Asm. Margie Donlon

Maddy summary# Summary This bill renames the Juvenile Justice Commission as the Youth Justice Commission and updates all statutory references from the "New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice" to the "New Jersey Code of Youth Justice." The sponsor's intent is to better reflect the commission's mission to assist and rehabilitate court-involved youth and provide programs, support, and opportunities designed to help youth grow, thrive, and become independent, productive, and law-abiding citizens. The bill also includes numerous amendments to the laws governing the commission, including provisions related to mental health screening in juvenile detention facilities, room restriction policies, data collection requirements, education programs, and staffing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who left school due to military service, including active duty in the Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve. Schools must reinstate these students with the same academic standing they held before their service interruption and grant readmission for the next available semester upon written request. The bill prohibits institutions from charging application or other fees for these readmission requests. It takes effect immediately, applying to the first full academic year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly resolution (AR 154) urges Congress to hold a joint session at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 2, 2026, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It specifically references House Resolution 115, introduced in the 118th Congress, which proposes this commemorative session. The resolution has no legal effect - it is a symbolic request for Congress to honor the historical significance of the Declaration's approval at Independence Hall. It directly affects the U.S. Congress, as it asks lawmakers to consider convening in Philadelphia for this anniversary event.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 166) urges the Miss America Organization to return the annual pageant to Atlantic City for 2025 and future years. It cites the pageant’s historical origins in Atlantic City since 1921, its 10-year hosting there from 2013 to 2024, and its role in awarding over $150 million in scholarships since 1945. The resolution specifically requests the organization host the event in Atlantic City, noting its long-standing ties to the city. It does not impose legal requirements but expresses the legislature’s preference based on the pageant’s historical significance to Atlantic City.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues to fund land acquisition for recreation and conservation purposes across New Jersey. The funding supports specific projects including Blue Acres projects (which protect lands from flood and storm damage) and the Green Acres Program. The bill allocates $23.7 million for land acquisition in 14 designated project areas across multiple counties, with $23.7 million specifically for Blue Acres projects and $2.05 million for program administrative costs. This funding comes from a constitutional fund approved by voters in 2014 that's dedicated to open space and conservation initiatives.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 3179 requires sports/entertainment facilities (over 5,000 seats), movie theaters (over 1,000 seats), and places of worship (now over 300 seats, down from 500) to submit annual electronic emergency plans to local law enforcement. The plans must include specific "emergency mapping data" like digital floor plans, aerial images, hazard locations, and access routes, formatted for public safety software systems. This replaces current requirements to submit paper copies of building layouts and explicitly excludes these plans from public record laws. The bill aims to improve law enforcement preparedness for mass casualty incidents at these venues by standardizing accessible emergency information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey telecom, cable, and internet providers to let customers pause or cancel service contracts without early termination fees when they move into a qualifying long-term care facility. It directly affects residents admitted to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, dementia care homes, or residential health care facilities for at least 90 days, as verified by a physician’s order or care plan. Providers must pause billing for a minimum 90 days upon admission, then cancel the contract if the resident remains in the facility beyond that period. The law mandates no fees for this pause/cancellation, though customers must provide physician documentation and typically give 45 days’ notice (or 48 hours in urgent cases).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) to consult with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) when a court finds an individual with a developmental disability abused or neglected a child. It mandates DCPP to work with DDD to create a tailored services plan for that individual, considering their specific disability. The key mechanism ensures therapeutic services (like counseling or support programs) are designed around the person's disability needs, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. This directly affects individuals with developmental disabilities who are found to have abused or neglected a child and are eligible for DDD services.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to fund historic preservation projects through the New Jersey Historic Trust. The funds will support 43 capital preservation projects ($15.03 million total) including historic buildings and landmarks like fire stations and lighthouses, 34 historic site management projects ($1.47 million total) for preservation planning and heritage tourism, $100,000 for easement purchases, and $1.92 million for administrative costs. All projects must be listed or eligible for listing in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, and recipients must provide matching funds. The funding comes from revenues constitutionally dedicated to historic preservation under the Preserve New Jersey Act, with changes to projects requiring Joint Budget Oversight Committee approval.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4754 prohibits businesses from selling, manufacturing, distributing, or offering for sale personal flotation devices (PFDs) like lifejackets, water wings, or puddle jumpers that are not approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. The bill directly affects retailers and manufacturers operating in New Jersey, specifically targeting PFDs designed for children under 12 years old. Violators face escalating civil penalties: $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and $500 for third or subsequent offenses, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law aims to ensure consumers can purchase Coast Guard-approved PFDs, reducing risks associated with unapproved devices that may deflate or slip off, as highlighted by drowning statistics.