Asm. Tennille McCoy

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A617 authorizes the creation of Juneteenth commemorative license plates for vehicle owners in the state. The bill requires a $50 initial application fee and $10 annual renewal fee (in addition to standard registration costs), with all collected funds deposited into a "Juneteenth License Plate Fund" managed by the New Jersey Historical Commission. This fund must be used to commemorate Juneteenth, and the program cannot launch until the Historical Commission secures $25,000 in private funding and provides 500 pre-orders for the plates. The plates must display commemorative wording/emblems and are subject to standard vehicle registration rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their actual name and phone number on caller identification (caller ID) services. If their own details aren't available through their phone company, they may instead show the seller's name and customer service number. Telemarketers cannot block, misrepresent, or circumvent caller ID displays. It directly affects telemarketing companies and aims to increase transparency for consumers receiving sales calls.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Medication Management, Outreach, and Support Program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to support people with severe and persistent mental illness living in the community. It appropriates $8 million from the General Fund to fund the program, which will provide grants to licensed mental health providers to hire clinical staff (including psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers). These providers will deliver services like medication counseling, early problem identification, and collaborative care planning with patients, families, and healthcare teams to minimize side effects and improve health outcomes. The program aims to strengthen community-based mental health care through targeted outreach, crisis support, and continuous quality improvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows manufacturers to directly sell zero emission light-duty trucks to consumers in New Jersey, removing previous restrictions that required sales through franchised dealerships. Manufacturers may operate up to four direct sales locations statewide and must maintain at least one retail facility for servicing these vehicles, including warranty service. The bill defines "zero emission light-duty truck" as vehicles with a gross vehicle rating of 8,500 pounds or less that meet California Air Resources Board zero emission standards for the applicable model year. This change specifically applies to zero emission vehicles, excluding hybrid or partial zero emission models. The legislation preempts any rules or regulations that restrict sales exclusively to franchised dealerships for these vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals diagnosed with a traumatic or acquired brain injury by a licensed healthcare professional to voluntarily note this on their New Jersey driver's license, ID card, and MVC registry. It creates a secure statewide registry where users can provide vehicle details and emergency contacts, accessible only to law enforcement during traffic stops to improve communication. The bill also mandates annual training for all police departments on de-escalation techniques and using the registry when interacting with people with such injuries. The registry information is protected from public disclosure and can be updated or removed by the user at any time.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to ensure Medicaid covers respite care services for eligible beneficiaries when their primary health insurance (public or private) denies coverage for any reason. It directly affects Medicaid recipients who need temporary relief care for loved ones but face coverage denials from other payers. The key mechanism mandates the Commissioner to create procedures guaranteeing respite care coverage under two conditions: the beneficiary must already qualify for Medicaid respite care, and a primary payer must have denied coverage. The bill explicitly states it does not change existing Medicaid eligibility requirements for respite care services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2971) requires New Jersey's Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to facilitate the establishment of four new recovery community centers. These centers provide non-clinical, peer-led support for people recovering from substance use disorders, offering services like recovery coaching, life skills training, job readiness programs, and community activities such as art therapy and social events. The division must accept funding from any source to support these centers and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing progress, including recommendations for expanding services. The bill aims to expand access beyond New Jersey’s current two recovery centers (Eva’s Village in Passaic and Living Proof in Camden).

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2969) requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to establish an education program informing people with disabilities, seniors, and others with mobility needs about available transit services. NJT must publish service details online and in pamphlets, hold monthly accessible information sessions statewide (with transportation provided), and conduct public awareness campaigns. The program also mandates NJT to coordinate with the Transportation Commissioner and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. These provisions ensure affected groups receive clear, accessible information about reduced fares, Access Link door-to-door service, and other transit options.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2958) would require New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to request federal authorization allowing SNAP (food stamp) benefits to cover delivery fees for online grocery orders. Currently, SNAP funds cannot pay for delivery charges, even though New Jersey participates in a USDA pilot program enabling online grocery purchases through retailers like Amazon and 17 participating stores. The bill directly affects SNAP recipients who use online grocery delivery services, as it seeks to expand their benefit usage to include delivery fees. The request would be made to the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, which administers the federal SNAP program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program administered by New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to help school districts and charter schools develop dual language immersion programs. Eligible schools must use a 50% English/50% other language (like Spanish, French, or Chinese) instructional model starting in kindergarten or first grade. Grants cover curriculum development, materials, staff training, and program evaluation, with funding allocated across the state's northern, central, and southern regions. The program is funded through a new nonlapsing revolving fund in the Department of Education. (Bill A2987)