Governor Murphy signed New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget into law before the June 30th deadline. The budget, outlined in S2025-A4700, allocates $56.6 billion in state funds and $27.5 billion in federal funds for resources, programs, and services aimed at benefiting New Jersey residents over the next fiscal year.
Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) participated in the process, emphasizing the need for investments that benefit children and families. Key highlights include:
**Child Care**
- $482.5 million allocated for child care enrollment-based subsidy payments to provide stable funding for providers serving families receiving child care assistance.
**Public Preschool Expansion**
- $124 million to fund existing public pre-K programs.
- $20 million in preschool expansion aid for new districts.
- Measures require school districts receiving Preschool Education Aid (PEA) for the first time to establish partnerships with licensed child care providers and Head Start programs to deliver preschool through a mixed delivery system.
**K-12 Education**
- $908 million in direct aid to schools, fully funding the school aid formula.
- $3 million for the Community Schools Pilot Program Fund.
- $7.2 million for literacy initiatives.
- $1 million for the High Poverty School District Minority Teacher Recruitment Program.
- $5 million for Teachers Loan Redemption Program.
**Child Tax Credit**
The budget maintains the expansion of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, enabling families with young children to receive up to $1,000 per child.
**Hunger and Food Insecurity**
- $318 million allocated for the WIC Supplemental Food Program.
- $8.2 million for the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
- $7 million for SNAP and School Meals Dual Enrollment Pilot Program.
- $924.5 million for School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.
**Maternal and Child Health**
- $23 million allocated for Statewide Universal Newborn Home Nurse Visitation Program.
- $3 million for Statewide Maternal Health Innovation Program.
- $3.2 million for Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority.
Funding is also provided for medical coverage for uninsured families.
**Mental Health**
$30 million is designated to expand the mental health workforce and provide services specifically targeting children and adolescents.
**Positive Youth Development and Other Supports**
- $43 million allocated to NJ Statewide Student Support Services Network (NJ4S).
- $8 million earmarked for anti-violence out-of-school youth summer programs.
- $1.5 million set aside for Kids In Need of Defense (KIND) - Legal Services for Unaccompanied Minors.
ACNJ will continue providing post-budget updates as more information becomes available.
