New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey AJR59: Water Safety Day-designates May 15 of each year
Status: Introduced, June 1, 2026
Designates May 15 of each year as "Water Safety Day" in New Jersey.
What the bill says
A Joint Resolution designating May 15 of each year as Water Safety Day in New Jersey.
From the introduced text, January 13, 2026:
A Joint Resolution designating May 15 of each year as Water Safety Day in New Jersey. Whereas, Water safety involves proactive measures to prevent drowning, accidents, and injuries in proximity to bodies of water; and Whereas, The Red Cross specifies water competence as maintaining awareness of water conditions, knowing physical limitations, and never swimming alone; and Whereas, Safe water activity requires supervision, access to safety equipment, and awareness of lifesaving techniques; and Whereas, When practiced safely, water activities may encourage healthy development, improved confidence, and collective wellbeing; and Whereas, Drowning is a costly public health issue, often caused by risky water behavior; and Whereas, Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children ages one to 14, and a leading cause for ages one to 17; and Whereas, More children ages one through four die from drowning than from any other cause, except birth defects; and Whereas, Drowning results in over 4,000 unintentional fatalities each year, accounting for an estimated $53 billion in direct and indirect costs; and Whereas, Worldwide, drowning claims 236,000 lives annually; and Whereas, Over half of all fatal and nonfatal drownings among those 15 years and older occur in natural waters such as rivers, lakes, and oceans; and Whereas, Victims of drowning are disproportionately individuals of color, and 45 percent of Hispanic children and 64 …
Sponsors
- Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D, 15) · primary sponsor
- William B. Sampson, IV (D, 31) · primary sponsor
- Donald A. Guardian (R, 2) · primary sponsor
- Michael Inganamort (R, 24)
Latest actions
- : REP 2RA
- : INT 1RA REF ATG
Votes
- Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee: Reported favorably (June 1, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: ENVIRONMENT - BEACHES AND SHORES, COMMEMORATIONS
Common questions
- What is AJR59?
- AJR59 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Water Safety Day-designates May 15 of each year.
- What does AJR59 do?
- In its own words: A Joint Resolution designating May 15 of each year as Water Safety Day in New Jersey.
- What is the status of AJR59?
- Introduced as of June 1, 2026. Latest action: REP 2RA (June 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored AJR59?
- Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D, 15), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for AJR59?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/AJR59
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.