Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 18-member Special Education Transportation Task Force to study and improve transportation for students with special needs. The task force, including education officials, disability advocates, school staff, and parents, will review best practices in other states, current policies, and safety concerns like medical emergencies during transport. It will focus on recommendations for staff training, equipment access, communication with families, and safety protocols. The task force must submit its final report to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months of forming. This bill directly affects students receiving special education services, their families, school districts, and transportation staff in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1457, "General Contractor Licensing Act") requires all general contractors in New Jersey to obtain a license from the newly created New Jersey State Board of General Contractors. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18, of good moral character, hold a bachelor's degree in project management with 60+ construction credits, and pass a board-administered exam. The bill exempts contractors with 10+ years of pre-act experience (without bankruptcy or business name changes) and those licensed in allied professions like architecture. Licenses are issued for two years and require renewal, including continuing education, with the board setting fees and standards for examinations and licensing.

Maddy summarySJR 143 designates July 30 of each year as "Clarence 'Coach C' Collins Day" to honor his 13-year service as a youth mentor at University Academy Charter High School in Jersey City, where he developed workshops and connected students with community internships through the Department of Recreation. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to recognize his legacy of supporting at-risk youth and strengthening community engagement in Jersey City. This commemorative resolution has no legal effect beyond symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly prohibit housing and employment discrimination based on "source of lawful income." It defines "source of lawful income" to include public assistance, housing vouchers (like Section 8), disability benefits, veterans' benefits, child support, alimony, and other lawful payment methods. The law now makes it illegal for landlords to refuse rental payments based on the source of income, and for employers to discriminate against applicants or employees based on how their income is earned. This directly affects tenants and job seekers who rely on non-traditional income sources, particularly those using public assistance programs or housing vouchers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all menstrual products sold in New Jersey - including tampons, pads, discs, cups, and underwear (both disposable and reusable) - to list every ingredient on the package in descending order of quantity. The label must be clearly visible and understandable to consumers. Manufacturers who sell noncompliant products after the bill’s effective date face civil penalties of up to 1% of their annual in-state sales per package, capped at $1,000 per item, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law applies only to products manufactured after the effective date and excludes shipping packaging.

Maddy summaryAJR 214 is a ceremonial resolution designating July 30 of each year as "Clarence 'Coach C' Collins Day" to honor his community service. It commemorates Coach Collins, a former youth mentor at University Academy Charter High School in Jersey City, who developed programs for at-risk youth, reformed recreation department hiring, and founded community initiatives. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation recognizing the day. This is purely commemorative with no policy changes or direct impact on specific groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey higher education and proprietary institutions from withholding student transcripts due to debts under $2,000 for non-mandatory charges (like activity fees). It requires institutions to release transcripts for transfer, graduate programs, or employment purposes regardless of such small debts, but allows them to require repayment plans for larger debts (over $2,000) or mandatory fees (tuition, room/board). Institutions cannot charge extra fees for transcripts or use transcript issuance to collect debt. Students needing transcripts for new or refinanced student loans cannot have their transcripts restricted. The law applies only to students residing in the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program to the Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program and makes several key changes to expand eligibility and improve program administration. It increases the maximum loan redemption amount from $120,000 to $200,000, allows psychiatrists and other health professionals designated by the Commissioner of Health to participate, and expands the definition of "State designated underserved area" to include municipalities where over 50% of households are at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. The program provides partial loan repayment for health care professionals who commit to working in underserved areas, with repayment amounts based on years of service at approved sites. The bill also establishes new criteria for sites to be automatically designated as approved sites and requires annual reporting on the program's impact to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A4175 requires the Attorney General to review and update the statewide use of force policy for law enforcement officers at least every two years. The policy must prioritize de-escalation, limit force to objectively necessary and proportional levels (with deadly force only as a last resort), and mandate duties like intervening, providing medical aid, and reporting incidents. This affects all county and municipal police departments, prosecutors, and the State Police, who must receive revised policies. The bill establishes a structured process for policy updates without altering current enforcement standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes the New Jersey Council of County Colleges' role by expanding its responsibilities. It requires the Council to develop a biennial strategic plan for county colleges, serve as the primary advisory body to state agencies on college-related matters, and create a performance-based funding formula for state aid (capping operational support at 43% of colleges' base-year costs). The Council must also enhance data sharing, coordinate statewide academic initiatives, and build partnerships with employers to align programs with workforce needs. These changes directly affect all 19 New Jersey county colleges and their funding mechanisms, while strengthening the Council's role in guiding state higher education policy.