As a new legislative session begins, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued advocacy, engagement, and support. The victories you are about to read about would not have been possible without you. Thank you!
People's Agenda VICTORIES
A central focus of our work was advancing the People’s Agenda—a set of community-driven priorities shaped by what New Jersey residents want and need. We are proud to share that several key bills from the People’s Agenda passed during this session.
Immigrant Protection Package
One of the most significant victories was the passage of a long-overdue package of immigrant protections, which broke the Immigrant Trust Act into three separate laws. Together, these measures strengthen privacy, due process, and access to essential services.
- Immigrant Trust Directive Codification
- Preserves the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive with key updates that strengthen due process protections for all New Jerseyans.
- Privacy Protection Act
- Establishes strong data-privacy protections across state agencies and reaffirms safeguards on MVC and ALPR data sharing.
- Safe Communities Act
- Directs the Attorney General to develop model policies for “sensitive locations,” ensuring safe access to schools, health care facilities, libraries, food pantries, and social services.
Status: As of writing this, these critical bills have passed the NJ Legislature and await the Governor's signature.
ACTION NEEDED: Please contact Governor Murphy's office and urge him to sign the immigrant protection package into law immediately. Call: 609-292-6000 Text: 732-605-5455
Use of Force
This legislation codifies and strengthens protections against police use of force, an essential step toward accountability, safety, and basic human dignity for all residents. Status: Signed into law by Governor Murphy!
EVEN MORE VICTORIES!
This lame duck, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey and our partners achieved important wins on multi-year campaigns!
After years of advocacy, we secured passage of Secure Automatic Voter Registration, modernizing voter registration at the MVC and Department of Corrections, improving accuracy, expanding access, and adding safeguards to protect non-citizens from inadvertent registration. This legislation has been signed into law!
On January 11th, Governor Murphy signed an executive order restoring the right to serve on a jury to more than 350,000 New Jerseyans with past criminal convictions, strengthening inclusion in our justice system. This historic action is a result of the "Jury of Us" coalition's hard work.
Legislation to expand ballot cure eligibility passed the legislature, expanding opportunities for voters to correct certain errors and ensure their ballots are counted. In 2020, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey led litigation to allow for voters with missing signatures or signature mismatch to cure their ballots. This is an extension of that work, allowing for even more voters to cure ballots and have their votes counted. This legislation currently awaits the Governor's signature.
PRep and PEP expands access to HIV medications in New Jersey by authorizing pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis and mandating prescription benefits coverage. Successful coalition work led to this legislation being signed into law.
Family leave expands job-protected family leave for NJ workers. This legislation currently awaits the Governor's signature.
At the beginning of this lame duck session, legislation was introduced that would have gutted the office of the State Comptroller. League members strongly and successfully took action to stop corruption, killing this legislation that would have weakened transparency and accountability in state government!
The First 100 Days
While not every priority advanced this session, we made meaningful progress positioning key policies for action early in the next legislative session.
A Strong State Voting Rights Act
As democratic safeguards face pressure across the country, the John Lewis Voter Empowerment Act is among the most meaningful actions New Jersey can take to safeguard access to the ballot. We saw great progress in 2025, including multiple committee hearings in the Assembly and the addition of powerful bill sponsors. Although the legislation did not pass this session, we built essential momentum and hope to enshrine these rights into law in early 2026.
Climate Superfund Act
Now the "Polluters Pay for a More Affordable New Jersey Act", this bill establishes liability for certain fossil fuel companies for damage caused by climate change. The legislation takes a fair approach by requiring the largest fossil fuel companies—those most responsible for historic emissions—to contribute to the costs of climate damage. This legislation advanced through two committees in the Senate and one in the Assembly. We have seen massive public support for this bill and know we can get it over the finish line soon.
Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Legislation
S3491/A4656 & S3452/A4601 creates protections for providers and patients seeking gender-affirming care and abortion services and ensures New Jerseyans can access affordable reproductive health care by eliminating cost-sharing requirements for insurance coverage. In coalition, we demonstrated the need for these protections and built strong momentum in the legislature. We saw important advancement and support and are optimistic that we can build on the momentum in early 2026.
THANK YOU!
These victories reflect what is possible when members, advocates, and partners come together with a shared commitment to equity, democracy, and justice. All year you showed up to defend democracy. League members attended rallies and protests, lobby days, and committee hearings, called, emailed, and met with your representatives, educated your networks, and so much more.
Keep an eye out for an email in the coming week about our priorities for 2026, and how you can help to build on the momentum of the past year. In the meantime, please enjoy a few photo highlights from lame duck below that demonstrate the League’s power.
Members Participating in Lame Duck Legislative District Drops, a key component of the People's Agenda Campaign
Members rallying in Trenton in November and December to keep the pressure on the legislature
Members lobbying legislators and demonstrating our strength in the halls of the State House
GET INVOLVED
In 2025, we saw the power of grassroots mobilization. We hope you feel immense pride about your involvement in the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. YOU are making a real impact.
There is still a lot of work to do to make New Jersey the equitable state we believe it can be. We have an opportunity to hit the ground running and turn the momentum from the end of the year into real change for New Jersey. We need your continued support to do that.
Join us today and stand with us as we embark on an ambitious 2026.
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The League of Women Voters New Jersey
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08603
United States
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