Asm. Vicky Flynn

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts specific baby products from New Jersey's sales and use tax, directly affecting parents and caregivers purchasing these items. It removes tax from cribs (infant beds), child restraint systems (car seats meeting federal safety standards), nursing bottles/nipples/funnels, and strollers (all non-motorized transport devices). The law amends the Sales and Use Tax Act to add these products to the tax-exempt list, effective immediately upon enactment. This change reduces out-of-pocket costs for essential infant care items without altering existing tax rates for other goods.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits distributing intentionally altered audio or visual media (like fake videos or audio clips) that falsely appear to show a candidate speaking or acting, within 60 days of an election, if the goal is to deceive voters or harm the candidate's reputation. It requires clear disclosures (e.g., "This video has been manipulated") for any such media to avoid the ban, with specific formatting rules for readability. The law allows registered voters to seek court orders stopping violations and lets candidates sue for damages if their likeness is misused. News organizations, including broadcast media and regularly published outlets, are exempt if they clearly state the media is altered and share it for newsworthy purposes.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3835) prohibits requiring individuals to receive or disclose COVID-19 vaccination status as a condition for accessing services or rights. It bans asking about vaccination, mandating vaccines, or demanding proof for 15 specific areas, including employment, education (schools/universities), healthcare, business services, public spaces (parks, restaurants), and government activities. The law makes it unlawful to discriminate against unvaccinated people or those who refuse to disclose their status. Violators face civil penalties of $25,000 plus attorney fees in court, enforceable immediately upon passage. It directly affects all New Jersey residents interacting with businesses, schools, healthcare providers, or public venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey institutions of higher education from requiring students to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or provide proof of vaccination as a condition for enrollment, course attendance, or participation in campus programs. It directly affects colleges and universities in New Jersey and the students they serve. The law takes immediate effect, removing vaccination mandates for these educational activities without exceptions for health or safety reasons.

Maddy summaryAJR 132 designates April 22 of each year as "Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public recognition of Girl Scout Leaders, who volunteer to mentor girls through the Girl Scouts program. It highlights these leaders' role in teaching leadership, confidence, and life skills to participants. The resolution takes effect immediately and is procedural, not creating new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's tuition benefits at public colleges and universities to residents serving in reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard Reserves), as well as to their eligible children and surviving spouses if the service member died in the line of duty. Eligible members must complete required training, be enrolled full-time in good academic standing, and apply for all available federal and state financial aid before state tuition coverage applies. The state will reimburse public institutions for tuition costs not covered by federal benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and prohibits charging non-resident tuition rates to qualifying reserve members. The policy takes effect immediately for the next academic year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to reimburse New Jersey municipalities 102% of the property tax revenue they lose when granting total property tax exemptions to disabled veterans. It directly affects local governments that provide these exemptions under existing law (P.L.1948, c.259). The reimbursement covers both the lost tax revenue and administrative costs incurred by municipalities. The state must pay this annually based on certified exemption amounts provided by tax assessors and county boards. This policy change ensures municipalities aren't financially burdened by the exemption program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies, corporations, manufacturers, and contract testing facilities in New Jersey that use cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing or research to assess these animals for adoption suitability after testing ends. If suitable, the animals must be offered to animal rescue organizations or private individuals for adoption. The bill establishes procedures for documenting assessments and dispositions, requiring facilities to register with the Department of Health and report details about animal use, suitability, and adoption outcomes. Noncompliance could result in civil penalties of $10,000 for a first offense, $50,000 for a second, and potential injunctions against conducting further animal testing for a third offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 in New Jersey. It changes the punishment for any trafficking of a child (for sexual activity or forced labor) from a minimum 20-year sentence to life imprisonment without parole. Convicted individuals must also pay fines of at least $25,000, which fund a survivor assistance program. The law applies to all forms of child trafficking, regardless of whether the perpetrator mistakenly believed the child was 18 or older.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the penalty for stealing catalytic converters by one degree in New Jersey's criminal classification system. For example, a theft that would normally be a fourth-degree offense (for property valued between $200-$500) becomes a third-degree offense if a catalytic converter is stolen. The change applies automatically to any theft of a catalytic converter, regardless of its value or the circumstances of the theft. It directly affects individuals convicted of stealing catalytic converters by increasing the severity of their criminal charge.