The New Jersey state Senate unanimously approved a bill today which would allow nursing mothers in the state to be exempt from jury duty.

Under current law, exemptions from jury duty are only authorized for people who are 75 years of age or older; who have served on a jury within the previous three years; or who will suffer severe hardship due to circumstances that are unlikely to change within a year (e.g. medical conditions, care of another or financial hardship), members of volunteer fire departments and first aid or rescue squads and, under certain circumstances, teachers.

According to the text of this bill, mothers who are nursing will be able to claim an exemption from jury duty during the first year of their child’s life.

The bill, which passed a similar hearing last session but failed to make it to the floor for a full vote, must also be approved by the full Assembly.