Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey high school students to complete a one-semester financial literacy course as part of their curriculum. The course must cover budgeting, savings, credit, debt, taxes, college financial planning, and other personal finance topics, while excluding primarily business or economic instruction. Teachers must hold specific endorsements (e.g., in Finance, Social Studies, or Business) to teach the course, and school districts must integrate it into graduation requirements for state-endorsed diplomas. The requirement applies to students entering 12th grade in the 2027-2028 school year.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires retailers to disclose the regular single-item price for merchandise advertised in "Buy One, Get One Free" or similar promotions. It directly affects businesses running such offers, mandating that ads show the usual price of the item before the promotion. Violations are considered consumer fraud under state law, punishable by fines up to $20,000 per offense or legal action from the Attorney General. The goal is to prevent misleading advertising where the regular price appears artificially inflated during promotions.

Maddy summaryAJR 70 designates February 28 of each year as "Amistad Day" in New Jersey to commemorate the 1839 Amistad mutiny, where enslaved Africans fought for freedom aboard a ship. This annual observance directly affects New Jersey residents by encouraging schools, officials, and communities to recognize the historical significance of the case. The bill requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation calling for appropriate ceremonies and educational activities to highlight the Amistad case's role in the abolitionist movement and the fight for liberty. It is a commemorative resolution with no new policies or funding, solely focused on marking this date for historical remembrance.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide a property tax rebate to disabled veterans who own or rent their primary residence in New Jersey. It directly affects disabled veterans, including those experiencing financial hardship due to high property taxes and rental costs, as highlighted by the bill's findings (73% of NJ veterans have disabilities, with 518 homeless veterans in the state). The rebate is intended to help prevent homelessness and reduce financial burdens for this group. The bill defines key terms like "homestead" and "disabled veterans" but does not specify the rebate amount or exact eligibility calculations in the provided text. It is currently pending before the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), with input from the Department of Education (DOE), to create a private database of new teachers (those with a teaching certificate but not yet a full license) and host three annual job fairs across the state. The database will include contact details and certification information for new teachers, who can opt out or limit how they're contacted. School districts can use the database to find new teachers, and the job fairs will connect them with new teachers, teacher training program students, and other certified educators. The bill also allows DOLWD to charge a small fee to participating schools to cover job fair costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to establish and regularly update guidelines for investigating bias incidents - crimes motivated by prejudice against protected groups. It mandates that local law enforcement agencies report confirmed or suspected bias incidents to the Electronic Uniform Crime Reporting system within 24 hours and immediately notify the Attorney General and county prosecutors for serious cases (e.g., homicide, hate group involvement). The guidelines also set procedures for investigations, require victim referrals to the Division on Civil Rights for discrimination-related incidents, and include mandatory training for officers on detecting and reporting bias crimes. These standards directly affect county/municipal police departments, prosecutors, and victims of bias incidents.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 1975, now enacted as P.L.2025, c.207) requires cosmetology, hairstyling, barbering, and hair braiding training programs to include specific instruction on working with textured hair. It directly affects licensed professionals in these fields, including cosmetologists, hairstylists, beauticians, barbers, and hair braiders who must complete state-approved training. The key provision amends existing licensing standards to mandate that training curricula cover techniques for textured hair care, ensuring new licensees are trained in this specific skill. The law applies to all training programs operating under the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 449) requires all colleges and universities to place automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in unlocked locations within athletic facilities and student centers, accessible during normal operating hours. It also mandates that institutions maintain a supply of naloxone nasal spray near each AED for opioid overdose emergencies, with designated staff trained to use both devices. Institutions must ensure at least two staff members are CPR- and AED-trained during facility hours and regularly test/maintain equipment, while also designating a campus medical professional to oversee naloxone use. The bill provides liability protection for institutions and staff acting in good faith when implementing these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state employees (including those in Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches), county and municipal staff, and certain state contractors with access to state computer systems or databases to complete annual cybersecurity awareness training. The training must be online, approved by the state Chief Technology Officer, and verified by the relevant agency. It includes specific provisions for contractors, requiring them to complete the training during each contract period, with compliance verified through state contract managers. The bill mandates periodic audits to ensure all covered entities meet the training requirement, aiming to strengthen cybersecurity practices across state operations.

Maddy summaryThis proposed New Jersey bill (A 1931) prohibits auto insurance companies from using a person's educational level, occupation, or credit score to set insurance rates or determine policyholders' risk tiers. It also bans insurers from asking applicants about these factors during the application process. The law would require insurers to file all underwriting rules with the state commissioner and apply them uniformly statewide. If passed, this would directly affect all auto insurance applicants and policyholders in New Jersey who might have previously faced higher rates based on these factors. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.