Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes the New Jersey Council of County Colleges' role in state funding and strategic planning. It requires the Council to submit an annual unified budget request to the Governor and Legislature, establish a performance-based funding formula (capping state operational support at 43% of colleges' base-year costs), and develop a strategic plan aligned with state priorities. The Council must also advise state agencies on higher education policy, promote equitable funding, and enhance data sharing for student success initiatives. Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was superseded by P.L.2025, c.371.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies in New Jersey to cover lead screenings for all children 16 years of age or younger. It mandates that healthcare providers (including doctors, nurses, and facilities serving children) perform these screenings unless parents object in writing, and follow up with families if elevated lead levels are detected. The Department of Health must establish regulations based on CDC guidelines, including screening schedules, follow-up protocols, and public education campaigns about lead poisoning risks. The law directly affects children under 16, their families, healthcare providers, and health insurers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Student Educator Tuition Remission Program to help future teachers reduce education costs. It provides tuition remission for eligible students completing clinical practice in approved educator preparation programs at public New Jersey colleges, covering up to two academic semesters of eligible tuition expenses. To qualify, students must be NJ residents, enrolled full-time in an approved program, meet citizenship requirements, and complete necessary steps for clinical practice. The program requires repayment only if a student is dismissed from their program, disqualified from teaching due to criminal history, or loses eligibility for their teaching certificate - withdrawals due to illness or family emergencies do not require repayment. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will administer the program with annual state funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Civil Service Commission to add questions about implicit racial bias to the entry-level civil service exam for all law enforcement officer applicants, including municipal police, correctional officers, and sheriff's deputies. It directly affects candidates applying for these positions by mandating that the exam assesses unconscious biases related to race and other characteristics. The key mechanism is the Commission's obligation to include these questions, developed with testing professionals, before the exam is administered. The law aims to address implicit bias in hiring practices through this specific examination requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students not enrolled in public schools (including homeschooled students, charter school students, county vocational students, and nonpublic school students) to participate in interscholastic sports in their district of residence, provided they meet the same eligibility standards as public school students. To qualify, students must prove district residency, meet all athletic requirements (like physicals and academic standards), and demonstrate they receive an academically equivalent education. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association resolves eligibility disputes, and the Department of Education will create guidelines for verifying academic equivalency. Students previously ineligible for athletics when leaving a public school remain ineligible under this bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's NJ STARS scholarship program to remove a one-year deadline for students who qualify for the scholarship but initially lack college readiness. It directly affects high school seniors in New Jersey who meet NJ STARS eligibility criteria but need remedial coursework to take college-level classes. The key change eliminates the requirement that these students must demonstrate readiness within one year of graduation, instead allowing their eligibility to remain active indefinitely as long as they meet the program's criteria when they enroll. This provides more time for students to complete necessary remediation before accessing the scholarship for up to five semesters of county college study.

Maddy summaryAJR 46 designates the first week of May each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week" in New Jersey. The bill requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the week with activities promoting awareness. This procedural resolution does not create new programs or funding but formally recognizes the week to support existing efforts addressing children's mental health. It directly affects New Jersey state officials and the public through the Governor's annual proclamation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1147) establishes a $1 million pilot program in New Jersey's Office of Planning Advocacy to reimburse municipalities for specific costs related to warehouse development planning. It directly affects local governments that update zoning ordinances or conduct studies to address warehouse impacts like traffic, infrastructure, or environmental concerns. Municipalities must adopt warehouse-specific zoning consistent with state guidance to qualify for reimbursement, with priority given to those needing financial assistance. The program requires the Office to develop model zoning ordinances directing warehouse development to suitable locations and report on program effectiveness after funds are used. The pilot expires upon submission of this report.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3742) limits how correctional facilities can suspend phone calls as punishment for incarcerated people. It requires facilities to allow at least one phone call every two weeks during a suspension, caps suspensions at 90 days consecutively or 180 days yearly, and prohibits suspensions in the final 60 days before release. The bill also bans suspensions for those in "Restorative Housing Units" and mandates that facilities notify emergency contacts when calls are restricted. It directly affects incarcerated individuals and their families by ensuring more consistent communication access while incarcerated.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey colleges and universities from paying online program management companies (like third-party firms managing their online courses) incentive-based compensation (such as commissions or bonuses tied to student enrollment or financial aid) except for recruiting international students. It requires all new or amended contracts with these companies to be submitted to the state higher education office within 20 days and approved by the institution's governing board, banning provisions like tuition-based payments, involvement in curriculum design, or use of the school's branding. Institutions must also submit annual reports detailing how these companies spent funds across specific categories, including instruction, student support, and technology. The law applies to both public colleges and licensed for-profit schools offering degree programs.