Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates automated hiring tools used by employers in New Jersey to prevent discrimination. It requires vendors selling such tools in the state to conduct annual bias audits and include the audit results with the sale. Employers using these tools must post the latest audit summary on their website and notify job candidates within 30 days if an automated tool was used to assess their application, including details about the criteria evaluated. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $1,500 per incident. The bill directly affects employers, hiring vendors, and job applicants in New Jersey's workforce.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers to develop heat safety plans to protect workers from heat-related illness and injury. The plans must include access to cool water, shaded rest areas, regular breaks, and training on recognizing heat illness symptoms. Employers must follow these plans when temperatures reach 90°F outdoors or 87°F indoors, and must review their plans annually. The Department of Labor will enforce these requirements with fines or stop-work orders for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Division of Minority and Women Business Development within New Jersey's Department of Treasury, led by a State Chief Disparity Officer. The officer will track contract awards to minority- and women-owned businesses, monitor participation rates, and report findings to the Governor and Legislature. All state departments and agencies must appoint a liaison to cooperate with this division. The bill codifies an existing 2006 executive order, requires full implementation of certification rules for these businesses (prohibiting self-certification), and modifies small business set-aside contract procedures. It directly affects state agencies, contractors, and minority/women-owned businesses participating in state procurement.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to United Way of New Jersey when filing their state income tax returns, either by designating a portion of their tax refund or making an additional payment. It establishes a special "United Way of New Jersey Fund" within the state Treasury, where all collected contributions will be deposited after deducting administrative costs. The Legislature must annually appropriate all funds in this account and distribute them equally to every local United Way chapter across New Jersey to support their community programs. The bill does not require any contribution and only provides an optional funding mechanism for taxpayers who choose to participate.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "EMS Part" within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), specifically for emergency medical services employees. It establishes enhanced retirement benefits including a pension equal to 50% of final compensation for employees with 20 or more years of service, plus additional benefits for those with 20-25 years of service. Eligible positions include emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical services supervisors, and other certified health professionals providing emergency medical services. The State will cover increased pension costs for counties and municipalities resulting from this new retirement system component.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4340) establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act," creating a Migrant and Refugee Resource Coordination Program within the Department of Human Services. The program connects migrants (individuals relocating to New Jersey from another country) and refugees (those with federal refugee status) to existing public assistance resources like housing, healthcare, job training, education, and legal services. The Department must collaborate with local governments and community groups, run multilingual outreach campaigns, and submit annual reports tracking program effectiveness and service numbers. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's privacy law to expand the definition of "personal data" to include a person's use of or attempt to use reproductive health care services. It specifically prohibits entities from collecting or disclosing this information, including preventing prescription monitoring programs from tracking drugs used for contraception, sterilization, abortion, or in-vitro fertilization. The law also adds reproductive health care usage to the category of "sensitive data" that requires special protections. These changes directly affect healthcare providers, pharmacies, and any business that collects or processes personal data in New Jersey, strengthening privacy protections for individuals seeking reproductive health care services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's AJR 177 is a resolution urging Congress and the President to pass the "Do Not Disturb Act." It highlights that Americans receive over 2.1 billion spam and scam calls monthly - wasting 195 million hours in 2023 - and notes a Supreme Court ruling (Facebook v. Duguid) that limits current anti-robocall laws. The proposed act would expand protections against spam calls, combat AI-driven scams, and reduce costs for consumer call-blocking technology. It directly affects all U.S. phone users, with particular concern for seniors targeted by these calls. The resolution calls for federal action to address this widespread issue.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows out-of-state applicants seeking cosmetology or hairstyling licenses in New Jersey to count teaching experience toward the required three years of practical experience. Specifically, applicants who taught cosmetology in a licensed school (approved by the other jurisdiction) may use that experience if the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling determines it's equivalent to working in a licensed shop. The board has discretion to assess whether the teaching experience meets the state's standards. This change directly affects individuals licensed in other states or countries who want to work in New Jersey's cosmetology industry without retaking exams. The bill does not alter existing requirements for applicants without teaching experience.

Maddy summaryAJR 175 designates March 1 of every year as "Endometriosis Awareness Day" in New Jersey. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day through awareness activities. It directly affects New Jersey residents, particularly those impacted by endometriosis - a chronic condition affecting about 1 in 10 menstruating individuals worldwide, often causing severe pain and delayed diagnosis (7-10 years on average). The resolution aims to raise public awareness and recognize healthcare providers working on this issue, aligning with national Endometriosis Awareness Month in March.