Asm. Vicky Flynn

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal presumption that joint legal and physical custody is in a child's best interest for all New Jersey child custody cases. It requires courts to assume equal or approximately equal time with both parents and shared decision-making on health, education, and welfare, unless a parent provides clear evidence that joint custody would harm the child. To rebut this presumption, a parent must prove harm with "clear and convincing evidence," and courts must document their reasoning. The law applies directly to parents and judges handling custody disputes in New Jersey courts. If passed, it would shift the default custody arrangement from flexible court discretion to equal shared parenting, with limited exceptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $5 million grant program to expand dual enrollment opportunities in career and technical education (CTE) for New Jersey high school students. Public colleges and universities can apply for competitive grants to offer college-level CTE courses on their campuses or in high schools, allowing students to earn college credits while still in high school. Institutions must submit detailed applications outlining their program plans, capacity, and expected student participation, with grants prioritizing programs designed to continue beyond the initial funding period. The Secretary of Higher Education must annually report to the Governor and Legislature on program participation, impact on workforce needs, and recommendations for future funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that only licensed nurses may use the title "Nurse" or related abbreviations like "R.N." or "L.P.N." in New Jersey. It prohibits unlicensed individuals or organizations from representing themselves as nurses or using these titles, including in professional communications or credentials. The law applies to all unlicensed people seeking to misrepresent their qualifications, reinforcing existing licensing requirements under New Jersey's nursing statutes. Violations carry penalties of $200 per offense, increasing to $500 for repeat violations. (Note: This bill amends prior laws rather than creating new licensing standards.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to create a free bereavement counseling program for family members and specific volunteer caregivers of veterans who died by suicide. It directly affects spouses, parents, children, household residents, and unpaid volunteer caregivers who provided counseling for at least three months before the veteran's death. Key provisions include matching applicants with licensed clinicians (max 30 counseling hours per year, up to 24 months), requiring funeral directors and Veteran Service Officers to provide program information, and allowing applications for up to five years after the veteran's death. The program must be administered at no cost to participants, with DMVA responsible for recruiting clinicians and coordinating with federal VA resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal a 2018 directive (No. 2018-6) that limited local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The directive previously prohibited police from sharing certain information with immigration officials - such as notifying them about detained individuals' release dates or extending detention solely based on immigration requests - when immigration enforcement was the sole purpose. The bill directly affects state, county, and local police departments by removing these restrictions on sharing information with federal immigration authorities. It aims to restore full cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies, as specified in the directive's current provisions. The repeal would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A-1260) requires manufacturers and sellers of internet-connected devices to include digital blocking technology that automatically restricts access to obscene material, child pornography, revenge porn, and websites linked to human trafficking or prostitution. It directly affects device companies and minors (who must have blocking active unless they pay a $20 opt-out fee to deactivate it). Key provisions include mandatory blocking of harmful content, a 5-day window to unblock mistakenly blocked material upon consumer report, and quarterly fees ($20 per device) sent to fund the state’s Human Trafficking Commission. The bill is not yet law - it was introduced January 2026 and referred to committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Veterans' Healthcare Services to create and maintain emergency plans specifically for state-run Veterans' Memorial Homes. The plans must identify potential emergencies, outline response steps, establish standardized procedures for all homes (including training), and ensure timely information sharing with residents, families, and staff. It directly affects Veterans' Memorial Homes across New Jersey and their residents. The law takes immediate effect and does not override existing federal or state emergency regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill gradually reduces New Jersey's Corporation Business Tax (CBT) rate for corporations filing tax returns. It lowers the standard tax rate from 7% for tax years ending after December 31, 2020, to 5% in 2021, 3% in 2022, and 2.5% in 2023. Small New Jersey S corporations with net income under $100,000 will see reduced rates (3.5% for 2020-2021, 2.5% for 2021 onward). The changes apply to corporations calculating tax under existing law, modifying the rate schedule in Section 5 of P.L.1945, c.162.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State veterans' memorial homes to maintain minimum direct care staff-to-resident ratios based on resident needs and facility size. The Division of Veterans’ Healthcare Services must establish these ratios, review them quarterly, and ensure each home meets the set standard. "Direct care staff" includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse aides working within their scope. The bill does not override existing health department or federal staffing rules for non-direct care staff and allows homes to exceed minimum staffing levels at any time.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-827) removes the requirement that disabled veterans' businesses must have a physical office in New Jersey to qualify for state contracts under the Set-Aside Act. It directly affects disabled veteran-owned businesses seeking state contracts, allowing them to qualify even if their principal place of business is outside New Jersey. The key change amends the law to eliminate the "principal place of business in the State" language from the definition of eligible businesses. This adjustment aims to expand the pool of eligible businesses, potentially helping state agencies meet their goal of awarding at least 3% of contracts to disabled veterans' businesses.