Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an Advisory Committee on Alternatively Accredited Medical School Clinical Clerkships within New Jersey's Department of Health. It establishes a 11-member committee to review and approve clinical clerkship programs for medical schools outside the U.S. that meet specific accreditation standards (comparable to U.S. standards or recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education). The committee will evaluate applications from these schools and report annually on program participation, including student demographics. This directly affects international medical schools seeking to place students in New Jersey hospitals for clinical training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires ballot scanning machines (used in counties that count hand-marked paper ballots) to include a privacy screen, shield, or curtain to protect voter secrecy when inserting ballots. It also mandates that all voting booths in polling places must have privacy screens, shields, or curtains, ensuring voters can prepare ballots privately without observation. These changes apply statewide to all counties using ballot scanning machines and update existing election laws to standardize privacy protections. The bill aims to maintain consistent ballot secrecy across New Jersey, regardless of voting system or location.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 3-year pilot program requiring counties to create "Code Red" alert systems for extreme heat or poor air quality events. It directly affects at-risk individuals (defined as those living outdoors or in poorly insulated settings) by mandating counties to coordinate cooling centers, outreach plans, and transportation through municipal and social service partners. Alerts trigger when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or air quality index reaches 151, with counties reporting program outcomes to the State Office of Emergency Management by the 30th month. The program expires after three years, with counties eligible for reimbursement of administrative costs. (Note: Bill was withdrawn January 13, 2026, as it was incorporated into P.L.2025, c.297.)

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary 12-member "School Opening and School Closing Student Safety Task Force" to study student safety during school arrival and departure times. The task force, including school administrators, teachers, parent representatives, and education experts, will examine current student-arrival/departure practices (like bus loading, drop-off zones, and traffic patterns), evaluate traffic impacts on safety, and assess staffing needs during these times. It must issue a final report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of organizing. The task force expires 30 days after submitting its report, focusing solely on studying safety protocols without implementing new laws.

Maddy summaryAJR 69 designates October 1 of each year as "All Hair is Good Hair Day" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of the day to celebrate hair diversity. It does not create new laws, impose requirements, or directly affect any specific group or policy. The bill is purely symbolic, acknowledging cultural identity and historical discrimination related to hair types, particularly in marginalized communities. It is a procedural resolution awaiting committee referral.

Maddy summaryThis bill (AR 70) requests the U.S. Department of Defense to allow transgender veterans to update their DD Form 214 (military discharge record) to reflect their current legal names and gender identities. It directly affects transgender veterans who face barriers in accessing benefits like medical care, employment preferences, and funeral services due to outdated information on their military records. The resolution asks the Defense Department to authorize these changes so veterans can match their discharge documents with their current legal identity, eliminating mismatches that cause discrimination or benefit denials. The bill does not create new law but formally urges the DOD to amend its policy on these historical military service forms.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 1965 prohibits insurers (including auto, home, and health insurance companies) and state health benefit programs (State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program) from charging policyholders a fee for receiving paper bills or notices. The law requires insurers to provide physical mailings at no extra cost, while still allowing them to offer discounts for digital billing options. It applies to all standard insurance policies and state health plans, with penalties of up to $1,000 per violation for insurers that violate this rule. The bill aims to eliminate hidden costs for consumers choosing paper communications.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires law enforcement officers (including state, county, municipal, and federal officers working under local agencies) to visibly identify themselves during public interactions. Officers must display their agency name (or common initials) and either their name or unique badge number on their uniform. The law prohibits wearing masks or disguises that conceal identity during routine public duties, except for specific exceptions like undercover operations, SWAT team safety gear, water rescues, extreme weather, fire protection, biohazard response, medical masks with physician approval, or face shields that don't cover the face. Violations are punishable as disorderly persons offenses with fines up to $1,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Chief Diversity Officer to study whether disparities exist in how state agencies use minority-owned and women-owned businesses for purchasing goods and services. The study must determine if these businesses are underutilized compared to their availability in the state. After completing the study, the officer must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, with follow-up reports every four years assessing implementation of prior recommendations and whether new studies are needed. The report could inform potential policy changes to improve opportunities for these businesses in state contracting. This affects all state agencies, including departments, commissions, and independent authorities that award public contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3446) requires New Jersey's Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the General Assembly, or other authorized officials to prioritize racial and gender diversity when appointing members to state boards, commissions, or similar bodies established by law. It mandates that appointing authorities consider achieving a membership reflecting the state's racial and gender makeup as a "primary consideration" for all appointments made after the bill takes effect. The requirement applies unless it conflicts with specific circumstances of the appointment or the original law creating the body. The bill defines "gender" to include gender identity and "race" as major groupings based on physical characteristics or ancestry. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee and has not yet become law.