Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to connect people with disabilities to job training and employment opportunities. The program requires DOLWD, working with the Department of Human Services, to partner with qualified nonprofit organizations (with at least five years of disability-related experience) to provide job training, outreach, and employment services. It mandates an online resource hub listing training providers, allowing employers to post jobs, and including state labor law information. The program must be evaluated annually through a report to the Governor and Legislature. The bill directly affects job seekers with disabilities, qualifying training organizations, and employers in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special license plates for registered nurses, featuring the caduceus symbol and the words "Registered Nurse." It requires a $50 one-time application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee, in addition to standard vehicle registration costs. The program cannot begin until the state budget director identifies funding for initial costs, and the bill expires if funding isn't secured within 12 months of enactment. Only registered nurses who own or lease vehicles registered in New Jersey would be eligible for these plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare providers to give women aged 35-39 a pamphlet about menopause-related conditions during their annual physical exams, starting 180 days after the bill takes effect. The pamphlet must cover premature menopause, early menopause, and primary ovarian insufficiency, as created by the Department of Health. The Department of Health must publish this resource online within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The law applies specifically to licensed health care professionals conducting these annual exams on eligible patients.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program administered by New Jersey's Commissioner of Education. It awards grants to six selected school districts to provide students with sports equipment and resources for school athletic programs, prioritizing geographic and demographic diversity (southern/central/northern regions, urban/suburban/rural). School districts must apply with evidence of need and current equipment quality, and must submit post-program reports detailing student participation and program effectiveness. The program's success will determine if it continues or expands statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for implementing fire sprinkler systems in new townhouses from 7 to 25 months after the original law's enactment. It requires construction permit applications for new townhouses (defined as attached single-family homes with yard/public access on two sides) to include sprinkler system plans before being approved, unless the project had certain pre-existing approvals. Key exemptions include developments with prior municipal zoning approvals, affordable housing agreements, or building permits submitted before the new deadline. The bill also delays the timeline for the state to adopt sprinkler design rules from 5 to 13 months after this bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryAJR 125 designates October 11 of each year as "Perimenopause Day" in New Jersey. The bill aims to raise awareness about perimenopause - a natural transition period before menopause involving symptoms like irregular periods, hot flashes, and mood changes - and combat stigma around it. It directs the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of the day through educational activities. This is a ceremonial resolution with no new laws, regulations, or funding, aligning with the existing global observance on October 11.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures children in New Jersey's NJ FamilyCare program (ages 21 and under) who transition from the child health program (EPSDT) to the long-term care program (MLTSS) automatically retain their previous weekly private duty nursing hours. It requires managed care organizations to continue nursing coverage during appeals of reduced services and extends the appeal filing window from 10 to 30 days. The bill also directs the state to review past transitions to identify beneficiaries eligible for increased nursing hours and removes the current 16-hour weekly cap on these services under MLTSS. These changes aim to prevent coverage gaps during program transitions and strengthen appeal rights for families relying on personal nursing care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all ballot scanning machines used in New Jersey to include a privacy screen, shield, or curtain, ensuring voters' ballot choices remain private when inserting their ballots. It also mandates that polling places provide privacy screens, shields, or curtains in voting booths to maintain secrecy while voters prepare their ballots. The law amends existing election statutes (R.S.19:8-7, R.S.19:15-26, and R.S.19:53A-6) to enforce these physical privacy measures at all in-person voting locations using scanning machines. This directly affects voters in counties like Essex, Warren, Middlesex, Union, Gloucester, and Salem, where paper ballots are scanned, but not counties using fully electronic voting systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers to provide specific accommodations for employees who are breastfeeding their infants. It mandates employers to offer reasonable break time during work hours (paid at the employee's regular rate), job restructuring, and modified work schedules for breastfeeding needs. Employers must also provide a private, non-restroom space for expressing breast milk, free from intrusion by other employees or customers. These accommodations must be provided for as long as the employee desires, and employers cannot penalize employees for requesting or using these accommodations. The bill clarifies these protections as part of New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to cover Advanced Placement (AP) exam fees for high school students from households earning at or below 3.70 times the federal poverty level (approximately $87,135 for a family of four in 2024). Specifically, districts must pay fees for students at or below 1.85x poverty level (up to $43,567.50 for a family of four), and for those between 1.85x and 3.70x poverty level. The state will reimburse districts for these costs, with district payments not exceeding current fees. The law takes effect for the 2024-2025 school year.