Asm. Margie Donlon

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telecom, cable, and internet providers in New Jersey to let customers cancel service contracts without early fees when moving to a long-term care facility for at least 90 days. It applies to individuals receiving a physician's referral or care plan for relocation to licensed facilities like nursing homes, assisted living, or dementia care homes. Customers must typically provide 45 days' notice (or 48 hours if a physician orders immediate relocation), and providers may request a physician's letter as proof. The bill does not relieve customers of equipment return fees or payments for equipment they already purchased.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A2941 requires large sports/entertainment venues, movie theaters (over 1,000 seats), and places of worship (over 300 seats) to submit annual emergency plans to local law enforcement. The bill updates current law by mandating these plans include detailed digital "emergency mapping data" (like aerial building images, floor plans, hazardous material locations) in an electronic format compatible with public safety software. It lowers the required seating capacity for places of worship from 500 to 300 people and clarifies these plans are not public records. The goal is to improve law enforcement's preparedness for incidents at these venues.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the New Jersey Department of Health to increase public awareness about xylazine, a veterinary drug not approved for human use that is being used recreationally and linked to overdose deaths. It requests the Department to provide educational resources informing residents about xylazine's health risks - including its incompatibility with naloxone (used for opioid overdoses) and its frequent combination with fentanyl - which can cause severe complications like skin ulcers and dangerous respiratory depression. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but calls on the Department to address this public health concern through targeted outreach. The resolution specifically highlights xylazine's role in rising overdose deaths in New Jersey and surrounding states.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 173) is a non-binding request urging the federal government to investigate unidentified drone sightings reported across New Jersey. It directly addresses federal agencies (like the FAA, Defense, and Homeland Security departments) and asks them to conduct a thorough investigation into drone activity near critical infrastructure, military sites, and residential areas. The resolution cites over a dozen counties reporting nightly drone flights, including near President-elect Trump’s property, and emphasizes that local officials and residents feel these sightings pose security concerns despite federal claims of no verified threat. It does not create new laws or regulations but formally requests federal action to address public safety worries.

Maddy summaryThis bill reschedules New Jersey's June 2025 primary election from June 3 to June 10, 2025, to avoid conflict with a religious observance. It also establishes a permanent rule requiring the Secretary of State to reschedule any primary election (for delegates to national conventions or general elections) if it falls on a religious observance that significantly hinders in-person voting. The new date must be the first Tuesday after the observance period, with the Secretary providing notice to election officials and the public by specific deadlines. This applies to all future primary elections affected by such observances, ensuring adjustments to related deadlines and publishing updated election calendars.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $500,000 in state funding to New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) for its Huntington's Disease Grant Program. The funds directly support approximately 900-1,200 New Jersey residents living with Huntington's disease and 7,000 at-risk individuals by covering pre-symptomatic testing, neurology/psychiatry services, counseling, and disease management through grants to eligible institutions. The supplemental appropriation raises the program's total FY2023 funding from an estimated $200,437 to $700,437. It does not change eligibility criteria but increases available resources for existing services. The bill is a straightforward funding measure with no new requirements or procedural changes.

Maddy summaryS 3611 allocates $1 million to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to study and map mental health care access for children. The bill requires creating a visual journey map of the steps families take to access services, identifying eligibility rules, financial barriers, and disparities by race/ethnicity. It mandates stakeholder input from providers, administrators, and families across northern, central, and southern NJ regions. The institute must submit two reports within 13 months: one mapping the care journey and another summarizing barriers, disparities, and policy recommendations for improving pediatric mental health services. This study directly affects children and families seeking mental health care in New Jersey.

Maddy summarySJR 71 designates the first full week of May each year as "Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week" in New Jersey to honor veterans who sustained physical or mental injuries while serving. The resolution requests the Governor issue a proclamation encouraging public awareness and support for wounded veterans adjusting to civilian life. It does not create new programs or funding but formally recognizes the challenges faced by veterans, including those with combat-related stress, depression, or traumatic brain injuries. This ceremonial designation applies statewide and became law in December 2024.

Maddy summarySJR 103 is a symbolic resolution declaring New Jersey a "Purple Heart State" to honor veterans and active-duty service members from New Jersey who have received the Purple Heart Medal. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded by the President to those wounded or killed in combat, and this resolution recognizes their sacrifices without creating new benefits or programs. It builds on New Jersey's existing connections to the national "Purple Heart Trail" (a network of roads and monuments honoring recipients), which includes locations in the state and stems from a 1992 convention held in Cherry Hill. The resolution takes effect immediately and serves as a formal state acknowledgment of these veterans' service.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's affordable housing voucher program to cover homeownership costs, allowing low-income households to use state vouchers for down payments or monthly mortgage assistance instead of just rent. It specifically reserves funds for seniors aged 62+, veterans who completed the "Veterans Haven" program, and families participating in a self-sufficiency initiative. The program also creates a Home Repair Emergency Assistance Fund to cover necessary home repairs for participants. This change, now law as P.L.2024, c.98, directly affects eligible residents seeking homeownership support through the state's rental assistance framework.