Asm. Alex Sauickie

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill 5430 establishes mandatory maximum class sizes for public school districts, specifically capping preschool classes at 15 children and setting limits between 21 and 25 students for grades kindergarten through 12 depending on the district's poverty level. High-poverty districts, defined as those with at least 40 percent of students classified as at-risk, face stricter caps in lower grades compared to other districts, which are generally limited to 25 students per class. The bill allows specific exceptions for physical education, performing arts, and certain multi-grade academy programs, while also permitting districts to slightly exceed the 25-student limit if they have unassigned students. To support these changes, the state would cover 100 percent of the costs incurred by school districts to reduce their class sizes to the new maximums.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey legislative resolution declares that Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rules adopted in December 2022 regarding carbon dioxide emissions are inconsistent with legislative intent. The bill specifically targets regulations that impose strict emission limits on electric generating units, arguing that these requirements force "peaker plants" to cease operations because they cannot simultaneously meet state emission standards and regional grid operator requirements. By transmitting this finding to the Governor and the DEP Commissioner, the resolution gives the agency 30 days to amend or withdraw the specific rule at N.J.A.C.7:27F-2.5. If the DEP does not take action within that timeframe, the Legislature reserves the right to pass a subsequent resolution to formally invalidate the regulations in whole or in part.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A5428 requires the Commissioner of Health to establish a dedicated hotline for individuals to report complaints about nonemergency medical transportation services. The bill defines these services as supervised transport for patients whose conditions are not severe enough for an ambulance but who face significant health risks if they use standard public or private vehicles. Hotline operators, who must be trained by the Department of Health and knowledgeable in relevant regulations, will identify callers needing immediate transport and refer them to appropriate providers. To encourage reporting, the law allows callers to request that their identity and the details of their complaint remain confidential. Additionally, the Department of Health is tasked with investigating valid complaints for regulatory violations and adopting new rules to ensure patient safety and consumer protection.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill 5426 requires the state Attorney General to publish specific details on its website regarding any legal actions taken against the federal government. The bill mandates that this public information include the type of lawsuit, whether internal or outside lawyers handled the case, and the names of any external attorneys retained. Additionally, it requires the publication of estimated and actual costs associated with both outside counsel and the state's Division of Law, as well as the final outcome of the legal action.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill 5427 allows residents aged 65 and older to designate a trusted third party to receive notifications if they fall behind on mortgage payments or quarterly property taxes. Financial institutions holding mortgages must send these delinquency notices by email or regular mail, while municipal tax collectors may charge a one-time fee of up to $10 for similar services. The bill requires the designation process to be completed in writing with signatures from both the senior citizen and the third party, witnessed by a notary for mortgages or the tax collector for property taxes. These notices include specific financial details such as days delinquent and accrued interest, but they do not grant the third party any authority over the senior's accounts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Resolution 149 formally expresses support for all law enforcement officers and encourages every county and municipality in the state to adopt similar resolutions recognizing their work. The text highlights the expanding duties of police, including responding to mental health crises and community outreach, while criticizing trends such as defunding initiatives and sanctuary city policies that it argues undermine public safety. It also condemns inflammatory rhetoric from political leaders and media figures that it claims incites violence against officers. Copies of the resolution are directed to be sent to state police leadership, law enforcement unions, and local government bodies.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A5429 provides additional state funding to public school districts that transport a large number of nonpublic school students. The bill targets districts where the count of eligible nonpublic students exceeds the number of eligible public students, creating two tiers of financial support based on the size of this difference. Districts meeting the basic threshold receive extra aid equal to 50 percent of the gap between their per-pupil state transportation funding and the actual cost of transporting those nonpublic students. If the number of nonpublic students exceeds the public student count by at least 25 percent, the district receives 100 percent of that calculated difference. This legislation directly affects school districts with significant populations of nonpublic school students eligible for transportation services under existing state law.