Bill
S 3976
Extends priority course registration to qualifying undergraduate student parents or guardians at NJ colleges that already offer priority registration, with notice and existing proc
Status (as of documents provided)
- Bill No.: S3976
- Introduced: December 16, 2024
- Committee actions: Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee; reported favorably with committee amendments June 12, 2025 (2nd reading). Legislative action log also shows referrals to the Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee (duplicate entries).
- Sponsor(s): Senate sponsors listed in committee report: Senators Robert W. Singer and Anthony M. Bucco; an alternate sponsor listing names Luis R. Sepúlveda as primary.
- Related: Companion A5285; prior-session analogs S8101, S2223, S751.
Note on document discrepancy: metadata at the top of the request refers to an unrelated subject (sex offender registration fee). The bill text and committee statement provided concern priority course registration for student parents.
Purpose and intent
- To extend priority course registration to qualifying undergraduate student parents (or legal guardians) attending institutions of higher education in New Jersey that already offer priority registration to other student groups. The intent is to help student parents balance parenting responsibilities and academic scheduling needs.
Key provisions
- Eligibility: Grants priority registration to a student who
- Is an undergraduate student enrolled at an institution of higher education that already provides priority registration to some students, and
- Is a resident of New Jersey, and
- Is the parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 years of age.
- Scope limitation: The institution must already offer some form of priority registration to other segments of its student population; the bill does not require institutions that do not currently offer priority registration to create a new program.
- Procedures: Priority registration for eligible student parents must follow the same procedures the institution uses for other prioritized groups (e.g., timing, registration process).
- Notice requirement: Prior to each semester’s registration period, the institution must notify students who may be eligible for this priority.
- Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.
- Committee amendment: The Senate Higher Education Committee amended the original bill to limit eligibility to undergraduate students (the introduced version had included graduate students).
Who is affected / impact
- Directly affected: New Jersey resident undergraduate students who are parents or legal guardians of children under 18, at institutions that already have priority registration programs (examples of groups currently prioritized at many institutions include student‑athletes, students with disabilities, and current/former military service members).
- Institutions: Colleges and universities with existing priority-registration systems must expand eligibility and incorporate student parents into their established procedures and notification processes. Administrative changes may include verification processes and registration-system updates.
- Fiscal impact: No fiscal estimate is included in the provided materials. Administrative costs are possible but likely limited where existing priority-registration infrastructure is already in place.
Procedural / timeline notes
- As reported by the Senate Higher Education Committee on June 12, 2025, S3976 was amended and advanced. Further legislative steps (full Senate consideration, concurrence in Assembly, enactment) would follow usual legislative procedures. The related Assembly companion (A5285) would proceed through Assembly committees if acted upon.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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