Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5935 bill makes several changes to charter school operations. It requires charter schools to provide application materials in the seven most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficiency students in their district, based on census data. The bill prohibits charter schools from establishing admission criteria for students selected through random selection and mandates student placement liaisons to coordinate student transitions and track enrollment data. Charter schools must also report annual exit data (reasons, dates, placements) and set specific requirements for non-resident students participating in athletics.

Maddy summaryAJR 229 is a symbolic joint resolution recognizing New Jersey's commitment to the right to adequate food as a fundamental principle. It defines this right to include nutritional needs, physical and economic access to safe, culturally appropriate food, sustainability, and food sovereignty - without creating new legal obligations or private lawsuits. The resolution encourages state, county, and municipal entities to prioritize underdeveloped communities, coordinate with the Department of Agriculture to support local farmers, and promote sustainable food systems. It serves as a guiding principle for future policies but does not mandate new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for New Jersey charter schools, their boards of trustees, and charter management organizations. It mandates transparency by requiring charter schools to maintain public websites with budgets, meeting notices, annual reports, and board member information. The bill sets standards for board membership (requiring relevant experience and local residence), prohibits non-disclosure agreements as employment conditions, and requires charter management organizations receiving public funds to file tax documents. These provisions aim to increase accountability and governance standards while maintaining charter schools' independence from traditional public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator. The coordinator will develop a master plan for dementia care, coordinate existing state programs, prevent service duplication, identify gaps in care, and improve access to quality treatment for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The position is authorized to request data from state agencies and consult with experts, with all departments required to cooperate. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to implement these changes. It directly affects individuals with dementia, their families, and the state agencies providing related services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Female Incarcerated Person's Rights Protection Act" for New Jersey, requiring the Department of Corrections to implement gender-responsive policies for women in state prisons. Key provisions include creating a Division of Women's Services to address trauma, parenting needs, and child reunification; mandating annual staff training on gender-responsive practices and sexual assault prevention; and providing doula services, parenting classes, and family reunification programs for incarcerated mothers. The bill also creates a Special Victim's Unit to investigate sexual assault allegations and requires all female inmates to receive information about reporting sexual abuse and accessing support services. These changes directly affect all women incarcerated in New Jersey state facilities and the correctional staff responsible for their care.

Maddy summaryS 4858, the "New Jersey Veterans and Military Spouses Asset Protection Act," provides enhanced creditor protections for veterans, active-duty service members, and their military spouses. It exempts their primary and secondary homes from forced sale for debts (with exceptions for mortgages, taxes, or fraud), protects retirement accounts and veterans' benefits from creditors, and shields up to two vehicles per household valued at $25,000 each. The law applies to debts incurred on or after January 1, 2025, and supplements existing federal protections like the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. It does not cover debts from willful misconduct, fraud, or government obligations.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Veterans and Military Spouses Asset Protection Act provides enhanced creditor protections for veterans, active-duty service members, and their military spouses. It exempts both their primary residence and one secondary residence (e.g., seasonal or retirement home) from being seized to pay debts, with exceptions for mortgages, taxes, or judgments from fraud/criminal activity. The bill also shields retirement accounts, pensions, disability benefits, and veterans’ benefits from creditors, and exempts up to two vehicles per household (valued at $25,000 each) from seizure, excluding similar exceptions. These protections apply to debts incurred on or after January 1, 2025, and supplement existing federal safeguards like the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's STEM teacher grant program to include retired teachers who receive retirement benefits from the Teachers' Pension Fund. It adds a specific payment formula for retired teachers (based on statewide average salary × teaching hours × 1.25) and allows teachers in broader STEM fields beyond traditional science/math. The $3.5 million appropriation funds direct payments to eligible teachers (both current and retired) for teaching STEM classes at participating nonpublic schools, replacing previous school district-administered payments. This change aims to increase access to STEM education by incentivizing retired educators to continue teaching.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's solid waste management districts (including counties and the Hackensack Meadowlands District) to develop and implement a strategy to reduce food waste by at least 50% by 2030, compared to waste levels in the year the law takes effect. Districts must adopt this strategy as an amendment to their existing solid waste management plans, subject to DEP approval. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must also publish a public list of specific methods districts can use, including food donation programs, composting facilities, source separation, and public awareness campaigns. These measures aim to divert food waste from landfills and reduce methane emissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires water suppliers to immediately notify specific entities when drinking water quality standards are violated. Affected groups include municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools within the affected area. Suppliers must provide detailed information via phone and email, including contaminant names, test dates, locations, exceedance levels, and suggested remedies. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.