Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A4915 requires the state Department of State to create a public "Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" for New Jersey residents traveling while pregnant. The advisory categorizes all U.S. states into three color-coded tiers based on reproductive healthcare access: "Blue" (full access without legal risk), "Yellow" (restricted access with potential legal consequences), and "Red" (extreme restrictions risking denial of emergency care). It provides detailed state-specific information on abortion bans, funding, and legal protections, and must be updated on the state website whenever another state changes its reproductive health laws. This helps residents make informed travel decisions regarding pregnancy-related medical needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs as a principal department within New Jersey's Executive Branch, transferring all veterans-specific services currently handled by the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. The new department will be led by a commissioner who must be an honorably discharged veteran and will oversee veterans' homes, memorial cemeteries, and various services including benefits administration, counseling programs, and housing assistance. The legislation aims to create a more focused agency dedicated solely to veterans' needs, as New Jersey is one of few states without a dedicated veterans' affairs department. This change maintains all existing veterans' programs while creating a centralized agency to better coordinate these services for the state's approximately 900,000 veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5812) creates a New Jersey state grant program to help public schools purchase and install filtered bottle-filling stations and faucets that meet NSF standards for removing lead and contaminants. It prioritizes schools with documented water quality issues (like lead testing results) or those without existing filtered systems. The Department of Education must establish the program within 180 days, provide installation guidance, and report on grant applications and funding needs within a year. The program directly affects all public schools seeking safer drinking water infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers and contractors working on projects for New Jersey public bodies (such as state agencies, local governments, schools, or publicly funded projects) to register with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) and submit certified payroll records. It expands current requirements by applying to all work for public bodies - not just projects subject to prevailing wage laws - covering construction, maintenance, repairs, and other work paid for with public funds or financial assistance. Employers must provide these records within 10 days of a request; failure to comply allows DOLWD to direct public bodies to withhold up to 25% of payment (capped at $100,000) until records are submitted. The bill directly affects contractors and employers performing work for public entities, ensuring transparency in wage reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4878) ensures service members and their dependents (spouses or children) enrolled at New Jersey public colleges can choose specific grade options if unexpected military duty prevents course completion. It raises the required course completion threshold from 8 weeks to 55% of the course duration before certain options apply, and adds "temporary grade" and "transfer to equivalent online course" (if available) as choices. Dependents are now explicitly included under the same protections previously only for service members themselves. The bill clarifies that faculty must determine if sufficient work was completed to justify grades like pass/fail or letter grades, with options like incomplete grades remaining valid for one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent an annual $500,000 allocation from the Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach about New Jersey's single-use plastics reduction program. The fund is financed by fees from businesses that produce litter-generating products, penalties, and voluntary donations. The funds will continue to support public education campaigns and the distribution of reusable bags, as established under current law. This change removes the temporary three-year limit that previously applied to this specific allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools to follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2012 nutrition standards for school meals, which limit calories, fat, and sodium while increasing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nonfat milk. It directly affects public schools serving federally subsidized breakfasts and lunches to roughly 32 million students nationwide. The standards aim to combat childhood obesity - New Jersey's child obesity rate is 14.8%, the 28th highest nationally - by maintaining stricter dietary requirements than USDA's recent proposed relaxations. The bill mandates compliance with these 2012 standards or any stricter future standards, effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 18-member Chronic Absenteeism Task Force to study chronic absenteeism in New Jersey public schools. The task force, composed of the Commissioner of Education, appointed public members representing education stakeholders, and legislative leaders, will analyze causes like mental health, school climate, pandemic impacts, and discipline policies. It must research state and national solutions and develop recommendations for school districts to improve attendance within six months. The task force will report to the Governor and Legislature before expiring 30 days after submitting its final findings. This procedural bill creates a study group but does not directly change attendance laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year pilot program to support new school supervisors in New Jersey. It directly affects first-year certified supervisors (called "novice supervisors" in the bill) who guide teaching staff, requiring them to participate in a mentorship program. The program mandates 15+ hours of annual mentoring with trained mentors, plus additional professional development, administered by a nonprofit partner under the Commissioner of Education's oversight. The state appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to cover program costs. A final report on the program's effectiveness will be submitted to the Governor and Legislature after the pilot ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey school boards to award preschool education contracts directly to licensed childcare providers or Head Start programs without public bidding, through a board resolution. It extends the maximum contract term for these services from two years to three years. Boards must still document their reasons for using this exception and make contracts available for public inspection. The bill specifically applies to preschool services supported by state preschool education aid.