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

SJR98

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 98

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

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

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating November 13 of each
year as �Day of Civility� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

In recent years, American political and social discourse has been fraught with
divisive rhetoric; and

Whereas,

�Civility,� which means courtesy or politeness, would greatly enhance social
relations among Americans and improve political leaders� ability to govern; and

Whereas,

Over the course of almost ten years, KRC Research, a public opinion research
consultancy, Weber Shandwick, a public relations and marketing communications
firm, and Powell Tate, a public affairs firm, conducted annual studies on
Americans� perception of civility in the United States, and

Whereas,

Those annual studies found that 93 percent of Americans consider incivility to
be a problem in the United States, most classifying it as a major problem; and

Whereas,

Seventy-five percent of Americans blame politicians for the erosion of civility
in our society; and

Whereas,

More than eight in 10 Americans have experienced incivility in a wide variety
of places and settings; and

Whereas,

Among those Americans who have reported experiencing incivility, such
encounters are frequent, averaging 10.6 times per week; and

Whereas,

Nine out of 10 Americans believe that incivility leads to intimidation,
threats, harassment, discrimination, violence, and cyber-bullying; and

Whereas,

Most Americans believe that civility benefits society by building national
pride and easing tension and conflict; and

Whereas,

Since 1998, �World Kindness Day� has taken place annually on November 13 to
celebrate, promote, and pledge acts of kindness; and

Whereas,

It is altogether fitting and proper, and within the public interest, to
designate November 13 of each year as �Day of Civility� in New Jersey and to
encourage the citizens of this State to join the observance of this day; now,
therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1. �November 13 of each year
is hereby designated �Day of Civility� in New Jersey.

���� 2. �The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing November 13
of each year as �Day of Civility� and calling upon public officials and
citizens of this State to observe this day with appropriate educational
programs and activities designed to foster civility.

���� 3. �This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution designates
November 13 of each year as �Day of Civility� in New Jersey to coincide with
�World Kindness Day.�� In recent years, American political and social discourse
has been fraught with divisive rhetoric.� �Civility,� which means courtesy or
politeness, would greatly enhance social relations among Americans and improve
political leaders� ability to govern.� A vast majority of Americans consider
incivility to be a problem, and many blame politicians for the erosion of
civility in our society.� Most Americans have experienced incivility and in a
wide variety of places and settings.� Among those Americans who have reported
experiencing incivility, such encounters are frequent.� Most Americans believe
that incivility leads to intimidation, threats, harassment, discrimination,
violence, and cyber-bullying, and that civility benefits society by building
national pride and by easing tension and conflict.