Establishes "Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force" to promote importance of civility to students in grades kindergarten through 12.

SCR78

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 78

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 2, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� JON M. BRAMNICK

District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes �Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task
Force� to promote importance of civility to students in grades kindergarten
through 12.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution
establishing the
�Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force.�

Whereas,

Civility is one of the most basic yet important virtues to be integrated into
the education of young people; and

Whereas,

While civility is often associated only with being polite or courteous, the
concept of civility extends even further and, when integrated properly into
civic life, allows individuals to disagree without disrespect and to seek
common ground as a starting point for dialogue about differences; and

Whereas,

The concept of civility allows for more vigorous public debate as it emphasizes
a deeper understanding of others� biases and preconceptions and promotes
exploration of that understanding through respect, kindness, compassion, and
open dialogue; and

Whereas,

Schools are the ideal settings to begin teaching civic virtues, since young
people spend most of their waking hours learning in classrooms and interacting
with their classmates and peers; and

Whereas,

Although civility should be underscored in the school curriculum and in the
school setting, it is important for students to understand that civility can be
practiced in everyday life outside of the classroom and even in future careers;
and

Whereas,

It can be instructive for students to learn from individuals who practice
civility on a daily basis and to be provided examples of times in which
civility led to positive outcomes; and

Whereas,

The spirit of public debate at all levels of government is one that should be
centered on respect, compassion, and honesty, and elected officials should be
leading examples of bringing civility into these discussions; and

Whereas,

Too often, however, the political discourse that is on public display is
characterized by impoliteness, aggression, and deceit; and

Whereas,

During an era in which hostile political rhetoric and political violence has
increased, it is imperative to emphasize civility to students in the State and
to highlight the experiences of decision-makers who have effectively deployed
the virtues of civility in order to enact positive change; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

���� 1.� a.� There is established
the �Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force.�� The purpose of the task
force shall be to promote the importance of civility to students in grades
kindergarten through 12 across the State and to emphasize the importance of
treating each other with respect and dignity in daily interactions and
discourse, even during times in which students may differ in opinions or
beliefs.�

���� b.� The task force shall be
comprised of 12 members of the Legislature, to be appointed as follows:

���� (1)� six members of the
Senate, three of whom shall be members of the majority party appointed by the
Senate President and three of whom shall be members of the minority party
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and

���� (2)� six members of the
General Assembly, three of whom shall be members of the majority party
appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and three of whom shall be
members of the minority party appointed by the Minority Leader of the General
Assembly.�

���� c.� In appointing members to
the task force, the presiding officers and minority leaders shall each consider
factors relevant to the work of the task force, which factors shall include,
but not be limited to, the members� records of working in a bipartisan manner.�

���� d.� The task force shall be
entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the
employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau,
commission, or agency, or any public institution of higher education in the
State, as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes, and to
employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other
miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of
funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

���� 2.� a.� In conducting its
business, the task force shall annually travel to schools across the State to,
at a minimum, discuss with students:

���� (1)� the core values that
underpin the meaning of civility and how it can be practiced in everyday life,
even while in school;

���� (2)� the importance of
engaging with others in a respectful manner and ways in which students can
foster meaningful and productive dialogue with each other even when they
disagree on a particular topic;

���� (3)� instances in which the
members of the task force worked with others to resolve differences in a civil
way;

���� (4)� cases in which the
members of the task force worked with other members of the Legislature,
especially those who are of different political affiliations, in order
facilitate positive change through the legislative process;

���� (5)� examples of times in
which the members of the task force did not agree with others and how the
members expressed their disagreement, or otherwise resolved the disagreement,
in a civil way; and

���� (6)� overall how to
demonstrate mutual respect and consideration in language, attitudes, behaviors,
and verbal, nonverbal, written, and digital communications.

���� b.� In fulfilling the
requirements of subsection a. of this section, the task force shall annually
travel to schools it designates and ensure that it visits a cross section of
elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools located in urban, suburban,
and rural areas of the State, with equal consideration given to schools located
in the north, central, and southern geographical regions of the State.�

���� 3.� This concurrent resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This concurrent resolution
establishes the �Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force.�� The purpose of
the task force is to promote the importance of civility to students in grades
kindergarten through 12 across the State and to emphasize the importance of
treating each other with respect and dignity in daily interactions and
discourse.�

���� The task force is to be comprised
of 12 members of the Legislature, to be appointed as follows: six members of
the Senate, three of whom are to be members of the majority party appointed by
the Senate President and three of whom are to be members of the minority party
appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and six members of the General
Assembly, three of whom are to be members of the majority party appointed by
the Speaker of the General Assembly and three of whom are to be members of the
minority party appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly.�

���� In conducting its business,
the task force is required to annually travel to schools across the State to,
at a minimum, discuss with students:

�

the core values
that underpin the meaning of civility and how it can be practiced in everyday
life, even while in school;

�

the importance
of engaging with others in a respectful manner and ways in which students can
foster meaningful and productive dialogue with each other even when they
disagree on a particular topic;

�

instances in
which the members of the task force worked with others to resolve differences
in a civil way;

�

cases in which
the members of the task force worked with other members of the Legislature,
especially those who are of different political affiliations, in order to
facilitate the enactment of positive change throughout the legislative process;

�

examples of
times in which the members of the task force did not agree with others and how
the members expressed their disagreement, or otherwise resolved the
disagreement, in a civil way; and

�

overall how to
demonstrate mutual respect and consideration in language, attitudes, behaviors,
and verbal, nonverbal, written, and digital communications.

���� In fulfilling the requirements
of the bill, the task force is to annually travel to schools it designates and
ensure that it visits a cross section of elementary schools, middle schools,
and high schools located in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State, with
equal consideration given to schools located in the north, central, and
southern geographical regions of the State.� �