Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to install automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in every athletic facility and student center, placed in unlocked, accessible locations during normal operating hours. Institutions must also maintain a supply of naloxone nasal spray near each AED for opioid overdose emergencies, with a designated campus medical professional overseeing its administration and storage. Staff must include at least two trained individuals in CPR and AED use during facility hours, and all equipment must be regularly maintained per manufacturer guidelines. The bill provides legal immunity for institutions and staff acting in good faith to comply with these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for New Jersey homeowners who received federal disaster assistance after Hurricane Ida damaged their primary residence in September 2021. It requires mortgage servicers to grant a one-year payment pause (forbearance) without fees, penalties, or credit reporting, retroactive to payments missed since September 1, 2021. Homeowners must meet income limits (≤150% of area median income) and asset thresholds (less than six months of income in bank accounts), and submit a written request. The relief ends either after one year or July 1, 2024, whichever comes first, and does not apply to federally-backed loans like FHA or VA mortgages.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly resolution urges Congress to remove marijuana from Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act, which currently classifies it as having "no accepted medical use" despite state legalization. It directly affects New Jersey residents and businesses by highlighting how federal Schedule I status prevents medical marijuana from being covered by health insurance, forces dispensaries to handle large cash amounts (increasing crime risks), and blocks banking access. The resolution cites state laws like the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act as evidence of marijuana's accepted medical value, conflicting with federal policy. As a non-binding resolution, it requests Congress take action but does not change federal law itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to temporarily appoint up to three additional members to the Board of Review, which handles unemployment benefit appeals. Appointments can be made through interim roles for State employees (who keep their primary jobs) or intermittent roles for non-State employees. If three additional members are appointed, the Board's membership increases to six, requiring the commissioner to form two independent panels from these six members to process appeals, with flexibility to reassign members as needed for operational efficiency. This change aims to improve the Board's capacity to manage appeal volumes without altering the Board's core responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's lead-based paint hazard inspection requirements for residential rental properties. It mandates that municipalities inspect rental units and common areas at tenant turnover or every three years (whichever is earlier), with properties having valid lead-safe certifications (now valid for three years instead of two) exempt from frequent inspections. Landlords must provide lead-safe certification to new tenants and maintain records, while municipalities must report lead hazard findings to the Department of Community Affairs, which will provide annual reports to the legislature. The bill also repeals a provision requiring the Department of Community Affairs to inspect properties as part of the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new factor for courts to consider during sentencing: whether a defendant was a survivor of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse that contributed to their criminal behavior. It directly affects criminal defendants in New Jersey who have experienced abuse and are being sentenced for offenses. The key change amends New Jersey's sentencing law to include this as a specific mitigating factor, allowing judges to weigh it alongside other circumstances when determining appropriate sentences. This does not guarantee reduced sentences but expands the considerations courts must evaluate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs to cover motorized wheelchairs for nursing facility residents under specific conditions. It mandates coverage if a resident's licensed doctor prescribes the wheelchair and their managed care organization grants prior authorization. Residents gain temporary possession of the wheelchair as long as they need it, returning it to the state when no longer required, with nursing facilities notifying the managed care organization of this change. The bill also directs the state to seek necessary federal approvals to fund this coverage under existing Medicaid rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $100 million in state funding to New Jersey's Affordable Housing Production Fund, managed by the Department of Community Affairs. The funds will specifically support the completion of 100-percent affordable housing projects, where all residential units must be reserved for low- and moderate-income households. Municipalities will use this money to contract with developers to finish projects already identified in their fair share affordable housing obligations. This supplemental appropriation builds on existing law (P.L.2022, c.49) to accelerate housing availability for income-qualified residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires youth camps, recreation departments, and youth organizations (like Little Leagues, soccer leagues, and Police Athletic Leagues) to have an automated defibrillator on-site during youth athletic events held on public fields. It applies to any organization sponsoring youth sports events on municipal, county, school, or publicly-owned fields. Organizations can comply if a certified first responder with a defibrillator is present, and the bill grants legal immunity for those using defibrillators. The requirement must be met within 180 days of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow students in grades 6-12 who attend charter schools, county vocational schools, nonpublic schools, or receive homeschooling instruction to participate in interscholastic athletics in their district of residence if their current school doesn't sponsor that sport. Students would need to provide proof of residency, meet the same physical, academic, and behavioral requirements as public school students, and demonstrate they're receiving an academically equivalent education (for homeschoolers). The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association would handle any eligibility disputes. This would expand participation opportunities for students who currently face barriers to joining interscholastic sports teams in their local school districts.