New Jersey's S 1631 adds height and weight to the list of protected characteristics under the state's Law Against Discrimination. It makes it illegal for employers, public accommodations (like restaurants and stores), and housing providers to discriminate based on these factors. The bill amends existing law to include "height or weight" alongside categories like race, disability, and gender identity in all relevant sections. Enforcement will continue through the Division on Civil Rights, which handles complaints about discrimination.
This bill (S 1388) prohibits health club contracts from including clauses that limit the club’s liability for injuries caused by the club’s negligence (Section 1(l)). It directly affects health club customers who suffer injuries due to the club’s or its staff’s negligent actions. The key provision makes any contractual attempt to waive such liability unenforceable, ensuring customers can seek compensation for negligence-related harm. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under New Jersey law, potentially resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense. The bill codifies prior court rulings rejecting such liability waivers as against public policy.
New Jersey's S 687 creates a 17-member task force to study how climate change impacts property insurance availability and affordability. The task force, including state agency leaders, legislators, insurance industry representatives, and environmental advocates, will examine issues like whether federal programs or industry practices subsidize risky development, where insurance costs don't match actual flood/fire risks, and which communities may become uninsurable within 50 years. It will specifically analyze how rising insurance costs affect coastal areas (noting a 69.54% jump in policy drops from 2018-2022), affordable housing, and low-income communities. The task force must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its formation.
This bill extends the time window from 7 to 10 days for workers who leave a job for a new one that later gets rescinded. It prevents disqualification from unemployment benefits if a worker accepts a new job offer starting within 10 days of leaving their current position, provided the new job’s pay and hours match or exceed their previous role, and the rescission wasn’t their fault. The change specifically applies when a worker gives notice to their first employer about a planned departure date, and the second job offer is withdrawn. This adjustment aims to protect workers who face unexpected loss of new employment opportunities after voluntarily leaving their prior job.
This Assembly Resolution (AR 250) is a ceremonial measure that directs the New Jersey General Assembly to hold a special commemorative session at Princeton University’s Nassau Hall on February 5, 2026. It marks the 250th anniversary of the first meeting of the State Legislature, which occurred at Nassau Hall in August 1776. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any specific groups; it solely schedules a historical observance to reflect on New Jersey’s founding and its enduring relationship with Princeton University. Copies will be sent to Princeton’s president as part of this commemorative event.
This Assembly Resolution (AR 1) organizes New Jersey's General Assembly for the 222nd Legislature and updates committee rules. It names Craig J. Coughlin as Speaker, Annette Quijano as Speaker pro tempore, and Dana M. Burley as Clerk, while amending Assembly Rule 10:1 to adjust committee membership sizes (e.g., increasing Appropriations Committee members from 11 to 15). The resolution establishes procedural rules for staff management, meeting schedules, and bill drafting, directly affecting Assembly leadership and committee operations for the new session. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new policy but formalizes the Assembly's structure.
Passed Assembly (71-0-0)
This bill allocates $5 million for Food Security Research and Innovation (under the Department of Agriculture) to fund projects, pilot programs, and partnerships addressing food access needs. It also provides $750,000 for Social Services Programs, including $500,000 to "Family Food Relief of New Jersey" and $250,000 for "Bridges NJ." Additionally, it allocates $44 million in state aid for local governments, targeting specific county projects like homelessness stabilization in Burlington, medical center upgrades in Bergen, and emergency communications in Gloucester. The funds are supplemental to the existing 2025-2026 budget and direct state services, with no new policy changes beyond funding allocations.
The Safe Communities Act requires New Jersey's Attorney General to develop model policies ensuring safety and accessibility at key community locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, shelters, and courthouses. These policies must be adopted by relevant state agencies (including education, health, and corrections departments) within 180 days of the law's enactment, with institutions required to post them visibly. The law aims to prevent residents from avoiding essential services or gatherings due to safety concerns, focusing on maintaining open access to public services and religious spaces. It applies directly to all covered facilities and their visitors across New Jersey.
This bill codifies New Jersey's existing Attorney General directive to prevent state and local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration laws. It prohibits police from stopping, questioning, or detaining people solely based on immigration status, asking about immigration status unless relevant to a crime investigation, or sharing personal information (like addresses or social security numbers) with federal immigration authorities. Exceptions apply only for serious crimes (e.g., violent offenses or recent convictions) or when required by law for criminal investigations. The law directly affects all New Jersey state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officers, aiming to build trust between police and immigrant communities by clarifying that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of the Treasury to create a low-cost financial advisory program for state employees enrolled in the state's deferred compensation plan (a retirement savings program). The program would provide individualized advice on investments, retirement income planning, and alternatives to the plan's offerings. The Treasury must contract with a vendor that acts in participants' best interests (with no commissions), charges fees based on participants' account balances (capped to keep costs reasonable), and avoids conflicts of interest. The program would initially serve current plan participants, with potential future expansion to all eligible state employees.
This bill, the "Privacy Protection Act," prohibits New Jersey government entities (like state agencies, counties, and municipalities) and healthcare facilities from collecting or sharing specific personal information - such as immigration status, citizenship details, Social Security numbers, or place of birth - except when necessary to determine eligibility for public services, benefits, or professional licensing. It requires that any collected data be retained only as long as needed for those purposes and prevents such records from being disclosed under the state's open records law, except in limited cases like court orders, election requirements, or with explicit written consent. Written consent must clearly explain what data is shared, why, that refusal won't cause discrimination, and that consent can be revoked. The bill also restricts sharing of automated license plate data except to other government entities under legal authority or with a court order.
