Time Is Running Out To Pass Key Social Justice Bills In NJ, Advocates Say

Social justice advocates are demanding New Jersey lawmakers pass sweeping legislation to protect immigrants, voting rights, and vulnerable residents before the state’s legislative session ends.

During a demonstration on Monday, outside the state house in Trenton, leaders from organizations including the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the ACLU of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice urged legislators to act on the 2025 People’s Agenda, a package of bills they say will shield New Jerseyans from federal threats to civil liberties.

Such legislation includes the Immigrant Trust Act, a bill designed to expand immigrants’ privacy protections by limiting how federal agencies collect private information and by restricting state involvement in immigrant detention and deportation.

The Immigrant Trust Act “would allow immigrants to seek protection and support without fear of deportation or racial discrimination,” said Bebe Martinez, deputy director of strategy at the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.

“New Jerseyans have made it clear that we are tired of Trump and ICE walking all over us,” Martinez added. “The Trump administration has weapons in hand, charging at us and the truth, and the New Jersey legislature is sitting on the only shield that can protect us right now. And that’s the Immigrant Trust Act.

The People’s Agenda includes the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act. This state-based bill is designed to protect voting rights and increase ballot access and support to state residents, especially communities of color.

Nuzhat Chowdhury, director of the Democracy and Justice program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, called upon state Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari (D-22nd) and Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-19th) to support the bill, claiming the federal government is undermining democracy and has threatened to end the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

“We have been fighting for this bill for over three years now,” said Chowdhury. “There’s absolutely no reason why our own state legislature continues to ignore it. If you and I can see what’s happening to our democracy, our legislators can too. We are the ones who vote them into power. So it is their responsibility to make sure that they protect our vote.”

In addition, the demonstrators voiced support for the Climate Superfund Act. John Aspray, senior organizer at Food & Water Watch, said the Superfund Act would raise $50 billion from fossil fuel companies to fund climate resiliency projects, holding the industry accountable for contributing to climate change and defending against future climate disasters.

“The fossil fuel industry, they’re doing really well. They’ve been doing really well while New Jersey families struggle to put food on the table, struggle to afford rent. They’ve been raking it in, all the while knowing the danger that their products cause, the dangers of climate change. So it’s time for them to pay their fair share,” said Aspray. 

Advocates also highlighted how the agenda would protect abortion providers and patients and ensure access to affordable reproductive health care and gender affirming care through Bill S3491/A4656.

Melissa Firstenberg of WADEIn New Jersey argued such legislation protecting health care is crucial, as the federal government has threatened the rights and happiness of transgender community members, including herself.

“This bill is the absolute minimum,” said Firstenberg. “These are protections simply [for] the right to exist. Basic human needs, such as health care should not be a debate. Yet here we are in 2025, and my very existence is now a critical question.”

Likewise, Rev. J. Amos Caley, pastor at the Reformed Church of Highland Park emphasized the need for the state legislature to pass the Rehabilitated Release Act (S2338) in the People’s Agenda. This bill would allow people to petition the courts to provide rehabilitative release to incarcerated senior citizens.

“Many incarcerated New Jerseyans rely on walkers and wheelchairs. Many live with diabetes, heart disease, or dementia, and yet we continue to keep them behind bars at enormous cost to our communities. We cannot keep pretending that this makes sense,” said Caley.

Advocates pushed for greater protections against police misuse of force through Bill S2348. Racquel Romans-Henry, director of policy for Salvation and Social Justice, denounced how police officers have not been held accountable for using deadly, excessive force against state residents, especially communities of color.

“We see too many bad apples, along with other bad apples who get by unaccountable,” said Romans-Henry. “So we’re talking about these core pillars that need to be addressed. This is not radical. This is common sense, and it’s overdue.

Overall, these social justice leaders and advocates argued state lawmakers must make several significant changes to state law by passing the People’s Agenda. While Gov. Murphy is set leave office in January, demonstrators emphasized the dire need for legislative reform crucial to the well-being of state residents.

“Every single bill that was spoken about today is urgent,” said Ami Kachalia, campaign strategist of ACLU-New Jersey. “They are life or death for our families and our communities, and we need action, not platitudes.”