Asm. Margie Donlon

Maddy summaryAJR 126 designates April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day" in New Jersey. The bill encourages employers, workers, government agencies, and communities to promote workplace safety through public awareness. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation urging New Jersey residents to observe the day with activities supporting safe work environments. This resolution has no regulatory effect but aims to highlight the importance of preventing workplace injuries and deaths.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's aggravated assault statute to update the definition of "health care professional" to match the broader definition established in the "Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act." Currently, the aggravated assault statute only covers specific health care workers, while the "Health Care Heroes" law includes a wider range of staff such as volunteers, supportive services staff, and other employees working in health care facilities. By aligning these definitions, the bill ensures all health care professionals covered under the "Health Care Heroes" law would also be protected under the aggravated assault statute. This change directly affects health care workers, volunteers, and support staff across New Jersey who provide patient care or perform official duties in health care settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for retailers who sell tobacco or vapor products to people under 21. First violations now carry $500 fines (up from $250), second violations $1,000 (up from $500), and third or subsequent violations $2,000 (up from $1,000). Small businesses with clear compliance policies pay only $100 for the first violation. Five percent of collected fines will fund public education on vapor product dangers and illegal sales. Retailers must also post new signs at points of sale and vending machines warning that selling to minors is prohibited.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals approved to relocate from designated underserved communities to maintain minimum services at their original location. Specifically, they must keep the same professional departments, inpatient beds, and essential services required of all general acute care hospitals under current regulations. The original location must operate under the same license as the relocated hospital. This applies to any relocation approved by New Jersey's Department of Health, including those finalized within the past year.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the FY2026 annual funding for New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) by $16.7 million to raise the monthly reimbursement rate paid to care management organizations (CMOs). The rate for CMO services will increase from $1,032 to $1,200 per client starting in FY2026, with annual $100 increases each year until reaching $1,500 per client. CMOs - county-based agencies providing coordinated care for youth with behavioral health needs, substance use disorders, or developmental disabilities - will directly benefit from this higher payment rate. The change is implemented through an amendment to the state's 2025-2026 budget appropriations act.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $52,798,268 from existing farmland preservation funds to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for farmland preservation. It provides $21 million for acquiring development easements or fee simple titles to farmland, including grants to counties (up to 80% of costs) and nonprofits (up to 50% of costs). An additional $3.45 million supports stewardship activities like soil conservation and deer fencing on preserved farmland, while $28.3 million covers administrative costs for SADC operations and enforcement. The funding directly affects landowners, local governments, and nonprofit organizations working to preserve agricultural land in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A5862 appropriates $34 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues to fund farmland preservation. The funds will provide planning incentive grants to eligible counties - specifically five counties receiving base grants of $500,000-$1 million, plus 10 additional counties eligible for competitive grants - to cover up to 80% of costs for permanent land protections (development easements) on farmland. The grants are administered through the State Agriculture Development Committee under the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund, with a county’s maximum total award capped at $8.5 million. This bill directly affects participating counties in agricultural areas by enabling local governments to preserve farmland through permanent land protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program and Plan First program to cover fertility preservation services for individuals whose fertility may be impaired by medically necessary treatments like cancer therapy. It defines "iatrogenic infertility" as fertility loss caused by medical treatments affecting reproductive organs, and specifies that covered services include storage of sperm, eggs, embryos, and cryopreserved ovarian tissue. The coverage must be provided without discrimination based on age, gender, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics, making these often-expensive services accessible to low-to-moderate income patients who would otherwise be unable to afford them.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes standardized credit transfer rules for New Jersey public colleges and universities, replacing previous "collective agreements" with requirements set by the Secretary of Higher Education. It creates a New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within the Secretary's office to resolve disputes between students and institutions about credit transfers, conduct compliance reviews every three years, and publish annual reports on transfer outcomes. Public institutions must now provide transfer students with data on program completion rates and ensure associate degrees earned at community colleges are fully transferable toward bachelor's degrees. The changes directly affect students transferring between NJ public colleges and universities, as well as the institutions themselves, by standardizing credit recognition and adding oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4819) provides specific enrollment flexibility for military-connected students in New Jersey schools. It directly affects students dependent on active-duty military personnel, veterans, National Guard members, military retirees, or civilian military employees (as defined in the bill). Key provisions include waiving residency requirements for enrollment, granting preference in school placement, protecting against discrimination based on military status, and guaranteeing admission to any school under inter-district agreements if military orders document a temporary transfer of over 30 days. Parents can also choose to keep a child in their original school district through graduation for 11th graders, or enroll in installation schools within 10 days if housing isn't secured within 30 days.