Assembly adopts wide slate of bills and resolutions; public health institute, firearms measures, and education items clear floor

The New Jersey General Assembly on March 17, 2025 passed a large package of bills and resolutions on a range of topics including creation of a public health institute, multiple firearms-related measures, education and student-support mandates, and a series of commemorative resolutions. Lawmakers recorded roll-call tallies on each item and several measures drew substantive floor debate before a final vote.

Why it matters: The session moved dozens of measures into the next step of the legislative process, including some that change how state agencies operate, set reporting requirements for law enforcement, and require training or program changes for schools and public employers. Several bills that passed will take effect according to statutory timelines and some require follow-on rulemaking by state agencies.

What passed (selected list with outcome and roll-call tallies as recorded on the floor): - AJR 211 (designation; May 18 observance): Passed 74–0–0. - A-1825 (step therapy guidelines for SEHBP and Medicaid): Passed 74–2–0. - A-4163 / S-4163 (health insurance coverage for biomarker testing): Passed 76–0–0. - S-1320 (contract disclosures for licensed public adjusters): Passed 77–0–0. - A-3881 (state police online expungement status portal): Passed 75–0–0. - A-3540 (criminal penalties for deceptive audio/visual media): Passed 64–13–0. - AJR 217 (Paul Robeson Day designation): Passed 46–20–0. - SJR 102 (May 17 awareness day): Passed 78–0–0. - A-4975 (criminalization of digital instructions to manufacture firearms): Passed 50–26–1. -…