Recognizing that teachers spend significant amounts of their own money to supply their classrooms, the New Jersey Senate Education Committee advanced legislation today which would provide teachers with a tax deduction for such purchases.

“It is no secret that teachers pay a significant amount of money out of pocket each year to stock their classrooms and support their students’ success,” state Senator Beach (D-Camden), who sponsored the bill, said in a statement.

“This legislation will allow them to deduct some of that spending from their taxes, similarly to how any business owner would deduct their expenses. We hope that this can ease some of the financial burden taken on by our educators.”

The bill would allow educators and paraprofessionals to deduct up to $250 in unreimbursed expenses from their income for the taxable year.

Under the bill, classroom supplies would include books, computer equipment, and other supplementary materials used in the classroom by the eligible educator or paraprofessional.

The bill, which was already approved by the full Assembly, was released from committee by a vote of 5-0 and now goes to the full Senate for a vote.