Asm. Vicky Flynn

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary five-year teaching certification for New Jersey veterans enrolled in educator preparation programs at accredited colleges. To qualify, veterans must have completed at least four years of honorable military service, earned 60 college credits, and passed required subject exams. The certification allows school districts to hire these veterans full- or part-time while they complete their certification, and their teaching experience counts toward their program's clinical requirements. The program applies to veterans with military service who are pursuing teaching careers in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to adopt a suicide prevention policy covering prevention (proactive measures to identify risk), intervention (response to suicidal behavior), and postvention (support after a suicide attempt or death). The New Jersey Department of Education must create a model policy to guide school boards, which must develop their own policies in consultation with mental health experts and community stakeholders. School boards must post their adopted policies online and notify students, parents, and guardians of their availability. The policy must address all three areas (prevention, intervention, postvention) and specifically consider the needs of high-risk student groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Office of Information Technology to create a single, centralized website to help residents navigate mental health and substance use disorder services. The website must provide easily searchable information on treatment options, hotlines, peer support groups, housing resources, emergency procedures, and agency oversight - all in plain language with direct links. It will be maintained in collaboration with state departments including Mental Health Services, Health, and Children's Services. The site must be prominently linked on those departments' websites and publicized through multiple media channels. This directly benefits individuals seeking mental health/substance use support and their families by simplifying access to critical resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care professionals to provide new or expecting parents with positive prenatal or postnatal test results for conditions like Down syndrome with specific, evidence-based information about outcomes and referrals to support services. It mandates the establishment of a state hotline, updated website resources, expanded peer support programs, and provider networks offering current information on living with diagnosed conditions. The Department of Health must coordinate these services, prioritize partnerships with disability advocacy groups, and align with the federal Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act. The law applies directly to parents receiving positive test results and health care providers who deliver those results.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A128) creates a $1,200 annual deduction against New Jersey gross income tax for parents and guardians who purchase qualifying school supplies for students enrolled in public or nonpublic elementary, secondary, or higher education institutions in the state. It specifically covers common items like notebooks, pencils, paper, backpacks, calculators, and other classroom essentials listed in the bill. The deduction applies to purchases made during the taxable year and takes effect immediately upon enactment for the following calendar year. This policy directly affects New Jersey taxpayers with school-aged children by reducing their taxable income for eligible education-related expenses.

Maddy summaryBreann's Law (A1763) requires health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program, and NJ FamilyCare to provide out-of-network coverage for children with catastrophic illnesses. The law defines catastrophic illness as an acute or prolonged life-threatening condition or one with risk of serious disability. Coverage must be provided to the same extent as in-network care when services are performed after a referral from an in-network provider. This applies to children diagnosed with such illnesses under applicable health insurance plans, directly affecting families seeking critical medical care. Named after Breann LaManna, a New Jersey child denied out-of-network coverage for a life-threatening illness, the law aims to remove financial barriers to necessary medical services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2742) requires 7% of funds from New Jersey's Main Street Recovery Fund to be allocated as grants specifically for veteran-owned small businesses. It directly affects eligible veteran-owned businesses that meet tax clearance, minimum wage, and other application requirements. The key provision mandates that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority reserve this 7% allocation for businesses owned by veterans or service-disabled veterans (as defined in federal law), while maintaining existing eligibility rules for all grant recipients. The bill does not create new funding but redirects existing resources toward this specific group.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide New Jersey businesses with tax credits for hiring members of the New Jersey National Guard or military reserves (the reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces). Businesses would earn a $1,500 credit for each service member not returned from deployment and $2,500 for each who has returned, applicable against corporation business tax or gross income tax. The credits cannot reduce a business's tax liability below zero. The policy aims to incentivize hiring military service members by offering direct financial benefits to employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the payment start date for annual compensation to surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans. Currently, payments begin from the date the spouse applies, which can be years after the veteran's death. The bill amends state law to make payments begin automatically from the veteran's death date instead, regardless of when the spouse files their application. This applies to spouses of veterans who were blinded or severely disabled due to wartime service (including WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam conflicts), ensuring they receive back payments for the time between the veteran's death and their application.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the Governor's authority to declare states of emergency or public health emergencies in New Jersey. It requires state of emergency declarations to automatically end after 60 days unless the Legislature approves an extension with a majority vote (and future extensions require a similar majority). Public health emergency declarations are capped at 60 days total (initial 30 days plus one 30-day renewal by the Governor). The bill also mandates the Governor notify the Legislature 7 business days before seeking an extension, and gives the Legislature the power to terminate any emergency declaration with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Existing emergency declarations related to the pandemic or other ongoing emergencies will automatically terminate on the bill's effective date unless the Legislature immediately authorizes an extension.