Education
Bill Introduced to Require Assistive Services for College Students with Disabilities – On February 19th, Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D-29) introduced Bill A4354. The legislation would require New Jersey’s public colleges and universities to provide specific assistive services to students with disabilities for the purpose of recording course material, including note-taking software, provided that it is limited to personal use. A companion bill S2861 was introduced on January 13th and currently pending in the Senate Higher Education Committee. The bill is a carryover from the previous legislative session (previously S3875/A4945).
Health
Assembly Committee Advances Social Media Safety Bills for Youth Mental Health – On February 19th, the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee advanced a three-bill package sponsored by Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (D-Burlington) aimed at strengthening online protections for children. The legislation includes Bill A4013 that would require certain social media platforms to display “black box” warning labels about potential mental health impacts when users access the platform. Bill A4015, the “New Jersey Kids Code Act,” would establish restrictions such as prohibiting online service providers from facilitating targeted advertising to minors, and profiling minors except in certain circumstances. Additionally, Bill A4014 would establish a Social Media Research Center at a New Jersey public university to study social media’s impact on youth.
Assembly Committee Advances Bill to Extend Health Coverage for Adult Children with Disabilities – On February 12th, the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee unanimously approved Bill A2550 with amendments. The legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Bagolie (D-27) would require health insurers and group health plans to continue dependent coverage for children with disabilities beyond age 26, regardless of whether a parent changes employers. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.
Senate Committee Advances Bill to Protect Nursing Home Residents’ Finances – On February 9th, the Senate Health Committee advanced Bill S3023, legislation sponsored by Senators Joe Vitale (D-19) and Renee C. Burgess (D-28) that would prohibit any person financially affiliated with long-term care facilities from serving as legal or financial representatives for residents during admission or Medicaid enrollment. The bill would require the Department of Health to develop standardized contracts for nursing homes and assisted living facilities and establish regulations for “Medicaid assistors” who help residents inventory and spend down assets to qualify for benefits.
Public Administration
Assembly Committee Advances State Voting Rights Act – On February 19th, the Assembly State and Local Government Committee approved Bill A1715, “John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act.” The bill would require certain New Jersey municipalities with past records of voter suppression or intimidation to obtain approval from state election officials before implementing changes to their election rules. Requirements in the bill are similar to those of the federal Voting Rights Act that were invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. The legislation would also expand language-related assistance in voting and elections to a language-minority group in a political subdivision.
Legislators Announce New Package of Immigration Bills – On February 19th, lawmakers including District 32 legislators Ravi Bhalla and Katie Brennan and Assemblywomen Annette Quijano (D-20) and Alixon Collazos-Gill (D-27) introduced three bills responding to what they describe as Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) escalating tactics, including warrantless raids and masked agents in unmarked vehicles. Bill A4300 would impose a 50% tax on gross receipts from “private carceral facilities” such as immigrant detention centers in New Jersey. In addition, Bill A4301 would make it a criminal offense for anyone including federal officers to block state or local law enforcement from accessing crime scenes or evidence. Finally, Bill A4302 would disqualify ICE agents who served between September 1, 2025, and January 20, 2029, from holding state government jobs including positions as law enforcement officers or teachers.