Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Community College Opportunity Grant Program to include adult students enrolled in career and technical education programs at county vocational schools. It directly affects adult learners seeking licenses or certifications through programs like nursing or culinary training, allowing them to receive financial aid covering tuition and approved fees not covered by other grants. Key provisions define "adult student" and amend eligibility to include these programs (requiring at least four months of enrollment), while maintaining income limits ($0-$65,000) and requiring students to apply for other aid first. The program remains administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, targeting career-focused education without changing existing grant structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2546) required New Jersey’s Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines for public school policies on student use of internet-enabled devices (like smartphones and tablets) during school hours, on buses, or at school events. The guidelines must prohibit non-academic use during class, allow exceptions for emergencies or health needs, and include age-appropriate rules for device storage and social media restrictions. School boards were then required to adopt policies based on these guidelines, ensuring consistency with federal disability laws and student health plans. Note: This bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was approved as P.L.2025, c.195.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 47) urges Major League Baseball to establish an annual "Negro Leagues Day" on May 2. The resolution recognizes that May 2, 1920, marked the first game of the Negro National League - the first successful organized Negro League - and highlights the historical significance of these leagues (1920-1960) in baseball history. It specifically references MLB's 2024 integration of Negro Leagues statistics into official records and New Jersey's connections to teams like the Newark Eagles. The resolution is a symbolic request to MLB, not a binding law, and directs copies to MLB leadership and relevant baseball institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2626) authorizes New Jersey to issue specialty license plates for vehicles registered in the state, featuring the Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. emblem and slogan. Vehicle owners must pay a $50 application fee and a $10 annual fee, with these funds deposited into a dedicated "Lambda Theta Phi License Plate Fund." The fund, managed by the state Treasury, annually appropriates money to support the fraternity's mission and programs, after covering administrative costs. The Motor Vehicle Commission handles plate design and issuance in consultation with the fraternity's North Atlantic Regional Vice President.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3921) appears to be primarily defining terms related to New Jersey's energy infrastructure and utility regulations, rather than directly revising renewable energy portfolio standards. The provided text includes definitions for terms like "assignee," "base load electric power generation facility," "basic generation service," and "bondable stranded costs" but does not specify any new renewable energy targets, timelines, or requirements. Without the actual revisions to the portfolio standards themselves in the provided text, a substantive summary of what the bill changes cannot be created. The bill was introduced in 2026 and referred to the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a law allowing New Jersey municipalities to charge up to $200 for applying to a public defender. It would eliminate the fee entirely, directly affecting individuals seeking public defense services who might otherwise face this financial barrier. Currently, courts could waive such fees, but this bill removes that authority by deleting the fee provision. The legislation aims to remove financial obstacles to accessing public defenders, aligning with the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2322) updates New Jersey charter school rules to ensure fair enrollment, improve student transitions, and increase transparency. It requires charter schools to admit all students without discrimination using random selection (except for weighted lotteries to promote diversity), prohibits admission criteria beyond random selection, and mandates schools to make applications available in the seven most common non-English languages in their district. New requirements include appointing a student placement liaison to coordinate transitions for new and exiting students, conduct exit interviews for non-graduating students, and annually report exit reasons and placements to the state and school districts. These changes directly affect charter schools, students, and their home school districts by standardizing enrollment practices and tracking student movement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey school districts to include environmental sustainability goals in their existing long-range facilities plans. Districts must update these plans every five years to incorporate sustainability measures, such as energy efficiency or waste reduction, alongside other planning elements like enrollment projections and safety standards. The requirement applies to all school districts, including those designated as "Abbott districts" under previous law. This amendment modifies an existing 2000 law (P.L.2000, c.72) by adding environmental sustainability as a mandatory component of the planning process, without specifying exact sustainability metrics.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) program to include part-time undergraduate students at public and private colleges in the state, who are currently excluded. It amends statutes to allow part-time students to receive grants reduced proportionally (e.g., half the full-time amount) and counts their enrollment toward eligibility limits as half a full-time year. Funding for part-time grants must be separately appropriated, requiring dedicated budget line items. The change directly affects part-time students seeking financial aid for degree programs, aligning their eligibility with full-time peers under the state's existing financial aid framework.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill increases annual payments to veterans with specific wartime service-connected disabilities from $750 to $1,500 per year. It directly affects veterans who lost sight during wartime (under R.S.38:18-2) or have severe disabilities like paraplegia, amputations, or permanent limb loss from service-related injuries (under P.L.1947, c.263). The bill establishes an automatic annual adjustment to payments based on the Consumer Price Index for the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island area, ensuring payments keep pace with inflation. Adjustments are calculated each December 1st for payments starting January 1st of the following year, with the first adjustment delayed until 12 months after the bill takes effect.