Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts common oral care products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, and oral irrigators from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It specifically covers items designed to maintain oral health, including powered toothbrushes and interdental brushes, regardless of whether they qualify as over-the-counter drugs. The exemption does not apply to food, dietary supplements, or durable medical equipment. This change aligns with a multistate tax agreement to standardize definitions for tax-exempt products.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to exclude environmentally sensitive and flood-prone land from being counted as available for affordable housing construction. It specifically excludes land regulated by agencies like the Highlands Water Protection Council, flood hazard areas under the Flood Hazard Area Control Act, and wetlands protected by the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act. The law changes current policy by removing the requirement that development must be "prohibited" on such land - now regulated land automatically qualifies for exclusion. This affects municipalities obligated to provide affordable housing under New Jersey's Fair Housing Act, preventing them from using these lands to meet their housing quotas.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3384) extends the time limit for human trafficking victims in New Jersey to file civil lawsuits against perpetrators. It changes the statute of limitations to allow victims to sue within 10 years of the trafficking incident, 10 years after turning 18 if they were minors during the abuse, or two years after discovering the injury and its connection to the trafficking. The bill also prevents the clock from starting until a continuing trafficking pattern ends, tolls the time during disabilities (like mental illness or intellectual disability), and blocks defendants from using the statute of limitations if they caused delays through intimidation or fraud. This directly affects human trafficking victims seeking civil remedies for harm caused by traffickers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2623) requires New Jersey executive county superintendents to distribute up to $500,000 in state funds to public school districts for purchasing tourniquets. It mandates that tourniquets be placed in unlocked, clearly marked locations accessible during school hours and school-sponsored events. The bill also requires annual training for school employees (including nurses, safety officers, and teachers) on tourniquet use and bleeding control, which schools may provide through partnerships with local emergency services. Schools must submit annual compliance statements to county superintendents.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) from charging extra fees for online services that cost nothing when completed in person at MVC offices. It directly affects New Jersey drivers who use the MVC website for tasks like license renewals, vehicle registration, or title transfers. The key provision requires online and in-person services to have identical fees, eliminating the online service fee reinstated by the MVC in 2019. If enacted, this would make all MVC online transactions free, matching the cost of in-person visits.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new "Graduate Physician" licensing category in New Jersey for medical school graduates who haven't completed residency training. It requires applicants to meet specific criteria (e.g., accredited medical school graduation, one year clinical practice, passing licensing exams, no disqualifying criminal history) and limits their practice to primary care in medically underserved areas under a collaborative arrangement with a fully licensed physician. Graduate physicians must wear identification tags, use specific clinical record notations, and cannot practice without a supervising physician except in emergencies. The license does not require more continuing education than standard physician licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies (including the Department of Community Affairs and Board of Public Utilities) to review and potentially raise income limits for residential customers seeking utility bill assistance or energy efficiency programs within one year of the bill's effective date. It directly affects low- and moderate-income households who currently qualify for these programs by expanding eligibility if income thresholds increase. Key provisions mandate agencies to consider program alignment, state median income, cost impacts, and public input before adjusting limits, while also requiring coordination to ensure customers aren’t eligible for multiple energy efficiency programs. The bill aims to simplify access and expand support without specifying exact income levels or outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds $10 million from the off-budget Universal Service Fund to the NJSHARES-S.M.A.R.T. Program for utility payment assistance in New Jersey's fiscal year 2026. It directly helps low-income homeowners and renters facing financial hardship by providing grants to cover past-due utility bills (arrearages) and ongoing payments. The program requires applicants not to receive duplicate benefits from private insurance or other existing aid programs. The funding supplements a prior $5 million General Fund appropriation for the same program, directing the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish quick-processing guidelines for eligible residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public colleges and universities in New Jersey to provide free menstrual products (tampons and sanitary napkins) in all campus buildings, including women’s restrooms, all-gender restrooms, and at least one men’s restroom in locations like lecture halls, residence halls, and libraries. Institutions must offer a variety of products - regular to super-plus, ultra-thin to overnight, and allergy-friendly options - and install dispensers or maintain existing ones that provide free access. The bill also mandates educational materials about toxic shock syndrome and proper disposal, with the state covering all costs through an $85,000 appropriation to the Office of Higher Education. Public institutions must submit reimbursement requests for expenses incurred.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Community Affairs about affordable housing, senior citizen housing, and veteran housing units within their borders. The reports must include building addresses, management contacts, application status (including waitlists), and online application links. The state will compile this information into a public online directory on official housing websites (including the Department of Community Affairs, Housing Finance Agency, and Housing Resource Center) and mandate that municipalities link to these sites from their own websites. Municipalities will receive state reimbursement for costs related to gathering and submitting the data.