Asm. Tennille McCoy

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill A3869 prohibits electioneering (such as distributing campaign materials or soliciting support for candidates/parties) within 25 feet of any person waiting in line at a polling place or ballot drop box. It makes this violation a disorderly persons offense, expanding current law that already banned electioneering within 100 feet of polling places or ballot drop boxes. The bill clarifies that newspaper racks, vending machines, and nonpartisan voter assistance (like explaining voting procedures without endorsing candidates) are exempt from this restriction. This change aims to protect voters from undue pressure while waiting to cast ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's mileage reimbursement rate for state employees using personal vehicles on official business. It replaces the current fixed rate of $0.18 per mile (adjusted twice yearly for gas prices) with the federal IRS standard mileage rate for business vehicle costs, which changes annually. The rate will now automatically align with the IRS rate in effect at the time of travel, eliminating the need for separate state adjustments. This directly affects all state officers and employees who claim mileage reimbursement for work-related travel. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill 3777 establishes a food rescue hotline managed by the Food Security Advocate. The hotline will accept requests from individuals or organizations seeking to donate large quantities of food and connect them directly with local food banks and community resources to facilitate delivery. The bill also requires a public awareness campaign using media like TV, radio, and social media to inform the public about the hotline. This service aims to streamline food donations, reduce waste, and improve access to food for those in need.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $200 million to New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to upgrade the computer systems handling unemployment insurance claims. The funds come first from available federal pandemic assistance, and if those aren't sufficient, they'll be drawn from the state's "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund." The department must submit a detailed plan to the Legislature within 60 days of the bill's effective date outlining how the technology improvements will be implemented. These upgrades aim to modernize the unemployment insurance system, which directly affects workers filing claims for benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two online portals managed by New Jersey's Department of Health: one for employers to post job openings for behavioral health care workers (treating mental illness, emotional disorders, or substance use), and another for employers to list internship/externship opportunities that provide academic credit for health care students. The portals will allow New Jersey employers to connect with behavioral health workers and students training to become licensed health care professionals. The Department of Health may contract with third parties to develop and run these platforms, and the portals will take effect immediately. The bill directly affects healthcare employers, behavioral health workers, and students in health care training programs across the state.

Maddy summaryACR 124 is a non-binding concurrent resolution urging the New Jersey State Park Service to establish a visitor center at Princeton Battlefield State Park. It highlights the site's historical significance as the location of the pivotal 1777 Battle of Princeton (during the Revolutionary War's "Ten Crucial Days"), which helped secure New Jersey from British control. The resolution emphasizes the need for an educational facility to interpret the battlefield's history - including the Mercer Oak, Clarke House, and monument - and address preservation concerns, though it does not allocate state funds or mandate action. (This is a procedural resolution, not a bill with enforceable policy changes.)

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services. It appropriates $1 million to fund confidential mental health services for firefighters (full-time public fire department employees) and their immediate family members (spouses, domestic partners, children, or parents living in the same home) experiencing mental health crises or suicidal thoughts. The program awards grants to mental health providers who meet geographic accessibility criteria (aiming to limit travel time to under one hour), with the Commissioner of Human Services managing applications, selection, and publishing a list of approved providers online. The bill directly addresses barriers to treatment by creating a confidential, accessible service pathway for firefighters and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students at New Jersey's public colleges and universities to voluntarily donate unused meal plan funds at the end of a semester to a new state Emergency Meal Fund. The fund, created in the Department of State, will transfer all donations directly to the New Jersey Federation of Food Banks for distribution to local food banks statewide. Public institutions must establish clear procedures to verify unused meal plan balances (including both cash and unused meal points) and facilitate these donations. The policy applies to all public higher education institutions offering meal plans and takes effect for the first full academic year after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A3785 requires the Department of Labor's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Human Services' Commission for the Blind to assess whether community-based employment programs (like call centers, work crews, and AbilityOne contracts) provide jobs meeting federal "competitive integrated employment" standards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It mandates case-by-case reviews to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to jobs with the same opportunities as others, including interaction with non-disabled coworkers and advancement potential. The bill explicitly prohibits disqualifying programs solely because they use AbilityOne or Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside contracts. This law directly affects people with disabilities seeking employment through these community programs and aims to expand their job choices and integration.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3722 requires State employees with supervisory authority (defined as "directors" who direct other employees, enforce rules, or manage operations) to complete mental health first aid training. The Civil Service Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, will establish training standards and ensure all eligible employees receive it. Each State employer must provide the Commission with a list of directors needing training. The training covers recognizing early signs of mental health issues, understanding common disorders, and knowing appropriate referral strategies to professional help.