---
type: "Bill"
title: "Codifies early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in DHS.*"
description: "Codifies early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in DHS.*"
jurisdiction: "us/states/nj"
legislature: "New Jersey Legislature"
session: "221"
identifier: "A 4986"
citation: "New Jersey A 4986 (221)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["CHILDREN", "DISABLED"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Greenstein, Linda R.", "Karabinchak, Robert J.", "Katz, Andrea", "McKnight, Angela V.", "Swain, Lisa"]
version_count: 2
action_count: 11
vote_count: 6
first_action: "2024-10-24T04:00:00+00:00"
last_action: "2026-01-12T05:00:00+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/280b9f1d-94c7-47ed-8ffd-44dc0ba69848"
source_url: "https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/leg-databases/"
source_hash: "7d324596b3f02e538a7ef297a2ad0d55336ba27c7388fd15a75239f7360f5f01"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-nj"]
---

# New Jersey A 4986 (221) — Codifies early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in DHS.*

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Reprint SHH 6/9/25 1R** (committee substitute) — [source](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/A5000/4986_R1.HTM)
2. **Reprint Senate 12/22/25 2R** (committee substitute) — [source](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/A5000/4986_R2.HTM)

## Votes

- Reported out of Senate committee with amendments — **7–0** (pass) · upper
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **37–0** (pass) · upper
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **78–0** (pass) · lower
- Reported favorably out of committee — **6–0** (pass) · lower
- CONCUR IN SA — **73–0** (pass) · lower
- AMEND — **37–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Greenstein, Linda R. — primary (person)
- Karabinchak, Robert J. — primary (person)
- Katz, Andrea — primary (person)
- McKnight, Angela V. — primary (person)
- Swain, Lisa — primary (person)
- Calabrese, Clinton — cosponsor (person)
- Speight, Shanique — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2024-10-24T04:00:00+00:00** Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee `introduction, referral-committee`
- **2025-03-17T04:00:00+00:00** Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading `committee-passage`
- **2025-05-22T04:00:00+00:00** Passed Assembly (78-0-0) `passage`
- **2025-05-29T04:00:00+00:00** Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee `referral-committee`
- **2025-06-09T04:00:00+00:00** Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading `committee-passage`
- **2025-12-22T05:00:00+00:00** Senate Amendment (37-0) (Greenstein) `amendment-passage`
- **2025-12-22T05:00:00+00:00** Substituted for S3764 (2R)
- **2025-12-22T05:00:00+00:00** Passed Senate (37-0) `passage`
- **2025-12-22T05:00:00+00:00** Received in the Assembly, 2nd Reading on Concurrence
- **2025-12-22T05:00:00+00:00** Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (73-0-0) `passage`
- **2026-01-12T05:00:00+00:00** Approved P.L.2025, c.257. `executive-signature`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/280b9f1d-94c7-47ed-8ffd-44dc0ba69848`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official New Jersey legislature records).