Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution AR 127 is a symbolic statement condemning Arizona's Supreme Court ruling in *Planned Parenthood v. Mayes*, which enforced an outdated 1864 abortion ban. The resolution does not change laws but formally opposes Arizona's decision to uphold a near-total abortion ban without exceptions for rape or incest. It reaffirms New Jersey's existing commitment to protecting residents' access to reproductive health care services, as established by state law. This resolution has no legal effect on Arizona or New Jersey policy but expresses legislative disapproval of the Arizona court's action.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 126) is a symbolic gesture recognizing and celebrating April 10 as the birthday of Dolores Huerta, a prominent labor activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers union. It does not create new laws or policies, nor does it directly affect any specific group or individual beyond commemorating Huerta's legacy. The resolution references her work in the Chicano civil rights movement, farm worker organizing, and advocacy for workers' rights, including her role in the 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act. It concludes by stating the New Jersey General Assembly will send authenticated copies to Huerta and her family.

Maddy summaryAJR 59 designates November each year as "Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue a proclamation encouraging public education about the link between diabetes (affecting over 29 million Americans) and cardiovascular disease (the leading cause of death for people with type 2 diabetes). It aims to improve public understanding of this connection, particularly for communities disproportionately impacted like African American and Hispanic/Latino populations in New Jersey. This is a symbolic resolution with no new funding or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies, hospitals, and healthcare providers in New Jersey to stop sharing an individual's identifying information (like address or phone number) with a policyholder or other person covered under the same health plan if that individual has a valid court protection order against them. It also lets individuals request alternative contact methods for billing information if sharing their details could endanger them. Healthcare providers must then use only the designated contact method for all claim-related communications. The law applies to all health insurance carriers and providers, including those serving minors (with parents/guardians acting on their behalf).

Maddy summaryAJR 69 is a joint resolution designating March 31 of each year as "Cesar Chavez Day" in New Jersey. The bill commemorates the birth anniversary of Cesar Chavez, a farm worker advocate who co-founded the United Farm Workers union and championed nonviolent labor rights for agricultural workers. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day with appropriate activities. This resolution, which takes effect immediately, honors Chavez's legacy as a labor leader whose work led to California's 1975 Agricultural Labor Relations Act - the only U.S. law guaranteeing farm workers the right to unionize. The designation aligns New Jersey with nine states and federal recognition of March 31 as a day to celebrate Chavez's contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) to conduct a survey of all antenatal and prenatal care clinics across the state, including those that have closed or significantly reduced services within the past two years. The survey will collect data on clinic availability, demographic and socioeconomic details of patients (especially low and moderate income pregnant women), and disparities in care access, while protecting personal health information. The DOH must analyze the data to identify trends and develop strategies to improve maternity care quality and access, then publish findings on its website and submit a legislative report within 18 months. This policy change directly affects clinics, the DOH, and future health care planning for pregnant individuals in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public colleges and universities in New Jersey to create and maintain cybersecurity plans. These plans must address monitoring systems for threats, assessing risks, preventing breaches, and responding to incidents. Institutions must consult with the state's Cybersecurity Center for best practices, update their plans regularly to match new technology, and report any cyberattacks to the state Office of Homeland Security within 24 hours. The law directly affects New Jersey's public higher education institutions and aims to strengthen their protection against digital threats.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to promote community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, where consumers pay for a share of a farm's seasonal harvest. The Department must create a public website with searchable CSA listings and subscription links, use various media to advertise CSA benefits, and develop promotional labels for CSA products. It also establishes "Community Supported Agriculture Week" in February and requires schools to incorporate CSA into meal programs and curriculum through the existing Farm to School program. The bill expands the use of the "New Jersey Farm Products Publicity Fund" to include CSA promotion and updates the Farm to School website to facilitate CSA subscriptions between schools and farms.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly protect individuals from discrimination based on membership in a labor organization. It expands the definition of "labor organization" to include any group formed for collective bargaining or mutual aid among employees, and adds membership in such organizations to the list of protected characteristics. This means employers, labor organizations, and others cannot discriminate against employees or job applicants based on their membership in a labor union or employee representation committee. The law already protects people from discrimination based on characteristics like race, gender, and disability; this bill extends that protection to include labor organization membership.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4169 bill establishes a nine-member task force within the Department of Health to study health care needs and barriers faced by LGBTQI+ individuals, including transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex people. The task force will review current state/federal health policies, assess existing services and medical training, and identify ways to improve access and reduce discrimination in health care. Composed of health officials, community advocates, and legislative appointees, it must submit recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. The task force expires upon report submission, with no funding provided for its operations.