Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Second Chance Program within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to connect formerly incarcerated individuals with employment opportunities through labor organizations. The program requires labor unions to identify job pathways in their trades and develop plans for hiring returning citizens, directly benefiting individuals recently released from prison who face high barriers to employment. It aims to reduce recidivism by addressing a key factor cited in the bill: the lack of viable jobs for this population, which correlates with higher reoffending rates. The program operates under the State Employment and Training Commission and mandates consultation with labor organizations to create sustainable career opportunities. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health and the New Jersey Board of Nursing to provide homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification exams in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Tagalog. It directly affects individuals seeking these certifications, particularly non-English speakers who may face language barriers during testing. The law mandates that both written and oral exams be available in these languages to ensure accessibility. The agencies can adopt additional rules under existing administrative procedures to implement this requirement, which takes effect six months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to administer professional license examinations in English and the four most commonly spoken languages in the state (other than English), instead of only English with optional Spanish for practicing licensees. It directly affects cosmetology applicants and license holders seeking to take or renew their licenses. The key provision mandates the Division of Consumers Affairs to post these four languages on its website and verify them every five years. The bill does not change current requirements for Spanish or translator assistance but expands language options based on statewide demographics.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3366 establishes a Women's Menstrual Health Program within the Department of Health to identify and support patients with symptoms of endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The program requires the Department to contract with healthcare providers for screenings, referrals, and follow-up care; provide education for medical staff and the public; and maintain an online resource hub with clinical guidelines and patient materials. It directly affects women experiencing symptoms like severe pelvic pain, irregular periods, infertility, or other menstrual disorder indicators linked to these conditions. The bill mandates standardized data collection for quality assurance while keeping patient information confidential, as required by law. This initiative aims to improve early identification and care for millions of women impacted by these common, long-term health conditions.

Maddy summaryAJR 112 designates the calendar week beginning Sunday that includes September 10th each year as "Suicide Prevention Week" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or services but encourages statewide awareness and community activities around suicide prevention. It requests the Governor annually issue a proclamation to recognize the week and promote existing resources like the NJ Suicide Hopeline. The bill directly affects all New Jersey residents by fostering community engagement with the state's ongoing suicide prevention efforts. It is procedural, focusing on recognition rather than policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to inform students with federal student loans about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program during their final two academic semesters. It also mandates that state government employers provide employees with PSLF information during onboarding and annually thereafter. The required information must include eligibility details, the program's website, and federal requirements (20 U.S.C. §1087e), and can be delivered electronically, by mail, or in person. The goal is to increase awareness of this federal program, which forgives student loans after 10 years of qualifying public service work.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Health (DOH) to create and update annual guidelines for school districts and colleges on implementing student vaping awareness campaigns. The guidelines must include research-backed materials about vaping's health effects (lung damage, mental health, pregnancy risks), peer pressure strategies, and age-appropriate anti-vaping resources like pamphlets. Schools and colleges would use these guidelines to develop multi-level campaigns targeting adolescents and young adults, focusing on healthy decision-making. The DOE and DOH must post the guidelines online and link to additional anti-vaping resources for schools and families.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 161) urges the U.S. Congress to reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act, which separated commercial banking from investment banking after the 1930s financial crisis. It argues that repealing Glass-Steagall in 1999 allowed banks to merge with investment firms, contributing to the 2008 financial crisis and housing market collapse. The resolution, non-binding and symbolic, recommends Congress pass legislation to recreate this separation, noting the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act did not fully address this issue. It directs the resolution to be sent to all U.S. congressional members from New Jersey.

Maddy summaryAssembly Resolution 163 urges New Jersey's lending institutions to stop financing projects that contribute to climate change, such as fossil fuel development. The resolution cites that major global banks provided $3.8 trillion to oil, gas, and coal companies from 2016 to 2020, and references environmental harm linked to such financing, including health issues for the Mapuche community in Argentina and forced relocations in Mozambique. It highlights NatWest's example of reducing fossil fuel funding and increasing sustainable energy investments as a model for other institutions. As a non-binding resolution, it does not require lending institutions to change practices but formally calls for them to adopt similar climate-conscious policies.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 162) urges the U.S. President and Congress to pass federal legislation that would reinstate the separation between commercial banks (which take deposits and make loans) and investment banks (which handle securities and trading), as established by the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933. It cites the 1999 repeal of Glass-Steagall as contributing to risky financial practices that led to the 2008 housing market collapse and recession, and notes that the subsequent 2010 Dodd-Frank Act did not adequately address this separation. The resolution references the federal "Return to Prudent Banking Act of 2023" (H.R.2714) as a model for restoring this firewall. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect any entities - it only formally requests federal action.