Asm. Vicky Flynn

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends property tax exemptions for veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities retroactively to the date they were officially declared disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It requires the state to reimburse municipalities for property taxes paid by eligible veterans during the retroactive period. The exemption applies to veterans’ primary residences and covers specific disabilities like paralysis, blindness, or amputations. It directly affects veterans who previously paid taxes they should have been exempt from under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires public school districts to allow home-schooled students to join school-sponsored activities like sports, clubs, music, and theater in their resident district, using the same rules as enrolled students. To participate, home-schooled students must prove residency, meet eligibility requirements, and follow district policies. The bill specifically prohibits students from switching to home-schooling solely to play sports, and it mandates that districts provide home-schooled students access to required physical exams if offered to public school students. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council within the Department of Health and requires public school teaching staff (including teachers, school nurses, and athletic trainers) to complete two hours of annual suicide prevention training from licensed mental health professionals. It mandates confidential reporting of suspected youth suicide attempts or deaths by school staff, mental health professionals, and certain other designated personnel to the Department of Health, with protections for reporters' immunity from liability. The law defines key terms like "suicide attempt" and "youth" (under 24), and creates a system for aggregating non-identifying data to inform annual reports. The bill directly affects school staff, healthcare providers, and school administrators in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's professional licensing boards to issue licenses to veterans who hold a valid, good-standing license in another state, regardless of when they earned it during or after military service. To qualify, veterans must provide proof of honorable discharge, evidence their out-of-state license is current, and meet all other standard requirements like exams. The law mandates boards to evaluate equivalent training/experience without requiring the same number of hours as local applicants. It directly helps veterans licensed in other states who face barriers to working in New Jersey due to differing licensing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1628) prohibits New Jersey public colleges and universities from entering partnerships or sharing research/inventions with institutions located in Palestinian-controlled West Bank or Gaza territories. It bans contracts, joint ventures, and the transfer of intellectual property (like patents or research) with those foreign schools. Public institutions found noncompliant would lose eligibility for state funding covering operational and capital costs. The bill, introduced in January 2026, would take effect immediately if passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to study how state agencies use artificial intelligence and provide recommendations for ethical, safe implementation. The council, composed of the state's Chief Technology Officer, two legislative members (appointed by chamber leaders with party balance), and two public AI experts (appointed by the Governor), will assess AI's benefits and risks, develop guidelines to prevent biased decision-making and protect data privacy, and recommend best practices for state agencies. The council must submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its first meeting and then dissolve. This directly affects state agencies that will use the council's guidance for AI procurement and implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $5 million loan program for first-time homebuyers purchasing homes in New Jersey areas with the highest concentrations of abandoned properties. Eligible applicants (meeting at least four of seven criteria, such as recent relocation, skilled employment, or education) receive interest-free, deferred second mortgages of up to $10,000 to cover basic repair costs like plumbing, roofing, or electrical work. The program targets the 10 municipalities with the most abandoned properties and all areas within five miles of their boundaries. Loans are deferred until property sale or transfer, and the New Jersey Housing Agency must adopt rules within nine months to implement the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1184) is formally titled about revising employment status tests but actually amends definitions in New Jersey's unemployment benefits law (R.S.43:21-19). It revises terms like "annual payroll," "base year," and "benefit year" to clarify how unemployment benefits are calculated, including rules for alternative base years when wage data is unavailable. The changes affect individuals filing for unemployment benefits and employers reporting wages, specifically impacting how eligibility and benefit amounts are determined under existing state law. The bill does not alter the test for classifying workers as employees versus independent contractors, despite its title.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission under New Jersey's "Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission Act" to coordinate state efforts in preventing veteran suicides. The commission, composed of 12 members including veterans, mental health experts, military representatives, and family members, will review state agency programs, improve coordination between departments, and track progress on suicide prevention initiatives. It directly affects New Jersey veterans, service members, and their families by aiming to strengthen existing support systems through better collaboration. The commission will focus on aligning services for veterans' transition to civilian life, mental health care, and community resources without creating new programs. The bill requires the commission to hold at least six meetings annually and report on its activities to improve suicide prevention outcomes.