Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies New Jersey's existing Attorney General directive to prevent state and local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration laws. It prohibits police from stopping, questioning, or detaining people solely based on immigration status, asking about immigration status unless relevant to a crime investigation, or sharing personal information (like addresses or social security numbers) with federal immigration authorities. Exceptions apply only for serious crimes (e.g., violent offenses or recent convictions) or when required by law for criminal investigations. The law directly affects all New Jersey state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officers, aiming to build trust between police and immigrant communities by clarifying that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Privacy Protection Act," prohibits New Jersey government entities (like state agencies, counties, and municipalities) and healthcare facilities from collecting or sharing specific personal information - such as immigration status, citizenship details, Social Security numbers, or place of birth - except when necessary to determine eligibility for public services, benefits, or professional licensing. It requires that any collected data be retained only as long as needed for those purposes and prevents such records from being disclosed under the state's open records law, except in limited cases like court orders, election requirements, or with explicit written consent. Written consent must clearly explain what data is shared, why, that refusal won't cause discrimination, and that consent can be revoked. The bill also restricts sharing of automated license plate data except to other government entities under legal authority or with a court order.

Maddy summaryThis bill phases in smaller employer coverage under New Jersey's family leave law by reducing the employee threshold from 30 to 5 employees over two years. Starting immediately, employers with 20+ employees must follow the law; one year later, the threshold drops to 10 employees; and after two years, all employers with 5+ employees must provide reinstatement rights after family leave. It directly affects workers at small businesses (5-20 employees) who previously had no legal right to return to their jobs after taking family leave. The law ensures these employees cannot be retaliated against for taking leave, aligning small business coverage with existing protections for larger employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4860) allows seasonal retail consumption alcohol license holders in New Jersey to exchange their limited-season licenses for full-year licenses. Currently, seasonal licenses permit alcohol sales only during summer (May 1-November 14) or winter (November 15-April 30) seasons, but this bill would enable businesses to sell alcohol year-round on the same terms as full-year license holders. The conversion requires paying a fee based on the average price of full-year licenses in the municipality, with a maximum of $250,000, plus the regular annual license fee. The bill does not create new licenses but allows existing seasonal license holders to convert to full-year status without changing municipal license limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows current seasonal retail consumption alcohol license holders in New Jersey to exchange their limited-season licenses (valid only during summer or winter months) for full-year "plenary" licenses. Seasonal license holders can surrender their existing license to the issuing authority to convert it to a year-round license, enabling them to sell alcohol every day of the year. Municipalities cannot prohibit this conversion or restrict the licensee's operating hours to match those of standard plenary license holders. The change directly affects seasonal license holders who currently operate under seasonal time limits, providing them with year-round operational flexibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act, requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to submit rape kits (sexual assault evidence) to a forensic lab within 10 business days of receipt and have them analyzed within six months, if staffing and resources allow. For cases collected before the bill's effective date, agencies must report unsubmitted cases within 45 days and arrange for submission within 180 days. The Superintendent of State Police must submit a plan for analyzing these cases - including a timeline and resource requests - within 120 days of the bill taking effect. Each submitted kit must include a certification stating it is for a criminal investigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to study racial differences in ovarian cancer outcomes. The study must examine variations in cancer effects, rates, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment results among women of specific racial and ethnic groups, including Asian, African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander communities. The DOH must complete the study and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of the bill's enactment, after which the bill expires. The measure directly affects women in these communities by seeking data to understand potential disparities in ovarian cancer care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all menstrual products sold in New Jersey - including tampons, pads, discs, cups, and underwear (both disposable and reusable) - to list every ingredient on the package in descending order of quantity. The label must be clearly visible and understandable to consumers. Manufacturers who sell noncompliant products after the bill’s effective date face civil penalties of up to 1% of their annual in-state sales per package, capped at $1,000 per item, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law applies only to products manufactured after the effective date and excludes shipping packaging.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agencies - including departments, boards, and public authorities - to make their websites compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA standard, ensuring they are accessible to people with disabilities. It mandates that all websites must also function properly on smartphones, tablets, and similar mobile devices. State agencies must certify compliance with these standards within two years of the bill’s effective date, with biennial recertification required thereafter. The Chief Technology Officer will establish the certification protocol and oversee compliance for all state government websites.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the New Jersey Suicide Hopeline to make follow-up calls to minors aged 16 or older who are identified as being at high risk of suicide without requiring parental consent. It amends state law to make a minor's consent for these follow-up calls valid and binding as if they were an adult, and confidential - meaning operators do not need to report the calls to parents or guardians. Currently, national guidelines for suicide hotlines require parental permission for such follow-ups, but this bill removes that barrier for minors 16+ seeking mental health support. The policy directly affects at-risk youth aged 16 and older who contact the Suicide Hopeline for crisis counseling.