Asm. Tennille McCoy

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the threshold for local public contracts requiring competitive bidding from $17,500 to $22,000. Local governments (such as towns, cities, and counties) can now award contracts under $22,000 without public advertising, using a designated employee or purchasing agent. The Governor will adjust this threshold every five years for inflation to maintain its real value. This change simplifies procurement for smaller contracts while keeping oversight for larger purchases.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4979) requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to complete mandatory training on identifying machine gun conversion devices. It amends existing law to specify that all officers must receive periodic training covering these devices - components that convert semiautomatic firearms to shoot multiple rounds per trigger pull - as part of their required continuing education. The training must be approved by the Police Training Commission and documented by officers and their departments. This policy change directly affects all active law enforcement officers in New Jersey by adding a specific, practical skill requirement to their existing training obligations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 5304) increases penalties for prostitution offenses and creates two new crimes: "leader of a prostitution network" and "participant in a prostitution network." It directly affects individuals who organize or manage prostitution operations (leaders) or actively take part in them (participants), not clients or sex workers themselves. Key provisions include mandatory minimum prison terms of 5 years or one-third to one-half of the sentence for these new offenses, while upgrading penalties for child prostitution and adding 6-month driving suspensions for repeat offenders using vehicles in prostitution. The law amends existing statutes to clarify definitions and strengthen criminal consequences for network-related activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows health care professionals licensed in other states to practice in New Jersey while their New Jersey licensure applications are being processed. It applies to a wide range of professionals including physicians, nurses, counselors, therapists, and other health care practitioners. The bill requires these professionals to immediately notify New Jersey authorities if their out-of-state license is suspended or disciplined, with a $500 daily penalty for failing to provide this notice. It also establishes temporary licenses for recent health care graduates (within six months of graduation) to practice under supervision while awaiting full licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover scalp cooling systems used during cancer chemotherapy treatment to prevent or reduce hair loss. It applies to hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, individual and group health insurance policies, and state-sponsored health benefit programs. The law also mandates that physicians inform patients about scalp cooling therapy options before starting chemotherapy and document this discussion in their medical records. These changes directly affect cancer patients seeking hair loss prevention, insurers offering chemotherapy coverage, and healthcare providers administering chemo.

Maddy summary# Summary This bill renames the Juvenile Justice Commission as the Youth Justice Commission and updates all statutory references from the "New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice" to the "New Jersey Code of Youth Justice." The sponsor's intent is to better reflect the commission's mission to assist and rehabilitate court-involved youth and provide programs, support, and opportunities designed to help youth grow, thrive, and become independent, productive, and law-abiding citizens. The bill also includes numerous amendments to the laws governing the commission, including provisions related to mental health screening in juvenile detention facilities, room restriction policies, data collection requirements, education programs, and staffing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who left school due to military service, including active duty in the Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve. Schools must reinstate these students with the same academic standing they held before their service interruption and grant readmission for the next available semester upon written request. The bill prohibits institutions from charging application or other fees for these readmission requests. It takes effect immediately, applying to the first full academic year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the requirement for parents to pay past-due child support owed to New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) for children in its care. It specifically voids all existing child support arrears (over $3 million in 2023), related court judgments, liens, and warrants for these cases, making them unenforceable. The change aligns with a 2022 federal policy allowing states to reduce child support collection efforts for children in foster care, addressing that 90% of involved parents are indigent and collection costs often exceed amounts recovered. This directly affects parents legally responsible for children in DCPP custody, removing financial barriers to family reunification.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program, which will provide competitive grants to 501(c)(19) veterans' organizations for building rehabilitation or purchase to support veteran services. The program will be funded by a $2 million initial appropriation from the General Fund, plus voluntary taxpayer contributions through New Jersey income tax returns. Organizations must submit applications detailing how they'll use the buildings to assist veterans, and the Economic Development Authority will develop specific grant criteria. The program aims to help veterans' organizations maintain or improve facilities that serve veterans across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes mandatory support programs for toddlers and children aged 3-5 who are deaf or hard of hearing and receiving early intervention services. It requires two annual meetings per year between the child, parent/guardian, and a language team (including a pediatric audiologist, teacher of the deaf, deaf mentor, and speech pathologist) until language development benchmarks are met. Parents/guardians must be paired with a trained deaf mentor who shares lived experience and actively supports language development. Children are automatically enrolled in these services unless parents decline, with programs transitioning from the Department of Health (under age 3) to the Department of Education (ages 3-5) until kindergarten entry.