The New Jersey Assembly Higher Education Committee voted to amend and release Assembly Bill 4812, which establishes a task force on higher education governance and funding and includes an appropriation of $200,000 from the general fund.

The task force bill, as amended in committee, revises task force membership, changes appointment and meeting timelines, requires at least one public hearing, adds duties for the group and includes the $200,000 appropriation, Committee staff read for the record.

Supporters told the committee the task force should examine both operating aid and capital investment to make New Jersey more competitive. Jennifer Keys Maloney, representing the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, said the sector’s funding picture has slipped in recent decades and that capital needs deserve regular review. “Over the last, in fact, 25 years, we spent approximately 829,000,000. Or I should say in February, we spent approximately 829,000,000. In 2024, we spent 1,340,000,000.00 on higher education,” she said, adding that a simple CPI adjustment would put recommended support near $1,518,000,000.

Marie Heitkamp of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges told the committee community colleges serve about 240,000 New Jerseyans and urged the task force to include the Council to represent the community‑college coordinating perspective. “We know the task force will take into account the good structures that are currently working, and therefore, in addition to a community college president, we would like to ask that the council itself be included on the task force to offer the perspective of a coordinating body for the state's community college sector,” she said.

Committee members emphasized the task force is meant to bring stakeholders together to evaluate governance and funding. Assemblyman Miller said the panel will “bring everyone together, to talk about the governance structure of higher ed in the state of New Jersey, and also talk about the funding.” Assemblywoman Simmons added that student support services such as housing, food security and childcare are part of what the task force should consider, saying without those services “many of our students can't remain with us.”

Public commenters included Francine Pepper, who said the task force was “way overdue” and urged examination of administrative costs and institutional structure. Numerous organizations filed supporting witness slips, including Rowan University, Rutgers University, NJBIA and several unions; some asked for seats or amendments but did not testify in person.

The committee voted to amend and release the bill. Recorded votes were: Assemblywoman Matsakis — yes; Assemblyman Charfenberger — yes; Assemblyman Abdelaziz — yes; Assemblywoman Simmons — yes; Assemblyman Miller — yes; Assemblyman Atkins — left a vote in the affirmative; Chairwoman Carter — yes. The committee chair announced the bill was released.

The task force’s duties, final membership and schedule will be defined in the bill text and in the committee amendments adopted before release. The bill also requires the task force to hold at least one public hearing.