Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the "BRAVE Act," requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to give contract preference to vendors employing the highest percentage of veterans when awarding goods or service contracts. Vendors competing for DMVA contracts must submit employee veteran data, which the department must verify within 30 days; false claims lead to 5-year contract bans and contract termination. It defines "veteran" broadly to include disabled veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The law directly affects businesses seeking DMVA contracts and aims to incentivize veteran employment through procurement preferences.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Jersey Strong Public Service Scholarship Program to help students working in critical public service roles. It provides scholarships covering up to $25,000 for two years (after one year of employment) or $50,000 for four years (after two years of employment) at New Jersey public colleges or universities. Eligible students must be NJ residents, U.S. citizens, employed full-time in designated sectors like hospitals, schools, or first responder roles, and meet income and academic requirements. The program requires repayment of funds if a student withdraws without approved reasons or is dismissed from school.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create an online portal for law enforcement officers to report misconduct by other officers. Officers must report within 72 hours if they witness excessive force, civil rights violations, or criminal offenses committed by colleagues. The portal also allows anonymous reporting, generating random identifiers instead of personal details for those who choose to remain anonymous. It directly affects all law enforcement officers in the state who observe misconduct requiring disclosure under the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year pilot program offering tax credits to New Jersey commercial farms that donate edible fruits and vegetables to local charities. Farm operators can claim a 50% credit (up to $5,000 per donation period) against their corporation business tax or gross income tax for the wholesale value of donated produce. To qualify, farms must obtain written verification from charities detailing the donation’s variety, grade, quantity, and value, with the Secretary of Agriculture setting monthly wholesale value rates. The program caps total annual credits at $100,000 and requires donations to be documented through a standardized form. It directly affects commercial farms and qualifying charities, aiming to incentivize food donations while reducing tax liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a five-year pilot program requiring New Jersey's Juvenile Justice Commission to establish three arts-based education programs for youth in detention and correction facilities. The programs, developed through partnerships with arts organizations, community groups, and private funders, aim to build skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-esteem using creative arts. Each program will undergo annual evaluation to measure impacts on educational outcomes and youth development, with final recommendations for continuation or expansion to be submitted after four years. The bill directly affects juvenile offenders in state correctional facilities and requires collaboration with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents New Jersey public colleges from raising tuition for in-state undergraduate students during their first four years of enrollment. It applies to all resident students who start at a public institution, freezing their tuition rate for four consecutive academic years (or longer if their program requires it). The policy takes effect immediately for students enrolling in the academic year after the bill's passage. It directly affects public higher education institutions and in-state undergraduates by guaranteeing stable tuition costs during their initial enrollment period.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover self-administered hormonal contraceptives when dispensed by a pharmacist under a standing order. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly low-income women, by expanding access to contraception without needing a separate prescription from a doctor. The key provision amends existing Medicaid coverage rules to explicitly include these contraceptives under the "prescribed drugs" category, allowing pharmacists to provide them under a standing order. This change would make contraceptive care more accessible and affordable for eligible individuals without altering prescription requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all police basic training programs in New Jersey to include cultural diversity and implicit bias training. It directly affects police training schools, instructors, and new officers entering law enforcement. The key mechanism mandates that the Police Training Commission add specific curriculum materials developed under prior law, and requires instructors to have specialized training in this area. The bill defines "implicit bias" as unconscious attitudes or stereotypes about people. This is a concrete policy change to standardize training content, not a prediction about outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipal courts in New Jersey to notify applicants for public defender services about any application fee (capped at $200) and the process to waive it if they cannot afford the fee. It directly affects low-income individuals applying for municipal public defender representation in municipalities that charge such fees under existing law. The key mechanism mandates that courts provide this notice to all applicants, ensuring they know how to request a fee waiver based on financial inability. The bill does not change the fee amount or waiver standard but ensures courts proactively inform applicants of their options.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 20-member Chronic Absenteeism Task Force to study chronic absenteeism in New Jersey public schools. The task force, appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, will analyze root causes - including mental health, school climate, pandemic impacts, and discipline policies - and research state best practices to develop recommendations. It must issue a final report to the Governor and Legislature within six months, focusing on strategies to improve school attendance and family engagement. The task force expires 30 days after submitting its report. This bill directly affects public school students and districts by addressing a growing issue: chronic absenteeism rose to 16.6% in 2022-2023, up from 10.6% pre-pandemic.