Rutgers University in New Jersey.
New Jersey's Senate Bill 4788 — which, if enacted, would have required four-year public institutions in the state to adopt a policy requiring students to complete a course with substantial climate change content before graduating — died on January 12, 2026, when the legislature adjourned sine die.
The bill explained, "The purpose of the policy shall be to empower students with the knowledge and skills needed to confront the urgent global challenge of climate change," adding, "The policy shall identify numerous courses offered by the institution across multiple disciplines that may satisfy the requirement, including upper-level courses that dedicate at least 30 percent of their content toward climate change and which provide instruction on climate change in students’ respective fields of study." The policy would have applied to students who enroll after the effective date of the law.
Introduced by Bob Smith (D-District 17) and Linda R. Greenstein (D-District 14) on October 27, 2025, and referred to the Senate Higher Education Committee, Senate Bill 4788 was apparently the first legislative attempt in the United States to mandate climate change education in higher education.
