New Jersey lawmakers have advanced legislation that would require the state to develop guidance for public schools on accommodating students who fast for religious or medical reasons.
The measure has particular relevance during Ramadan, when Muslim students may abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset while continuing to attend classes, physical education and other school activities.
Assemblywoman Shama Haider, who represents Bergen County’s 37th Legislative District, sponsored the Assembly version of the legislation, A2042. The bill cleared the New Jersey General Assembly last week.
“Students who fast for any religious or medical reasons should have access to the accommodations they need to ensure a positive educational experience for all,” Haider said in announcing the measure. She also noted her personal experience growing up Muslim and fasting during Ramadan. asse
What Would the Legislation Do?
Under the legislation, the New Jersey Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, would be required to develop and distribute guidance to public schools on accommodations for students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons.
The goal is to give schools a clearer framework for handling situations in which fasting may affect a student’s participation in academics, physical education, athletics or other physically demanding activities.
The guidance would address appropriate accommodations while allowing students to continue meeting educational requirements.
The Measure Is Not Limited to Ramadan
Although Ramadan is one of the most familiar examples of religious fasting in New Jersey schools, the legislation is deliberately broader.
It applies to students fasting for any religious or medical reason, rather than creating a policy exclusively for Muslim students. The current legislative language specifically directs the state to prepare guidance covering both religious and medical fasting.
Haider said that during Ramadan, fasting from sunrise to sunset can be especially difficult for young people and that fatigue may become more pronounced during physically demanding activities.
Haider Sponsored the Assembly Version
Haider was the sponsor of A2042, the Assembly version of the proposal. It advanced through the Assembly Education Committee in June before moving forward in the Legislature.
A parallel Senate measure, S1340, was sponsored by Senators Joseph Pennacchio and Brian P. Stack, with Senators Angela McKnight, James Beach, Gordon Johnson and M. Teresa Ruiz listed as co-sponsors.
The Senate approved S1340 on May 28, 2026, and the Assembly gave the Senate measure final passage on September 24, 2026.
A Statewide Approach to a Common School Issue
Individual schools may already make accommodations for fasting students, but the legislation seeks to provide statewide guidance rather than leaving every situation to be handled independently by individual teachers, coaches or districts.
For Muslim families in particular, the issue frequently becomes more visible during Ramadan, when students may spend an entire school day without eating or drinking.
The legislation does not eliminate academic expectations. Instead, its central purpose is to establish guidance for schools on how students who are fasting can continue their education while receiving reasonable accommodations when needed.
Sources: New Jersey Legislature — A2042 and S1340; New Jersey Legislative Assembly Democrats
By NJ RADAR Team