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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey Bill A237 Establishes Statutory Factors for Court-Ordered Post-High School Educational Expenses in Child Support Cases
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security CommitteeSponsor: Azzariti Jr., John V., M.D.
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What This Bill Would Do
New Jersey Assembly Bill 237 establishes 22 specific statutory factors for courts to consider when ordering parents to pay post-high school educational expenses for ren. The bill allows courts to limit undergraduate contributions to four tuition years, permits parental obligation modifications under specific conditions such as lack of enrollment within 120 days of high school graduation or academic failure, and takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Parents involved in New Jersey family court proceedings will be subject to a codified framework detailing exactly which financial, academic, and familial factors determine court-mandated contributions toward a child's college or vocational training.
- In New Jersey, courts previously relied primarily on case law established by court decisions (such as the Newburgh v. Arrigo factors) to determine whether and how divorced or separated parents should contribute to their children's college expenses. context
- Bill A237 was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026 session of the New Jersey Legislature and referred to the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Parents in Family Court Proceedings
Parents are subject to specific statutory evaluation criteria when a court determines financial contributions toward a child's post-high school education and may seek modification or termination of those obligations under defined conditions.
Unemancipated Children Seeking Higher Education
Children seeking post-high school education may receive court-ordered financial support from parents for educational and living expenses, subject to academic performance, enrollment timelines, and personal conduct criteria.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of expenses can a court order parents to pay for higher education?
Can a court-ordered obligation to pay for college be terminated?
What happens if parents agree on how to handle college expenses for a child over 18?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Codification of College Support Factors
The bill transitions decisional law regarding parental funding of higher education into explicit statutory factors with defined criteria for modification and termination.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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