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Bill

AJR 235

Designates November 13 of each year as "Day of Civility" in New Jersey.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Shanique Speight

Designates November 13 as Day of Civility in New Jersey; requests annual gubernatorial proclamation and civility-focused educational activities, with no new spending or mandates.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
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Bill Summary · AJR 235

Summary of AJR 235 (New Jersey)

Overview

AJR 235 is a joint resolution introduced in the New Jersey Assembly on November 17, 2025. The bill designates November 13 of each year as “Day of Civility” in New Jersey, to coincide with World Kindness Day. It directs the Governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing the day and to encourage public officials and citizens to observe it with educational programs and activities aimed at fostering civility. The resolution takes effect immediately upon enactment.

What the bill would do

  • Designate November 13 of every year as the “Day of Civility” in New Jersey.
  • Request the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the day.
  • Call upon public officials and New Jersey citizens to observe the day with appropriate educational programs and activities designed to promote civility.
  • Take effect immediately as a joint resolution (no new spending authority or statutory programs are created by the bill).

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Formal designation of November 13 as Day of Civility in New Jersey.
  • Section 2: The Governor is respectfully requested to issue an annual proclamation recognizing the day and to urge observance through educational programs and activities that foster civility.
  • Section 3: Effective date of the resolution (immediate).

Background and rationale included in the bill

  • The introduced text frames civility as a civic value that can improve social relations and governance.
  • It references public opinion data from studies by KRC Research, Weber Shandwick, and Powell Tate, noting high levels of perceived incivility, the belief that politicians contribute to erosion of civility, and the negative impacts of incivility (including intimidation and harassment).
  • The designation aligns with World Kindness Day (observed on November 13) to promote kindness and civility.

Who/what is affected

  • The designation primarily affects public awareness and observance, not New Jersey law or penalties.
  • Public officials (state and local) and New Jersey residents are encouraged to participate in civility-focused activities.
  • No funding or program mandates are created by the bill.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • Introduced: November 17, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.
  • Related legislation: Companion bill SJR 169 (Senate version).

Potential impact

  • Raises the profile of civility as a public value and encourages educational activities and conversations about respectful discourse.
  • Provides an annual occasion for government proclamations and civic engagement around civility without creating new statutory obligations or expenditures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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