Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryAJR 105 designates November of each year as "New Jersey Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month" to highlight homelessness among children and youth in the state. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public awareness activities during this month. It does not create new programs or funding but aims to raise public attention on this issue, referencing New Jersey's 2022 data showing 988 homeless families with children and 780 homeless youth identified. This is a symbolic, awareness-focused resolution with no binding policy changes.

Maddy summaryAJR 113 designates November of each year as "Transgender Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with activities that raise awareness of transgender issues and recognize the community's contributions. It does not create new laws or requirements but formally acknowledges challenges transgender individuals face, including discrimination and violence, while highlighting their societal contributions. The measure follows existing New Jersey designations for Transgender Awareness Week (November 14-20) and Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20).

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May of each year as "Foster Care Month" in New Jersey to raise awareness about the state's foster care system and honor child welfare professionals. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public recognition of foster parents, kinship caregivers, and agencies supporting children in care. The designation aligns with National Foster Care Month and acknowledges New Jersey's foster care system, which served over 3,100 children in 2021. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new policies or funding but promotes community awareness and appreciation.

Maddy summaryAJR 106 establishes a 15-member task force to address the underreported crisis of missing and murdered Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) women and girls in New Jersey. The task force, appointed by legislative leaders and the Governor with representation from impacted communities, will develop cultural competency training for first responders, create prevention materials for BIPOC communities, collect and analyze data on missing BIPOC women, identify abduction hotspots, and launch a public awareness campaign. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 18 months of its formation. The task force will use existing state agency resources and report on strategies to improve response systems and data collection for this specific population.

Maddy summaryBill A3450 establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and certain state facilities (like psychiatric hospitals and developmental centers) in New Jersey. It requires specific ratios based on unit type, such as one nurse for every five patients in medical/surgical units or one nurse for every patient under anesthesia. Facilities must implement an acuity-based staffing system (approved by nursing staff or their union) to adjust staffing based on patient needs, and maintain float pools of nurses. The Department of Health will enforce these standards through inspections and investigations of complaints filed by staff or the public.

Maddy summaryAJR 94 designates November 14 of each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" in New Jersey. The resolution commemorates Ruby Bridges' historic 1960 walk to William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana, where she became the first Black child to integrate an all-white school amid violent protests and isolation. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging schools and communities to observe the day with educational activities honoring her courage and the broader struggle for school desegregation. This is a symbolic resolution with no new legal requirements, focusing solely on recognition and education about Ruby Bridges' role in the civil rights movement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of low-speed electric bicycles (max 20 mph) and low-speed electric scooters (max 19 mph) in New Jersey to register these vehicles with the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and maintain liability insurance. Registration costs $8, expires after 11 months, and requires MVC approval of the vehicle type. Owners must carry minimum liability coverage of $35,000 per person for bodily injury, replacing prior exemptions that allowed operation without registration or insurance. The bill directly affects all residents who own or operate these devices on New Jersey roads and paths.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fourth-degree crime in New Jersey for operating a civilian drone equipped with a weapon. Specifically, it prohibits private individuals or businesses from using drones (defined as unmanned aircraft systems owned or operated by non-government entities) fitted with "anti-personnel devices," which include firearms, prohibited weapons, or any projectile designed to harm people. Violating this law carries a penalty of up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The law applies only to civilian drones, not government or commercial operations under separate regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill waives the transfer fee for commercial driver licenses when veterans or their spouses move to New Jersey from another state. It specifically eliminates the fee required to transfer an out-of-state commercial license to a New Jersey license. The waiver applies only to the transfer fee, not to other license-related costs like examinations or endorsements. The bill defines "veteran" as someone with an honorable discharge from U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2474) authorizes New Jersey local governments (such as municipalities, courts, and libraries) to charge a convenience fee of up to $3 per transaction when residents or businesses pay bills electronically (via credit/debit card or online systems). It directly affects residents who pay local fees online by adding a small fee to offset the administrative costs of electronic payment systems. The bill requires local governments to continue offering traditional payment options like cash, check, or money order. It amends existing law to clarify that such fees are permitted, following a Supreme Court ruling that previously prohibited them under the Government Electronic Payment Acceptance Act.