New Jersey S 1631: Requires DOE to review Core Curriculum Content Standards to ensure they incorporate standards regarding engineering where appropriate.

Bill Text

S1631 

SENATE, No. 1631 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator ANDREW ZWICKER

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Ruiz

SYNOPSIS

���� Prohibits discrimination on basis of height or weight 
under "Law Against Discrimination."

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

��

An Act concerning discrimination on the basis of height or 
weight and amending P.L.1945, c.169, P.L.1954, c.198, and P.L.1992, c.146.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 3 of P.L.1945, 
c.169 (C.10:5-3) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.��� The Legislature finds 
and declares that practices of discrimination against any of its inhabitants, 
because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender 
identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, marital status, familial 
status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, 
disability [or], 
nationality, or height or weight, are matters of concern to the 
government of the State, and that such discrimination threatens not only the 
rights and proper privileges of the inhabitants of the State but menaces the 
institutions and foundation of a free democratic State; provided, however, that 
nothing in this expression of policy prevents the making of legitimate 
distinctions between citizens and aliens when required by federal law or 
otherwise necessary to promote the national interest.

���� The Legislature further 
declares its opposition to such practices of discrimination when directed 
against any person by reason of the race, creed, color, national origin, 
ancestry, age, sex, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual 
orientation, marital status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the 
United States, disability [or], 
nationality, or height or weight of that person or that person's family 
members, partners, members, stockholders, directors, officers, managers, 
superintendents, agents, employees, business associates, suppliers, or 
customers, in order that the economic prosperity and general welfare of the 
inhabitants of the State may be protected and ensured.

���� The Legislature further finds 
that because of discrimination, people suffer personal hardships, and the State 
suffers a grievous harm.� The personal hardships include: economic loss; time 
loss; physical and emotional stress; and in some cases severe emotional trauma, 
illness, homelessness or other irreparable harm resulting from the strain of 
employment controversies; relocation, search and moving difficulties; anxiety 
caused by lack of information, uncertainty, and resultant planning difficulty; 
career, education, family and social disruption; and adjustment problems, which 
particularly impact on those protected by this act.� Such harms have, under the 
common law, given rise to legal remedies, including compensatory and punitive 
damages.� The Legislature intends that such damages be available to all persons 
protected by this act and that this act shall be liberally construed in 
combination with other protections available under the laws of this State.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.436, s.1)

���� 2.��� Section 4 of P.L.1945, 
c.169 (C.10:5-4) is amended to read as follows:

���� 4.��� All persons shall have 
the opportunity to obtain employment, and to obtain all the accommodations, 
advantages, facilities, and privileges of any place of public accommodation, 
publicly assisted housing accommodation, and other real property without discrimination 
because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, 
affectional or sexual orientation, familial status, disability, liability for 
service in the Armed Forces of the United States, nationality, sex, gender 
identity or expression [or], 
source of lawful income used for rental or mortgage payments, or height or 
weight subject only to conditions and limitations applicable alike to all 
persons.� This opportunity is recognized as and declared to be a civil right.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.184, s.1)

���� 3.��� Section 6 of P.L.1945, 
c.169 (C.10:5-6) is amended to read as follows:

���� 6.��� There is created in the 
Department of Law and Public Safety a division known as "The Division on 
Civil Rights" with power to prevent and eliminate discrimination in the 
manner prohibited by this act against persons because of race, creed, color, 
national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual 
orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, nationality, 
disability, [or], sex [or], 
because of their liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United 
States, or height or weight by employers, labor organizations, 
employment agencies or other persons and to take oth