New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey AJR139: Deaf Awareness Month/Deaf Awareness Week-desig. Sept. & last full week of Sept.
Status: Passed one chamber, September 28, 2026
Designates month of September each year as "Deaf Awareness Month" in New Jersey. *
What the bill says
A Joint Resolution designating the month of September each year as Deaf Awareness Month in New Jersey 1[and designating the last full week of September each year as Deaf Awareness Week in New Jersey]1.
From the amended text, June 18, 2026:
A Joint Resolution designating the month of September each year as Deaf Awareness Month in New Jersey 1[and designating the last full week of September each year as Deaf Awareness Week in New Jersey]1. Whereas, Approximately one out of every 1,000 children in the United States is born with profound hearing loss; and Whereas, There are approximately 850,000 New Jersey residents with varying degrees of hearing loss ranging from mild to profound, including individuals who are born deaf and people who encounter late-stage hearing loss; and Whereas, New Jersey is home to many world-class institutions and programs for people who are deaf, including the Union Street School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Hackensack, the Bruce Street School for the Deaf in Newark, and the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Trenton; and Whereas, Linda Bove, famous for her role as Linda the Librarian on Sesame Street is a New Jersey native, having been born in Garfield and educated at the Marie Katzenbach School; and Whereas, There are many misconceptions about being deaf and the challenges people who are deaf face in their everyday lives, which can only be dispelled through greater public education and awareness; and Whereas, People who are deaf communicate using sign language, which is a fully fledged natural language with its own morphology, …
Sponsors
- Carol A. Murphy (D, 7) · primary sponsor
- Margie Donlon, M.D. (D, 11) · primary sponsor
- Anthony S. Verrelli (D, 15) · primary sponsor
- Gerry Scharfenberger (R, 13)
- William B. Sampson, IV (D, 31)
- Annette Quijano (D, 20)
- Victoria A. Flynn (R, 13)
- Roy Freiman (D, 16)
Latest actions
- : R/S REF SHH
- : PA (74-0-0)
- : REP/ACA 2RA
- : INT 1RA REF AHE
Votes
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE - Deaf Awareness Month/Deaf Awareness Week-desig. Sept. & last full week of Sept. (September 24, 2026): 74 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Assembly Health Committee: Reported with committee amendments (Aca) (June 18, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: COMMEMORATIONS, HUMAN SERVICES - DISABLED
Common questions
- What is AJR139?
- AJR139 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Deaf Awareness Month/Deaf Awareness Week-desig. Sept. & last full week of Sept.
- What does AJR139 do?
- In its own words: A Joint Resolution designating the month of September each year as Deaf Awareness Month in New Jersey 1[and designating the last full week of September each year as Deaf Awareness Week in New Jersey]1.
- What is the status of AJR139?
- Passed one chamber as of September 28, 2026. Latest action: R/S REF SHH (September 28, 2026).
- Who sponsored AJR139?
- Carol A. Murphy (D, 7), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for AJR139?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/AJR139
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.