Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryAJR 67 designates the month of May each year as "Nurse's Month" in New Jersey to recognize nurses' contributions to healthcare. The resolution requests the governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public acknowledgment of nurses' work. It directly affects New Jersey's nursing workforce, which includes over 141,000 registered nurses, 13,500 nurse practitioners, and 23,400 licensed practical nurses. This is a ceremonial measure with no new funding, regulations, or policy changes - solely intended to honor nurses' roles in patient care and public health.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's labor laws to increase age restrictions for minors working in agriculture. It prohibits minors under 12 from agricultural work until December 31, 2024, after which the minimum age rises to 14. It also limits agricultural work hours for minors: 10 hours per day before 2025, then aligning with general minor labor rules (c.34:2-21.3) after that date. The bill directly affects minors under 18 working on farms in New Jersey, requiring employer authorization and restricting work hours to protect their health and education.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1366) prohibits life insurance companies in New Jersey from discriminating against individuals based on transgender status or gender identity. Specifically, it amends state law to ban insurers from denying coverage, charging higher rates, or refusing to renew policies due to: (1) transgender status or diagnosis of gender dysphoria, or (2) any mismatch between a person's gender identity and their sex assigned at birth or gender listed in their records. The bill directly affects transgender individuals seeking life insurance by requiring insurers to evaluate applicants solely on actuarial risk, not gender identity. It adds these protections to existing anti-discrimination law, making such discrimination illegal under New Jersey statute. The bill was introduced on January 13, 2026, and remains pending.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-426) requires all operators and riders of low-speed electric bicycles and scooters in New Jersey to wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet meeting state safety standards. It directly affects anyone using these vehicles for transportation, including those riding in attached seats. The law imposes fines of up to $25 for a first violation and $100 for repeat offenses. The bill aims to reduce head injuries, citing increased crash risks compared to traditional bicycles. It is pending before the Assembly Public Safety Committee after being introduced on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commission on Human Trafficking to create a report addressing human trafficking prevention ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be partially hosted in the state. The commission must evaluate existing laws, recommend expanded victim services and awareness campaigns, develop public awareness signs with trafficking hotlines, and coordinate with organizations to reduce trafficking risks. The report, due within 180 days of enactment, will include specific proposals such as additional hotlines, public service announcements for fans, and guidelines for law enforcement, while mandating businesses to display new trafficking prevention signs alongside existing ones.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution (AR 71) formally recognizes April 10 as Dolores Huerta's birthday for the purpose of celebrating her life and legacy. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, people, or programs. The resolution directs that authenticated copies be sent to Dolores Huerta and her family. It honors her decades of activism as a co-founder of the United Farm Workers, advocate for farm workers' rights, and originator of the "Sí se puede" motto. The bill is pending referral to the Assembly Labor Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's definition of "personal data" to explicitly include a person's use of reproductive health care services. It directly affects residents seeking reproductive health care and entities handling their health data, such as providers and pharmacies. The key provision prohibits collecting prescription drug information related to reproductive health services in Prescription Monitoring Programs (PMPs), preventing this sensitive data from being shared with state drug monitoring systems. This change strengthens privacy protections by ensuring such health data cannot be used for purposes unrelated to patient care.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill amends the Law Against Discrimination to explicitly protect immigrants and non-citizens from discrimination based on their immigration status or citizenship status. It adds these categories to the list of protected characteristics in employment, housing, and public accommodations, alongside existing protections for race, gender, disability, and other factors. The law ensures individuals cannot be denied jobs, housing, or services due to their immigration or citizenship status, and clarifies that discrimination against people for these reasons harms both individuals and the state. This expands existing anti-discrimination law to directly address barriers faced by immigrant communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council within New Jersey's Department of Health to address human trafficking risks associated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The council, composed of nine members including trafficking survivors and a law enforcement officer, will evaluate existing laws, review assistance programs, develop public awareness campaigns (including toll-free hotline signage), and submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 180 days. The bill appropriates $1 million from the state's General Fund to fund the council's operations, with the council's work ending upon report submission or one year after the World Cup, whichever occurs later. This directly affects New Jersey's state response to trafficking during the event, focusing on prevention, victim support, and coordination.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and specific state facilities (like psychiatric hospitals and developmental centers) in New Jersey. It requires facilities to maintain specific ratios, such as 1 nurse for every 5 patients on medical/surgical units and 1 nurse for every 2 patients in critical care units. The law aims to improve patient safety and reduce errors by ensuring adequate nursing coverage based on patient acuity, while requiring facilities to use acuity-based staffing systems to adjust for changing patient needs. These requirements apply to all direct-care registered nurses providing patient services, not administrative staff.