Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey state, municipal, and county employers to automatically enroll employees in retirement savings plans (deferred compensation plans) unless they opt out. It establishes a default contribution rate, permits periodic increases in contributions, and requires employers to provide employees with clear notice and the option to adjust or stop contributions. Employers must also negotiate automatic enrollment terms with union representatives for covered employees, and designate a default investment option if employees don’t choose one. The bill was withdrawn after being enacted as part of P.L.2025, c.358, making these provisions effective law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts, receiving schools, and nonpublic schools to train all employees - including substitutes - on school safety protocols, including how to report threats. It mandates that school employees immediately notify principals about threats involving potential death or serious injury, prompting principals to alert law enforcement. If law enforcement confirms a credible threat, principals must notify students, parents, staff, and place the individual on a restricted access list shared with all schools in the district and neighboring districts. The training must address accessibility needs for students with disabilities and align with state safety guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a crime for private drone operators to fly drones equipped with weapons. Specifically, it criminalizes operating a civilian drone (owned by individuals or businesses) with any weapon designed to harm people, such as firearms or projectiles. Violators face up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee after being introduced on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program" to pair male students of color in teacher training programs with male teachers of color. It requires the Commissioner of Education to select 19 eligible students (in their final year of training) and 19 male teachers from participating schools, pairing them for mentorship through the student's final training year and first two teaching years. Mentors receive a $5,000 annual stipend, and schools must make a good-faith effort to hire students with favorable performance reviews. The program is funded by a $95,000 appropriation and requires a final report evaluating its effectiveness and recommending potential expansion.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all licensed physicians in New Jersey to complete two hours of implicit bias training every two years. The training must teach physicians to recognize and reduce unconscious bias in patient care, include current research on bias in medicine, and focus on improving health outcomes. The Department of Health will create a list of approved training programs, and the Board of Medical Examiners will ensure physicians complete the required training within two years of the law's effective date and biennially thereafter. It directly affects all physicians licensed under New Jersey's medical practice laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a five-year WATER Pilot Program within New Jersey's Department of Labor, appropriating $1 million to fund water-sector apprenticeships. It directly affects eligible organizations - such as businesses, unions, colleges, nonprofits, and public utilities - that run accredited water-related training programs (e.g., for wastewater workers) and partner with industry. Key provisions require applicants to demonstrate U.S. Department of Labor accreditation, secure industry partnerships, and prioritize underserved communities, with grants covering program costs. Grantees must report annually on participant enrollment, completion, and job placement, while the Department must evaluate the program’s effectiveness yearly.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits state pension and annuity funds from investing in companies that collect or manipulate personal data - without a warrant or court order - to determine immigration status or citizenship. It requires the State Investment Council to identify such companies using an independent privacy firm, then divest funds from them by January 1 of the second year after the bill takes effect, while following standard investment practices. The Council must submit annual reports detailing divested investments and progress to the Governor and Legislature. The bill also shields officials from legal liability for divestment decisions made under its requirements.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill clarifies standards for workplace harassment claims under the Law Against Discrimination. It directly affects employees, employers, and businesses by establishing that harassment based on protected characteristics (like sex) is unlawful if a reasonable person in the employee's protected class would find the conduct severe or pervasive enough to alter working conditions. Key provisions include requiring courts to consider the "totality of circumstances" (not just isolated incidents), allowing complainants' subjective reactions to be part of the evaluation, and explicitly stating that non-physical conduct (such as offensive language) can qualify as harassment without needing proof of lost job benefits.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Concurrent Resolution 71 (ACR 71) is a resolution urging the U.S. President and Congress to pass the federal "VISIBLE Act" (S.2212), which would require immigration enforcement officers to display visible identification during public enforcement actions. The resolution does not create new law but advocates for a federal requirement that officers show their agency name, last name, or badge number - while prohibiting non-medical face coverings during public enforcement - unless for covert operations or environmental hazards. It also calls for accountability measures, including disciplinary actions for non-compliance and annual reports to Congress and civil rights offices. This resolution directly affects U.S. immigration enforcement officers (e.g., CBP, ICE) and aims to increase transparency amid concerns about impersonation of federal agents.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A1115) protects insurers and insurance producers who provide coverage to cannabis-related businesses. It prohibits state/local agencies from penalizing, discouraging, or terminating insurance policies solely because a business is involved in cannabis activities (like cultivation, sales, or distribution under state law). The bill also shields insurers and their employees from liability for offering such coverage or investing income from it, while making it clear insurers aren’t required to provide this coverage. It does not override existing insurance regulations or mandate coverage for cannabis businesses.