Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryBill A 850 establishes a Commission on Administrative Costs of Public Institutions of Higher Education to study administrative spending at New Jersey’s public colleges and universities. The commission, composed of nine members including university presidents, administrators, and department chairs, will examine specific cost factors like administrator salaries, duplicate roles, faculty-student ratios, and department staffing levels across all public institutions. It must submit annual reports with recommendations to the Assembly and Senate Higher Education Committees on reducing administrative costs. The bill does not mandate cost cuts but requires a systematic review of current spending structures. This procedural measure directly affects all 16 public higher education institutions in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new maximum hour limits for emergency medical technician (EMT) certification in New Jersey. It requires that all combined training for EMT-Basic certification (including coursework, clinical training, and field experience) must not exceed 90 hours, and additional certifications for EMT-Basics must not exceed 30 hours. Training agencies offering EMT-Basic programs must comply with the 90-hour limit to maintain certification. The bill directly affects EMT trainees, training programs, and the State Board of Medical Examiners by standardizing and reducing the required training duration.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill revises the legal definition of "abused child" to explicitly include cases where abuse (physical injury, sexual abuse, or risk of harm) is committed or allowed by non-parental caregivers - such as teachers, staff in schools or institutions, or other individuals with custody or control - not just parents or legal guardians. It expands protections for children by clarifying that institutions (including schools) must be held accountable for abuse by their staff, while exempting day schools from certain provisions under the current definition. The bill does not create new services for children with problematic sexual behaviors (as referenced in the title), but focuses solely on broadening the definition of abuse to cover additional perpetrators. The legislation is currently pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee after its introduction on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryACR 107 is a non-binding resolution urging the New Jersey Department of Education to pause the development and implementation of new Student Learning Standards for two years. It directly affects the Department of Education and State Board of Education by requesting a temporary halt to creating new standards, while pending legislative bills about curriculum and learning loss are reviewed. The resolution cites parent concerns about current standards, pandemic-related learning loss, and declining U.S. education rankings as reasons for the pause. It does not change existing standards but asks for a two-year moratorium to allow the Legislature to address related issues.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program to expand career and technical education (CTE) programs for high school students in New Jersey, funded by a $5 million appropriation from the General Fund. It directs the Commissioner of Education to award grants to school districts for developing CTE programs, acquiring equipment/facilities, and providing instructor training. Five districts per region (south, central, north) will be selected to participate, with a requirement for geographic diversity (urban, suburban, rural). Participating districts must submit annual impact reports, and the Commissioner will report program results to the Governor and Legislature each year.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution AR 41 is a non-binding request urging the U.S. President and Congress to investigate environmental and labor risks linked to lithium mining. It specifically highlights concerns about water scarcity and carbon emissions from mining in Australia, Chile, and Argentina, as well as child labor in cobalt mining (used in lithium batteries) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The resolution notes that the U.S. imports most of its lithium from Argentina and Chile and lithium-ion batteries from China, where these issues are prevalent. It does not create new laws but asks federal authorities to examine these impacts before the U.S. continues relying on these global supply chains.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for failing to report suspected abuse or exploitation of elderly people in care facilities. It raises fines for required reporters (like healthcare workers, social workers, and facility staff) from $500 to $1,500 per violation, and for the employing facility from $2,500 to $5,000 per violation. The law requires immediate reporting (within 2 hours) for serious injury cases or within 24 hours for other suspected abuse, with immunity provided for good-faith reports. The policy directly affects professionals working in nursing homes and similar facilities who have a duty to report. The changes take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Caregiver's Assistance Act creates a tax credit for residents who pay for care of elderly relatives. Caregivers with income under $100,000 (or $50,000 for certain filers) can get 22.5% back on up to $3,000 annually in qualified care costs. Eligible expenses include home health services, adult day care, home modifications, and personal care assistance for qualifying seniors aged 60+ (or 50+ with disability) who meet income requirements. The credit does not apply to costs covered by insurance or government programs, and it's in addition to existing dependent deductions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges New Jersey's state and federal agencies to pause sonar testing and wind turbine mapping near offshore wind projects. It cites NOAA data showing 12 whale deaths (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphin deaths in February 2023 off New Jersey's coast - deaths occurring near active wind development sites. The resolution requests an immediate moratorium to allow scientific study of whether these activities interfere with marine mammals' navigation and communication. It specifically targets the Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The resolution does not create new law but calls for a pause while investigations continue.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 13-member "COVID-19 Learning Loss Study Commission" to examine how pandemic school closures affected student learning in New Jersey. The commission, including legislative members, education officials, and representatives from teachers' unions and school associations, will analyze pandemic impacts on academic outcomes - breaking down data by school district size, grade level, and subject - and study pre-existing achievement gaps. It must compile findings using data from March 2020 (when schools closed) through the bill’s effective date, then submit a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within six months. The commission expires 30 days after submitting its report.