • Introduced: October 17, 2024 (referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee).
  • Subsequent actions (Feb–Mar 2025): referred to Transportation committee and amended/recommitted; Print No. 4901A issued March 20, 2025.
  • Because the bill has an amendment history and committee referrals to Transportation, its subject matter or provisions may have been or may be changed; check the most recent version and committee reports.

Sponsors and related legislation

  • Primary sponsor: Assemblymember Brian Cunningham; multiple cosponsors listed.
  • Companion/related bills: S2146, S344 (companions), prior‑session bills A9705 and A539.
  • Given the divergence between the bill’s metadata title and the printed text, review companion Senate bills and the latest Assembly print for any differing language.

Potential impact

  • Short term: creation of a temporary, statewide advisory commission to investigate transparency and oversight issues.
  • Medium/long term: commission recommendations could lead to legislative or administrative changes affecting institutional reporting, financial disclosures to students/families, oversight structures, and fiscal practices at public higher education institutions. The bill itself does not enact policy changes—only mandates study and recommendations.

For final determination of current language and status, consult the Legislature’s website for A4901A and any committee reports or subsequent amendments.

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

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