S 601, "Dylan's Law," requires vessel owners in New Jersey to receive specific information about U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) when applying for vessel numbers. It mandates that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission include details on required and recommended PFD types in vessel application forms, and that approved boat safety courses must cover this information as part of their curriculum. The law directly affects vessel owners seeking registration and boat safety course providers. Key mechanisms include adding PFD requirements to application forms and course content standards, ensuring boaters understand proper safety equipment usage under state and federal rules.
S 712 requires New Jersey's Department of State to create a public "Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to help residents traveling while pregnant make informed decisions. The advisory will categorize all U.S. states using a color-coded system: "Blue" (full access without legal risk), "Yellow" (restricted access with potential legal consequences), and "Red" (extreme restrictions risking denial of emergency care). It will detail each state's laws on abortion bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage, and legal protections for patients and providers. The advisory must be posted on the state website and updated whenever another state changes its reproductive healthcare laws. This directly affects New Jersey residents who may need to travel during pregnancy for medical emergencies.
S 3173 requires defendants in damage-recovery lawsuits - including insurance companies - to be properly identified by their official legal names throughout all legal proceedings. Insurance companies must use their legally approved names (as filed with the Banking Commissioner), not assumed or fictitious names, in all court documents and at trial. The law also mandates that trial judges inform jurors of the correct legal name of any insurance company defendant. This applies to all such cases in New Jersey immediately upon enactment.
This bill (S 420) allows New Jersey municipalities holding regular elections in May to extend their early voting period from 4 days to 11 days before the election, if they adopt a local ordinance. It directly affects municipalities that conduct May municipal elections under the Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law. Key provisions include requiring early voting sites to be public facilities (like libraries or courthouses, not schools), setting location limits based on county voter counts (e.g., 5-10 sites for counties with over 150,000 voters), and mandating that sites be geographically accessible. The bill amends existing voting law to provide this flexibility for May municipal elections only.
SJR 30 designates October of each year as "Eczema Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The resolution aims to increase public awareness about eczema - a skin condition affecting over 13% of New Jersey residents (and 32 million Americans) - and foster community support for those living with it. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with awareness activities. The bill has no funding or regulatory provisions; it is purely symbolic, calling for educational outreach to reduce stigma and improve understanding of the condition. This resolution was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Health Committee.
This bill requires New Jersey state agencies to offer businesses an optional electronic service for receiving legally required notices, such as violation warnings, underpayment alerts, and unemployment claims. It directly affects businesses operating in New Jersey that receive these official notices from state entities. State agencies must notify businesses about the electronic option within 60 days of the bill’s enactment and provide instructions for opting in. The bill does not change existing notice requirements but adds an electronic alternative, with the law taking effect 90 days after enactment.
This bill requires school boards in New Jersey to create written policies for any video surveillance systems using artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. The policy must detail the system's benefits and challenges, specify what data is collected, explain how data will be used, outline access plans, and mandate visible signage in areas where surveillance occurs. School boards must also share this policy with parents and guardians of students. The law applies to districts using such AI surveillance systems and takes effect for the first full school year after enactment. It does not create new surveillance but sets clear guidelines for existing or future systems.
This bill (A3955) requires New Jersey's Business Action Center to study vacant commercial real estate and its impact on small businesses. The study must examine how local governments track vacancies, assess existing programs aiding vacant space, survey business owners' experiences finding space, and recommend improvements. The report must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within one year of the bill's effective date. This bill does not create new programs but mandates a review to inform future policy decisions. It directly affects small businesses seeking commercial space and local governments managing vacant properties.
This bill requires New Jersey to create a public online registry listing out-of-state contractors awarded public construction contracts that require prevailing wages. It directly affects contractors whose main business is outside New Jersey, excluding satellite offices or temporary locations. The registry, maintained by the State Treasurer, will include project details, contractor trade names, and business addresses, and must be accessible on the Treasury Department’s website. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
S 685 creates a 15-member "Fleet Conversion Task Force" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to study the transition of commercial vehicle fleets (like delivery trucks and company vehicles) to zero-emission models. The task force will examine challenges such as costs for small businesses, coordinate with stakeholders including fleet operators, manufacturers, and environmental groups, and develop policy recommendations to support this shift. It directly affects commercial fleet owners, operators, and related industries by seeking solutions to reduce transportation emissions, which account for 38% of New Jersey's total greenhouse gases. The task force must hold public hearings, gather input from diverse sectors, and submit findings to the state within a set timeframe.
S 1533 allows New Jersey municipalities to charge reduced or no beach fees for children aged 12 to 17, expanding the existing exemption for children under 12. It also updates veteran fee exemptions to require municipalities to track the number of veterans using the exemption and clarify eligibility for veterans with service-connected disabilities. The bill amends existing law governing beach access fees in coastal municipalities, which typically charge for public beach use and recreational facilities. This change applies to all municipalities owning or managing beaches and takes effect immediately upon enactment.
S 2243 requires every public college and university in New Jersey to create a menstrual equity task force within six months of the law's effective date. The task force, appointed by each institution's president and including diverse campus stakeholders (students, faculty, housing, health centers, etc.), must develop a detailed plan for free menstrual product access within six months. The plan must cover product needs, distribution locations, costs, and a 12-month implementation timeline. Institutions must implement the approved plan within one year, ensuring equal access to menstrual products while reducing stigma. The bill defines "menstrual equity" as removing barriers to care and addressing stigma around menstruation.
