ACR 93 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require all tax revenue from New Jersey's legal recreational marijuana sales to be dedicated exclusively to mental health, addiction recovery, and drug rehabilitation services. If approved by voters, this amendment would mandate that funds collected under the state's marijuana sales tax (per the Sales and Use Tax Act) must be used solely for these specific services and cannot be diverted to other state budget needs. The amendment would become part of the state constitution only after voter approval in a general election.
This New Jersey bill creates a 17-member Military Suicide Prevention Task Force within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Department of Human Services. The task force includes military leaders, veterans, mental health experts, and representatives from state agencies, with specific requirements for veteran representation and expertise in areas like PTSD and military sexual trauma. Its key duties are to review military suicide issues, identify evidence-based prevention strategies, recommend state actions (including legislation), and submit biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature. The task force directly affects active-duty service members, veterans, and state agencies responsible for military and veteran services in New Jersey.
This bill amends New Jersey's assault statute to elevate certain assaults against specific healthcare workers to aggravated assault. It directly affects direct care workers at State or county psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, or veterans' homes who are clearly performing their duties. The key provision (added as subsection b(5)(k)) makes it aggravated assault to intentionally cause bodily injury to these workers while they're identifiable in their roles, increasing penalties. The law does not cover disabled individuals as victims but protects the workers who support them. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.
This New Jersey bill expands protected bereavement leave under the Family Leave Act to cover specific personal losses: death of a child (including stillbirth), miscarriage (including chemical pregnancy), termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, and failed fertility treatments. It directly affects employees who experience these events, granting them up to 21 days of job-protected leave for situations not covered by other leave types, or 7 days if other leave applies. The bill amends existing laws (P.L.1989, c.261 and P.L.1948, c.110) to define "bereavement" broadly, including losses related to adoption plans, gestational carriers, and fertility treatments. It ensures eligible employees can take time off without losing their jobs or benefits during these difficult circumstances.
This bill allows corrections officers, firefighters, and police officers to administer epinephrine auto-injectors (allergy shots) after completing a state-approved training program. It requires these personnel to receive certification to administer, maintain, and dispose of the devices, with training approved by the Commissioner of Health. The law specifically includes county/state corrections officers, firefighters employed or volunteering for public fire departments, and State/county/municipal police officers. This clarifies existing law to explicitly permit these public safety workers to provide emergency allergy treatment.
This bill (A 947) requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign and develop policies for recognizing and treating perinatal anxiety - a condition affecting approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women. It mandates that healthcare providers screen all pregnant and postpartum patients for perinatal anxiety during prenatal visits (at least once per trimester), before discharge after birth, and at early postnatal check-ups, using the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) or an approved alternative. Providers must also give patients and their families clear information about symptoms, coping strategies, and treatment resources. The bill directly affects pregnant and postpartum women, their healthcare providers, and birthing facilities across New Jersey.
This bill (A 1088) establishes the Overdose Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board in New Jersey to analyze cases involving overdose deaths or serious medical conditions caused by controlled substances. The board, composed of 13 members including state health and law enforcement officials plus public representatives, will confidentially review each case to identify causes, patterns, risk factors, and gaps in prevention services. It will maintain a secure master file with basic case details (like age and circumstances) while protecting victim identities, and issue reports with recommendations to improve responses across government agencies. The board’s work aims to inform policies targeting substance use disorder and reduce future overdose incidents.
This bill amends New Jersey's crime compensation law to allow victims of sexual assault to qualify for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) even if they did not report the offense to police. It directly affects victims of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, or related offenses who received forensic medical services through a county sexual assault response team (SART) within nine months of the incident. The key provision removes the requirement for a police report when such medical services were provided, making compensation accessible to those who sought medical care but chose not to report to law enforcement. The change applies to cases where a SART conducted forensic exams, streamlining access to support for unreported sexual offenses.
This bill changes New Jersey's immunization registry policy by requiring written parental or guardian consent for enrollment, instead of automatic registration. It directly affects parents/guardians of children under 18 and individuals over 18 who can opt out. Key provisions include: no automatic enrollment for newborns (replacing current automatic enrollment unless parents opt out), explicit written consent required for all minors, and strengthened privacy protections limiting registry access to authorized health providers and schools. The bill also prohibits discrimination against those who decline registry participation.
This bill establishes a $1 million grant program to expand mental health services for students connected to military families in New Jersey school districts. School districts with high concentrations of military-connected students (defined as those with parents in active duty, National Guard, or reserve components) can apply for grants to fund additional counseling, mental health outreach, and support for students when parents are deployed. Grants must be used to enhance existing services, with districts required to demonstrate need and report on program impact, including student outcomes. The program requires the Department of Education to administer grants and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature.
