New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey A1302: Nursing programs-estab process for county colleges to offer baccalaureate degree
Status: In committee, October 15, 2026
Establishes process for county colleges to offer baccalaureate degree nursing programs.
What the bill says
An Act concerning nursing education at county colleges and supplementing chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
From the introduced text, January 13, 2026:
An Act concerning nursing education at county colleges and supplementing chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. In October of 2010, the Institute of Medicine released its landmark report, The Future of Nursing, which recommended increasing the proportion of baccalaureate degree nurses in the workforce to 80 percent by 2020; b. The committee charged with preparing the reports recommendations indicated that in order to meet the demands of an evolving health care system and meet the changing needs of patients, nurses must achieve higher levels of education; c. In May of 2010, the Tri-Council for Nursing also indicated in its statement, Education Advancement of Registered Nurses, that a more highly educated nursing workforce is critical to meeting the nations nursing needs and delivering safe, effective patient care; d. In New Jersey, there is not the capacity in baccalaureate degree nursing programs at the four-year institutions of higher education that is necessary to meet this identified critical need; and e. One mechanism that would be cost effective for both the State and its students would be to authorize county colleges to establish baccalaureate degree nursing programs, which will thus expand the number of seats in …
Sponsors
- Cody D. Miller (D, 4) · primary sponsor
- Heather Simmons (D, 3) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : REP REF AHI
- : INT 1RA REF AHN
Votes
- Assembly Health Infrastructure Committee: Reported favorably (October 15, 2026): 4 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: HEALTH - PROFESSIONALS, HIGHER EDUCATION
Common questions
- What is A1302?
- A1302 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Nursing programs-estab process for county colleges to offer baccalaureate degree.
- What does A1302 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning nursing education at county colleges and supplementing chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
- What is the status of A1302?
- In committee as of October 15, 2026. Latest action: REP REF AHI (October 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored A1302?
- Cody D. Miller (D, 4), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for A1302?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A1302
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.