This bill amends New Jersey law to explicitly exempt nursing mothers from jury duty. Under the current statute, nursing mothers do not have a specific exemption, which can create challenges for those who are breastfeeding or expressing milk for their infants. The bill introduces new language that allows a prospective juror to be excused from jury service if they are the mother of a child who is one year of age or younger and is nursing or expressing milk for that child. This addition aims to alleviate the potential hardship that jury duty may impose on nursing mothers.

In addition to the new exemption for nursing mothers, the bill retains existing provisions that allow for jury duty exemptions based on age, prior jury service, severe hardship due to medical conditions, financial difficulties, caregiving responsibilities, and certain professional obligations. The intent of the bill is to support breastfeeding mothers in their efforts to provide for their infants while recognizing the health benefits associated with breastfeeding for both mothers and children. The bill is set to take effect immediately and will apply to jurors impaneled on or after the effective date.