Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Grow Your Own Teacher Loan Redemption Program to help new teachers reduce student loan debt by working in school districts with teacher shortages. It targets graduates of high schools in shortage districts (or those who lived in such districts for over five years) who become certified teachers there, with eligibility requiring NJ residency, a valid teaching job, and eligible student loans. For each full year of teaching in a qualifying district, the program redeems up to $10,000 of loan principal and interest, capping total redemption at $50,000 over five years, with annual program spending limited to $500,000. Participants must sign a five-year contract to teach in the designated district and submit annual employment verification.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A1696 updates optometrists' scope of practice by expanding their ability to provide eye care services. The bill allows optometrists to prescribe pharmaceutical agents (including controlled substances under specific conditions), administer immunizations for coronaviruses, flu, and shingles (for patients 18+), and perform minor procedures like removing superficial foreign bodies or treating chalazions. It also permits certain non-invasive laser/ultrasound treatments (e.g., trabeculoplasty) using only topical anesthesia, while explicitly prohibiting invasive eye surgery, orbital procedures, or general anesthesia. These changes apply to all optometrists practicing in New Jersey and require adherence to CDC guidelines for immunizations and reporting to the state immunization registry.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects to install at least one exterior key box at every school building by June 2027. The key box must meet safety standards (like UL 1037), contain all necessary keys for emergency access, and be placed at a location determined collaboratively with emergency responders. Schools may seek exemption if they implement equivalent alternative access plans approved by the Commissioner of Education, and the state will cover all installation costs through a $2.5 million appropriation, with reimbursement available for eligible expenses incurred after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2722) creates a state-run central registry to manage background checks for employees and volunteers working with youth. It directly affects youth-serving organizations (like sports leagues, clubs, and nonprofits for kids under 18, excluding schools) that must register with the registry and pay a fee to participate. Organizations must conduct annual background checks on all staff/volunteers using the registry, with checks required every two years for current members. The registry identifies individuals with certain criminal convictions (such as violent crimes, crimes against children, or drug offenses) that would disqualify them from working with youth, and updates records to reflect these disqualifications. The state sets the fee structure but caps background check costs at actual expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $20 million from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) specifically for school facility cleaning and sanitization during the COVID-19 pandemic. It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools that received a health department directive for a closure on or after March 9, 2020. Funds cover disinfectants, cleaning supplies, and increased personnel costs for enhanced cleaning schedules, with allocations based on student enrollment. The DOE must establish an expedited application and disbursement process for these funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords of properties used for child care services (like daycares caring for 6+ children under 13) to install and maintain NSF/ANSI-certified water filters at all fixtures used for drinking, food, or baby formula if they refuse to allow public water systems to replace lead service lines. Landlords must certify annual filter compliance to the Department of Environmental Protection and face civil penalties of up to $500 per day for violations. The requirement applies until lead lines are replaced and for six months afterward, with tenants able to seek court-ordered rent escrow if landlords fail to act. The bill targets lead exposure risks in child care settings where landlords block infrastructure upgrades.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey schools and districts to add data on graduates' post-education pathways to their annual performance reports (called "report cards"). Specifically, it mandates reporting the number and percentage of students achieving "positive placement" after graduation, including apprenticeships. The requirement applies to all public schools and districts, building on existing report card elements like graduation rates and college enrollment. The change aims to provide transparency about workforce readiness options beyond traditional college pathways.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and private schools in counties with high Lyme disease incidence to adopt a tick remediation policy. Within 12 months, the Environmental Protection Commissioner must develop county-specific, pesticide-free strategies to reduce ticks based on local factors like vegetation and deer populations. Schools must implement these measures within 18 months, prioritize non-chemical solutions first, and only use low-impact pesticides if needed. Schools must also designate a coordinator to educate staff and parents about tick prevention, habitats, and safe removal techniques.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows public school students aged 16 or older to miss school on election days without penalty if they work as paid poll workers. It requires schools to record such absences as "excused" on attendance records and not count them toward perfect attendance. Schools must also exclude these absences from transcripts and employment forms that list attendance history. Students must provide documentation to verify their poll worker role to school administrators. The bill directly affects student poll workers and school attendance policies in New Jersey public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to provide incoming and enrolled students with information about federal food assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and local resources. Specifically, institutions must include a link to the SNAP application and NJ 211 (a state service for human services referrals) in initial admission offers and semester registration emails. They must also share details about campus food pantries, meal swipe programs, or community food assistance options. The bill, which was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.213, aims to address food insecurity among college students by improving access to existing support systems.