Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey taxpayers to deduct union dues paid to labor organizations from their state gross income tax. It directly affects workers who pay dues to labor organizations (defined as groups addressing workplace issues like wages or conditions). To claim the deduction, taxpayers must provide verification of dues paid to the state tax division. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Labor Committee and would apply to tax years starting after its enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2364) requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DVA) to notify specific veteran organizations, county officers, and municipal registers when individuals are buried or cremated in state veteran cemeteries. It amends state law to mandate that the DVA provide these entities with the names of deceased veterans interred or cremated at state facilities. The key mechanism is a new notification requirement, ensuring these groups receive timely burial/cremation information. This affects veteran service organizations, local government officials, and municipal record-keepers who may need this data for community services or historical records. (Note: The bill was withdrawn as it was approved as P.L.2025, c.229.)

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Gold Star Family Scholarship Program, providing financial aid to family members of New Jersey military personnel who died while on active duty. Eligible recipients include spouses, parents, children, siblings, and legal guardians who attend approved colleges or universities. The program is funded through a $2 annual surcharge on personalized license plates, voluntary taxpayer contributions via state tax returns, and a $100,000 initial appropriation from the General Fund. Scholarships cover undergraduate costs up to the average tuition at New Jersey's four-year public universities, with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority managing eligibility and award amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care professionals (such as doctors, midwives, and nurse practitioners) providing prenatal care to assess pregnant people for lead exposure risks and conduct blood lead screening when indicated. If a pregnant person has an elevated blood lead level, the professional must notify them in writing, explain the health risks of lead poisoning in plain language, and ensure children or household members under six are screened. The bill allows for written patient refusal of screening or if another provider has already completed the test. Laboratory results must be reported to health departments within five business days, with all data kept confidential and anonymized statistics used for public health purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program to address New Jersey's educator shortage by offering financial incentives to top high school graduates. Eligible participants (NJ residents who graduated from NJ high schools, applied for all other grants/scholarships, and enroll in NJ higher education) receive student loans up to $40,000 for undergrad or $10,000 for grad studies. In exchange for a five-year teaching commitment in a NJ public school, the state repays up to $50,000 total in loans ($10,000 per year of service), with participants required to maintain academic standing. The program targets high-achieving students to recruit future educators while capping total state repayment per participant.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Blockchain Promotion and Integration Program under New Jersey's Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology, in partnership with the Economic Development Authority. It directly supports New Jersey businesses - especially small businesses - by increasing public awareness of blockchain technology, providing technical and financial assistance for adoption, and connecting firms with resources through partnerships with the New Jersey Blockchain Council and small business groups. Key provisions include analyzing the state's blockchain sector, recruiting capital investment, and requiring annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on progress and recommendations. The program is designed to foster growth in blockchain and decentralized digital technology industries within New Jersey. The bill was introduced on January 13, 2026, and is pending before the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers most facilities and programs from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) to Rutgers, The State University, while requiring specific locations to remain in Newark and Middlesex County. It mandates that Rutgers maintain the public mission of UMDNJ, including existing contracts with the Department of Corrections (DOC) and Department of Children and Families (DCF) for services like University Behavioral Healthcare. After current contracts expire, DOC and DCF may award new medical/dental service contracts to vendors offering the most advantageous proposals to the state. The transfer requires accreditation approval but does not change current service delivery or public employee staffing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to waive or refund application fees and transcript fees for veterans, active-duty military members, reservists, and New Jersey National Guard members who live in the state and are admitted. It directly affects these eligible military-affiliated individuals and public higher education institutions. The key provision mandates that institutions cover these specific costs instead of charging them during the application process. The policy takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's school funding formulas and creates a Special Education Funding Review Task Force. It requires the education commissioner to notify school districts annually about funding amounts, including per-pupil costs, special education aid, and geographic adjustments, based on the state's Educational Adequacy Report. The bill clarifies how districts calculate their required local tax levies and adjusts special education funding when actual aid differs from initial projections. It directly affects all New Jersey public school districts by changing how state aid is calculated and distributed. The Special Education Funding Review Task Force will be established to examine funding mechanisms for students with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program, which provides funding to veterans' organizations for building-related expenses. It directly affects qualified veterans' groups by covering costs like construction, renovation, repairs, and upgrades to their facilities. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will administer the program using existing statutory authority, distributing grants to support physical infrastructure needs. The program is designed to help veterans' organizations maintain or improve their operational spaces without requiring new legislative authorization for each project.