Bill Text: NJ A5266 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires school districts to provide certain minimum periods of lunch and recess for certain students.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-15 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A5266 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5266-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman AURA K. DUNN
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to provide certain minimum periods of lunch and recess for certain students.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning lunch and recess periods for public school students, amending P.L.2018, c.73, and supplementing chapter 33 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2018, c.73 (C.18A:35-4.31) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. [Beginning with the first full school year following the effective date of this act , a] A public school district shall provide a daily recess period of at least 20 minutes for students in grades kindergarten through [5] eight. The recess period shall be held outdoors, if feasible. A student shall not be denied recess for any reason, except as a consequence of a violation of the district's code of student conduct, including a harassment, intimidation, or bullying investigation pursuant to P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-13 et seq.). If a student is denied recess, except under conditions set forth in subsection b. of this section, the student shall be provided restorative justice activities during the recess period. A student may not be denied recess more than twice per week.
A school district shall not be required to provide a recess period on a school day in which the day is substantially shortened due to a delayed opening or early dismissal.
The recess period shall not be used to meet the course requirements set forth in N.J.S.18A:35-5.
b. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit school staff from denying recess for a student on the advice of a medical professional, school nurse, or based on the provisions of a student's 504 plan.
c. For purposes of this section, "restorative justice activities" means activities designed to improve the socioemotional and behavioral responses of students through the use of more appropriate, and less punitive, interventions thereby establishing a more supportive and inclusive school culture.
(cf: P.L.2018, c.73, s.1)
2. (New section) A school district with students in grades kindergarten through eight, or any combination thereof, shall provide on each day that school is in full session, a daily lunch period of at least 30 seated minutes for students enrolled in the district.
3. This act shall take effect
immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the
date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires school districts to provide a daily lunch period of at least 30 seated minutes to students in grades kindergarten through grade eight, on a day in which school is in session for a full day.
The bill also requires school districts to provide a daily recess period of at least 20 minutes for students in grades kindergarten through grade eight who are enrolled in the district. Under current law, a school district is required to provide a daily recess period of at least 20 minutes for students in grades kindergarten through grade five. This bill would require a school district to provide recess to students in grades kindergarten through eight.
