Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Police to verify whether a person has an unprocessed expungement order before releasing their criminal history background check. If an expungement order exists but hasn't been reflected in the system, the State Bureau of Identification must update the record to show the expungement prior to dissemination. This ensures individuals with court-ordered expungements are not incorrectly listed as having criminal records. The bill directly affects people seeking background checks for employment, licensing, or volunteer opportunities who have had expungement orders granted but not yet processed by the State Police.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey-Haiti Commission within the Department of State to strengthen economic and cultural ties between New Jersey and Haiti. The 13-member commission (including the Secretary of State as chair and 12 appointed public members) will study historical connections, analyze data on New Jersey's Haitian-American community (which has the 4th largest Haitian population in the U.S.), and identify economic collaboration opportunities like trade and cultural exchanges. The commission must hold quarterly public hearings, conduct research, and submit annual reports with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its first meeting. It directly affects New Jersey's Haitian-American residents and the state's relationship with Haiti by focusing on concrete policy recommendations for economic development and partnership.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3418 would join the Women's Reproductive Health Care Compact, a multi-state agreement to protect access to reproductive health services. The bill requires New Jersey to work with other member states to prevent legal actions against patients or providers (like extradition or license penalties), block disclosure of medical records related to care, and prohibit collecting data on patient locations or travel barriers (such as transportation costs). It directly affects residents seeking reproductive health services - especially those traveling from states with abortion restrictions - and healthcare providers in New Jersey. The compact would be enforced by state attorneys general, with residents able to sue if enforcement fails, while still respecting federal privacy laws like HIPAA.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide property tax rebates to New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. Eligible veterans would receive a rebate equal to their disability percentage of the property taxes paid on their primary residence, with the rebate capped at $5,000 annually. The program is limited to veterans with gross income under $200,000 and does not apply to veterans already exempt from property taxes due to 100% disability ratings. Veterans would need to apply annually for the rebate, and funding would depend on annual legislative appropriations. The bill specifically targets veterans with less than 100% service-connected disability ratings who currently pay property taxes on their primary residence.

Maddy summaryAssembly Resolution 168 urges the U.S. Congress to enact legislation allowing individuals receiving federal disability benefits (specifically Supplemental Security Income/SSI and Social Security Disability Insurance/SSDI) to retain those benefits upon marriage. Currently, federal law imposes low asset limits for married couples (unchanged since 1989), which can force beneficiaries to lose support if they marry, as seen in cases highlighted by the documentary "Patrice: The Movie." The resolution cites the Social Security Administration's acknowledgment that these policies are outdated and notes recent administrative improvements to SSI. It does not change existing law but formally calls on Congress to update asset limits and marriage rules to prevent loss of benefits.

Maddy summaryThe "Climate Superfund Act" would hold fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and are responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and the bill's effective date. The bill establishes a program through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to collect these payments and distribute funds for climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would pay their proportional share of damages over nine years, with options for installment payments, and the collected funds would specifically support projects that help communities prepare for climate impacts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1445 requires public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who withdrew due to military service (including active duty, National Guard, or Reserve service). Schools must reinstate students with their exact academic standing from before their service interruption. Students must submit a written request for the next available semester, and institutions cannot charge application or processing fees for these requests. The law applies starting the first full academic year after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all teaching certification candidates who complete an approved educator preparation program to complete a youth mental health education course or online module starting with the 2027-2028 school year. It also mandates that out-of-state teaching certificate holders or those with a certificate of eligibility complete a state-developed online module within one year of the bill's effective date. The Department of Education must create an online module covering youth mental health dangers, safe classroom strategies, and cultural competence considerations. Educator preparation programs must update their curricula to include this training and submit revisions for approval. Candidates who completed comparable mental health training within the past five years may apply for an exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school employees to immediately report credible threats of violence (such as threats of death or serious injury) to the principal or their designee. If law enforcement determines the threat is imminent and credible, the school must notify all staff, students, and parents, and place the individual on a list prohibiting access to school property and events. The school must also share this access list with all employees and administrators in the district and neighboring districts. The bill updates school safety training to include procedures for reporting threats and restricting access, while protecting employees from liability for good-faith actions taken under the law. It directly affects school districts, employees, and individuals making threats.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a legal barrier preventing victims of sexual offenses from recovering pain and suffering damages against public entities (like government agencies or employees) in New Jersey. Currently, public entities are generally barred from paying such damages for any injury, except in cases of permanent disfigurement with high medical costs ($3,600+). The bill specifically adds sexual assault, prohibited sexual acts (N.J.S.A. 2A:30B-2), sexual abuse (N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1), or other sexual crimes to the list of exceptions. Victims of these offenses can now seek compensation for pain and suffering through lawsuits against public entities. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.