NJ A450

Public higher education institutions in New Jersey must provide an alternative scholarship to student-athletes whose athletic scholarships are rescinded or not renewed due to incapacitating injury or illness

The replacement scholarship must equal the value of the original athletic scholarship and continue for the remainder of the student's undergraduate enrollment or up to five academic years total (including time on athletic scholarship), whichever is shorter

"Incapacitating injury or illness" is defined as one directly related to intercollegiate athletics participation that the institution's medical staff determines makes the student medically ineligible to continue competing

The bill applies only to undergraduate students participating in intercollegiate athletics at public institutions of higher education

Pre-filed as Assembly Bill 450 for introduction in the 2026 legislative session, sponsored by Assemblyman Venezia and Assemblywoman Morales (District 34, Essex County)