This New Jersey Senate Resolution (SR 82) urges the U.S. Congress to renew funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides monthly internet discounts ($30-$75) and one-time device subsidies to low-income households. The resolution highlights that the ACP currently serves over 20 million households nationwide, including 335,079 in New Jersey, saving enrolled households $8.3 million monthly in broadband costs. It notes the program’s $14.2 billion funding is set to expire in April 2024, risking loss of access for millions who rely on it for work, education, and healthcare. As a non-binding request, the resolution formally asks Congress to extend funding but cannot enact changes itself.
Assembly Resolution 107 urges the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to redirect funding away from current transportation providers for disabled veterans and instead support existing county paratransit services and non-profit organizations (like ARC of New Jersey and Easterseals) that already provide transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. It specifically addresses disabled veterans in New Jersey - approximately 53,000 with service-connected disabilities - who use VA medical centers in East Orange and Lyons, where current transportation has been reported as inadequate (leaving veterans stranded for hours or overnight). The resolution proposes that VA funding enable these established networks to expand their services to cover veterans’ medical travel needs, rather than relying on underfunded or inconsistent VA or volunteer-provided transport. This is a non-binding request to the VA, not a legislative mandate.
New Jersey's S 2611 requires all public colleges and universities to provide free menstrual products (tampons and sanitary napkins) in all campus buildings, including lecture halls, residence halls, and administrative offices. Specifically, products must be available in all women’s restrooms, all-gender restrooms, and at least one men’s restroom per building, with a variety of options including different absorbencies and allergy-friendly brands. Institutions must also install dispensers (without replacing existing ones if functional), provide educational materials about menstrual health, and submit costs for state reimbursement. This directly affects students and staff at New Jersey’s public higher education institutions.
This symbolic Assembly Resolution (AR 122) condemns the Alabama Supreme Court ruling in *LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic* (which treats embryos as "extrauterine children") and federal bill H.R. 431 (which would extend constitutional personhood to embryos from fertilization). It reaffirms New Jersey’s existing protections for reproductive health care access, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), which the state already supports through laws requiring insurance coverage for fertility services. The resolution does not create new legal requirements but publicly opposes actions that threaten IVF access and reproductive freedom. New Jersey has previously enacted measures to shield patients and providers from out-of-state prosecution for legally accessed reproductive care.
This New Jersey Assembly resolution urges the U.S. Congress to permanently fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides discounted broadband internet and device subsidies to low-income households. The ACP currently offers up to $30 monthly for internet service (or $75 for Tribal lands) and a one-time $100 discount for devices like laptops, helping over 20 million households nationwide - including 335,079 in New Jersey as of January 2024. The resolution notes the program is set to expire in April 2024 due to a $14.2 billion budget exhaustion, risking the loss of $8.3 million monthly in broadband cost savings for New Jersey households. It calls for permanent congressional funding to maintain these benefits, which support essential activities like education, work, and healthcare access.
This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to include data on post-graduation student placements - specifically noting apprenticeships - in annual school performance report cards. It directly affects all public school districts and their reporting to the state. The key mechanism adds a new requirement (item 16) to existing report card content, mandating that districts track and report the number and percentage of graduates placed in apprenticeships alongside other outcomes like college enrollment or employment. The Commissioner of Education will establish the methodology for collecting this data.
SCR 93 is a New Jersey Senate resolution urging the U.S. President and Congress to adopt the "Poverty Line Act of 2023," a proposed federal bill. It does not create new law but advocates for updating how the federal poverty level is calculated - currently based on 1960s food budgets adjusted for inflation - to reflect modern costs like housing, childcare, and healthcare. The resolution states this change would make millions more families eligible for programs like Medicaid and SNAP, particularly affecting those in New Jersey who live above the current poverty line but still struggle to afford basics (e.g., 26% of households in NJ in 2021). The proposed act would also require a federal review of the calculation every four years to ensure it aligns with current living costs.
This bill requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their actual name and phone number through caller identification services during the call. Specifically, they must accurately identify themselves within the first 30 seconds of contact and cannot block, falsify, or circumvent caller ID displays. It directly affects telemarketing companies and their call centers operating in New Jersey, applying to all unsolicited sales calls. The law aims to increase transparency for consumers by ensuring they can identify and verify telemarketers before engaging with them.
This non-binding resolution urges New Jersey restaurants that accept mobile ordering to add pop-up alerts warning customers not to place orders while driving. It cites that distracted driving caused 42 interstate fatalities in New Jersey during 2021 and that cell phone use is the most common distraction for drivers. The resolution recommends restaurants implement safety features like pop-up warnings in their mobile ordering apps to reduce distracted driving risks. It does not require restaurants to take action but encourages voluntary adoption of these safety measures.
S 1602 amends New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It adds "height or weight" to the list of protected characteristics alongside race, gender, disability, and other existing categories. The bill updates enforcement mechanisms by directing the Division on Civil Rights to handle complaints related to height or weight discrimination. This change directly affects individuals who face bias due to their physical stature in workplaces, housing, and public services.
This Assembly Resolution (AR 1) organizes New Jersey's General Assembly for the 221st Legislature. It formally appoints Craig J. Coughlin as Speaker, Benjie E. Wimberly as Speaker pro tempore, and Dana M. Burley as Clerk, and amends Assembly Rule 10:1 to adjust committee membership numbers for the new session. The resolution establishes internal operational procedures, including meeting schedules, staff authority under the Speaker, and the adoption of the Bill Drafting Manual. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new policy but sets the framework for the Assembly's functioning.
Passed Assembly (75-1-0)
