KZG Advances Bills Across the Legislative Finish Line on Behalf of Clients

Getting bills across the legislative finish line can take months, sometimes years, and often requires more than one legislative session to get the job done! But, in each instance, whether we’re trying to pass, amend or defeat a bill, our team works tirelessly to coordinate all the many moving parts involved in the legislative process.

Now that the 2020-2021 legislative session is over, KZG took a look back and is proud of our most recent legislative accomplishments on behalf of our clients.

Here are just a few bills that were signed into law:

“Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act”

On January 13, 2022,Governor Murphy signed the “Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act” (S-49). This landmark bill guarantees a woman’s fundamental right to choose and protects access to reproductive healthcare.

KZG’s Jeannine LaRue and Beth Dohm provided lobbying support to the ACLU of NJ and the Thrive NJ Coalition.  They worked with advocates, legislative sponsors, legislative leaders, and officials in the Governor Office, to craft and advance this monumental bill.

Former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) who was the lead sponsor of the bill said, “With a woman’s right to choose under Roe v. Wade under attack in the U.S. Supreme Court, it is critical that we have enacted legislation rooted in the New Jersey Constitution that clearly and unequivocally protects freedom of reproductive choice, including the right to access contraception, the right to terminate a pregnancy, and the right to carry a pregnancy to term.”

Establishing New Jersey Brewery, Cidery, Meadery, and Distillery Industry Advisory Council and Promotion Account

KZG’s Eric Orlando, also the Executive Director of the Brewers Guild of NJ, directed efforts to ensure the passage of A-1293 on behalf of the Guild.

The law establishes the “New Jersey Brewery, Cidery, Meadery, and Distillery Industry Advisory Council” and provides for funding through alcoholic beverage excise tax receipts paid by state craft alcohol beverage manufacturers. The Council will advise the NJ Division of Travel and Tourism on expenditures from a new account for research, development, and promotion of the NJ brewery, cidery, meadery, and distillery industries.

This funding will provide a meaningful economic boost to these industries and serve as a reliable source of funding for industry-related research and the promotion of these small businesses which thousands of residents and out-of-state tourists enjoy on an annual basis.

Eric worked with bill sponsors, Senators Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer), Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Camden), and the Governor’s Office to secure this achievement on behalf of the state’s growing craft beer industry.

Requiring Accessibility Standards for Internet Websites and Web Services for Children with Disabilities in New Jersey Public Schools

KZG’s Trish Zita spearheaded legislation (S-3094) to help students with disabilities on behalf of our client, Newsela, an online K-12 curriculum platform. Over 94,000 teachers and 60% of students in NJ are registered with Newsela for content that is personalized to student interests, accessible for everyone, and aligned to instructional standards.

This new law requires public schools to make available Internet websites or web services that comply with certain Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) approved by the state’s Commissioner of Education. WCAG guidelines provide standards for digital content so that it may be accessible for persons with disabilities.  These guidelines were created for three major groups: users with cognitive or learning disabilities, users with low vision, and users with disabilities on mobile devices. 

Trish worked with bill sponsors Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) and Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden), officials in the NJ Department of Education and the Governor’s Office on this important bill intended to improve education to students with disabilities.

Expanding Harm Reduction Programs in New Jersey

KZG’s Jeannine LaRue and Beth Dohm provided strategic advice and helped organize legislative outreach on S-3009 on behalf of the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition.  This bill authorizes expanded harm reduction services to distribute sterile syringes and provide certain support services to persons who use drugs intravenously.

Harm reduction sites provide critical services to individuals living with a substance use disorder. These programs are staffed by professionals who can help limit the risks of intravenous drug use, such as HIV or hepatitis infections and overdoses, while providing a safe, stigma-free environment in which to receive care. This new law will help make it easier for these programs to be approved and maintained going forward.

KZG is proud of this achievement, and was gratified to work alongside such passionate and hardworking advocates and legislative champions, including Senator Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex) and former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), on this critical, life-saving, healthcare bill.

As the new 2022-2023 legislative session gets underway, we look forward to working with our clients setting new legislative priorities and helping them achieve their goals.