# New Jersey A4591: Permits school districts to define excused absences from school to include illness based on student's mental or behavioral health and requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines for defining excused absence for this reason.

New Jersey A4591, Permits school districts to define excused absences from school to include illness based on student's mental or behavioral health and requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines for defining excused absence for this reason., is a 221st Legislature (2026-2027) House bill sponsored by Carol A. Murphy (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-03-10 (Introduced, 1st Reading in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-A4591-2026-2027
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: New Jersey A4591
- State: New Jersey
- Session: 221st Legislature (2026-2027)
- Title: Permits school districts to define excused absences from school to include illness based on student's mental or behavioral health and requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines for defining excused absence for this reason.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-03-10
- Last action: 2026-03-10, Introduced, 1st Reading in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
- Sponsor: Carol A. Murphy (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Carol A. Murphy (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Anthony Angelozzi (Democratic), House

## Actions (1)

- 2026-03-10: Introduced, 1st Reading in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (House)

## Bill text

- As Introduced, 2026-03-25: [HTML](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/A5000/4591_I1.HTM), [PDF](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/A5000/4591_I1.PDF)

## Related bills

- S1395: Allows certain limited liability companies to terminate alternate names before end of five-year registration period. (signed)
- S4420: Authorizes regional rehabilitation and reentry center authority to determine county proportional share assessment for budget purposes. (signed)
- S4515: Authorizes dual employment by certain employees of Rutgers University and affiliated contracting entities.* (signed)
- S4413: Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program in DCF; requires school districts to develop mental health support and partner… (signed)
- S2962: Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for military service. (signed)
- A4072: Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. (signed)

## Sources
- [As Introduced (HTML)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/A5000/4591_I1.HTM)
- [As Introduced (PDF)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/A5000/4591_I1.PDF)

## Related
- [S1395: Allows certain limited liability companies to terminate alternate names before…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S1395-2026-2027)
- [S4420: Authorizes regional rehabilitation and reentry center authority to determine co…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S4420-2026-2027)
- [S4515: Authorizes dual employment by certain employees of Rutgers University and affil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S4515-2026-2027)
- [S4413: Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids progra…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S4413-2026-2027)
- [S2962: Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for mili…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S2962-2026-2027)
- [A4072: Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contrac…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-A4072-2026-2027)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-A4591-2026-2027 (as of 2026-10-12).