Asm. Vicky Flynn

Maddy summaryThis bill (A294) establishes the "Commission on People with Disabilities" in New Jersey. The commission, consisting of 25 members (13 voting with disability representation requirements and 12 non-voting ex-officio state agency representatives), will advise the state government on policies affecting people with disabilities. Its key duties include suggesting legislation, serving as a government contact point for disability needs, coordinating with state agencies on service delivery, and preventing employment discrimination. The commission must submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature. (Note: This is a procedural bill creating a body, not a policy change.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to receive state property tax relief aid equal to any annual increase in costs for employee health care and prescription benefits. It directly affects all New Jersey municipalities that face higher health care expenses due to rate increases, covering costs from self-insurance, commercial insurance, or state programs. Municipalities must submit certified documentation of the increase to the state, which will then adjust their annual aid under the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act by the exact same amount. The bill ensures these increased health care costs do not lead to higher property taxes for residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals and businesses to store all cannabis products (including edibles, topicals, tinctures, and ointments) in a locked container. Violations carry a civil penalty of at least $250 per offense, collected through standard penalty enforcement procedures. The law does not apply to cannabis products during manufacturing, transportation, or permitted use under New Jersey’s existing cannabis regulations (P.L.2021, c.16). It directly affects anyone handling cannabis products outside of these exempted scenarios.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A301) requires advisory or temporary committees, councils, panels, and task forces created by law to hold at least one meeting with a quorum each year to remain active. If such a body fails to meet annually, it is deemed inactive by the Secretary of State, terminating all member appointments and prohibiting the use of state, county, or municipal staff or resources. The bill targets entities established for advisory or temporary purposes under legislative acts or resolutions. It takes immediate effect, aiming to eliminate dormant government bodies without active engagement.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1330) requires all first responder squads or associations in New Jersey to report completed suicides of their members to the Department of Health (DOH). It mandates reporting specific data including the month/year of death, age, salary, service length, race, gender, cause/method of suicide, veteran status, and education level - without disclosing the individual's name or birthdate. The DOH will aggregate this data and make it publicly available for use in suicide prevention and intervention research. The bill applies broadly to paid/volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and emergency medical personnel who respond to emergencies. This reporting does not replace existing legal or professional requirements for death evaluations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Office of the Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator within New Jersey's Department of Human Services. The Coordinator will centrally manage the bulk purchasing and distribution of opioid antidotes (like naloxone) for state/local government agencies, emergency medical services, law enforcement, schools, public access locations, and sterile syringe programs upon request. The Coordinator must also coordinate with health and law enforcement agencies, provide public education on antidote use, and submit annual reports detailing distribution quantities, cost savings, and outreach efforts. The position requires experience in health, law enforcement, or policy, and will be funded through state appropriations and federal grants.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 24/7 toll-free helpline for New Jersey first responders, healthcare workers, and other frontline workers (including child protection staff) experiencing PTSD related to pandemic work. The Department of Health, working with Rutgers University, will operate the helpline with staff trained in PTSD and related mental health concerns. Operators will confidentially provide referrals to peer support and counseling services while maintaining privacy, except when severe risk of harm is identified. The helpline directly supports workers' mental health by offering immediate, specialized assistance during a critical period.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to provide any school district with a request the full data, software algorithms, and detailed calculations used to determine state school aid. It directly affects all New Jersey school districts that seek transparency in how their funding is calculated under the School Funding Reform Act (P.L.2007, c.260) and the S-2 funding formula (P.L.2018, c.67). Key provisions mandate the DOE to release all underlying data, proprietary software algorithms, and a district-by-district reconciliation showing how local shares plus equalization aid equal total state adequacy budgets. The bill aims to enable school districts to verify that state aid calculations comply with existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the State Health Benefits Commission from five to seven members by adding two new positions: a municipal business administrator (appointed by the Governor upon recommendation from the New Jersey League of Municipalities) and a county administrator (appointed by the Governor upon recommendation from the New Jersey Association of Counties). The commission oversees health benefits for state employees and its decisions impact both state and local government employers. The change ensures county and municipal governments have a direct voice in health benefits policy without altering the commission's core responsibilities. This is a structural adjustment to representation, not a change to the benefits program itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A648) requires all New Jersey public school districts to include water safety instruction in health education for students in grades K-12, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. The instruction must cover four key topics: proper use of flotation devices, recognizing water conditions, responding to rip currents, and swimming near lifeguard-monitored areas. It directly affects every public school district and K-12 student in New Jersey by mandating this curriculum as part of existing health education standards. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.