Asm. Vicky Flynn

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "New Jersey Anti-Semitism Task Force" within the Department of State, establishing a permanent 18-member group to address anti-Semitism. The task force includes legislative leaders, representatives from Jewish organizations (like Hadassah and the Anti-Defamation League), law enforcement (State Police and Bias Crimes Unit), and public members appointed by officials. Its core duty is to research anti-Semitic incidents and develop recommendations to protect Jewish communities, synagogues, and institutions. The bill cites rising anti-Semitic incidents in New Jersey (including 200 reported in 2018) as the basis for this action.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows businesses registered with New Jersey's Division of Revenue to opt into receiving official business notices (like new rules or economic incentives) via email instead of paper mail. It applies to most business entities (corporations, nonprofits, etc.) that file registration documents, excluding government agencies. Businesses must still maintain physical mailing addresses for legal notices, and paper mail remains required where state law specifically mandates it. The Division of Revenue will collect email addresses and share them with relevant agencies (like Taxation and Economic Development) to enable electronic notifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school boards to give hiring preference to veterans for teaching positions when veterans are equally qualified as non-veteran candidates in all measurable criteria (such as experience, certifications, and qualifications). It directly affects veterans applying for teaching jobs in most school districts, ensuring they receive preference only if their qualifications match other candidates exactly. The law does not apply to approximately nine school districts that follow the Civil Service system (Title 11A), as those districts' existing rules supersede this bill for classified employees. The preference applies immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 5% cap on annual reductions to state school aid for New Jersey public school districts. It limits how much a district's state funding can decrease compared to the previous year's budget, ensuring no district loses more than 5% of its net budget in aid. For districts with positive aid differentials (those receiving more aid than the previous year), the bill gradually increases the required aid reduction over time (from 13% to 100% by 2024-2025). Exceptions protect certain districts, including those in high-tax municipalities with spending below adequacy or regional districts formed under specific grant programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a surtax on non-public utility businesses with over $1 million in taxable net income. The surtax, which was set at 2.5% for 2018 and 1.5% for 2020-2021, is eliminated for all tax periods beginning January 1, 2019. Affected businesses will no longer owe this additional tax. The repeal takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsman for Children within New Jersey's government (operating under the Attorney General's office but without departmental control). The ombudsman will investigate child welfare cases, monitor facilities like foster homes and group homes, and identify systemic issues in how the state cares for children at risk of abuse or neglect. Key mechanisms include a 24-hour hotline for public concerns, authority to access child welfare records, and reporting findings to the Governor and Legislature. The office directly affects children in state care, child welfare agencies, and service providers, aiming to ensure they receive appropriate protections and services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Human Trafficking Criminal Registry, requiring the Attorney General to create an online database with details about individuals convicted of specific human trafficking offenses (including trafficking, aiding trafficking, or advertising commercial sexual abuse of minors). The registry categorizes people by status (incarcerated, on parole, in community release programs, or out-of-state parolees) and includes names, sentences, addresses, and criminal history. It also mandates one-time training for police on trafficking identification and for hotel/motel staff and healthcare workers on recognizing and responding to suspected trafficking cases. These training requirements must be completed within specific timeframes by affected employees and are tied to license maintenance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires county recording offices to notify property owners if a quitclaim deed is submitted for recording on their property, giving owners a 10-12 business day window to review the transaction before it's recorded. Property owners can proactively request this notification by providing contact details (mail or email) to the county office. The bill mandates that recording officers delay finalizing the deed for at least 10 business days after sending the notification, aiming to prevent fraudulent transfers. It directly affects property owners and county recording officers, adding a verification step specifically for quitclaim deeds.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school bus drivers to administer epinephrine to students experiencing severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) during school transportation under specific conditions. It requires parental written consent, a physician’s written order confirming the need for epinephrine, and the driver’s completion of standardized training. School bus drivers must volunteer for this role, and parents must sign liability waivers acknowledging the school district, driver, and contractor are protected from claims arising from good-faith administration. The policy directly affects students with severe allergies and their families, while providing legal protection for schools and drivers acting in compliance with the requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, A 878, authorizes New Jersey to issue special "100 Percent Disabled Veteran" license plates to veterans who have a 100% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It directly affects eligible veterans by granting them the same handicapped parking privileges as standard disabled parking placards, with no application fee. The plates must display the phrase "100 Percent Disabled Veteran" and a chosen emblem, are non-transferable, and misuse could result in revocation of parking benefits. The bill requires the Motor Vehicle Commission to notify veterans about the plates through registration renewals and office signage.