Asm. Michele Matsikoudis

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5224) allows New Jersey school districts to appoint "school security specialists" to provide security services at schools, directly affecting school districts, security providers, and school safety operations. To qualify, specialists must have 20+ years of law enforcement experience (including supervisory roles), hold a valid security license, pass background checks, and complete mandatory training in active shooter response, de-escalation, and school safety protocols. The bill also permits districts to authorize these specialists to carry firearms in schools under specific conditions, while clarifying their role as staff members authorized to handle juvenile offense information. It aligns with existing school safety requirements and mandates ongoing training through the state’s School Safety Academy.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special "U.S. Navy Retired" license plates for veterans who were honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, as verified by their DD-214 form. Applicants pay a $50 one-time fee and a $10 annual fee, with proceeds funding a dedicated "U.S. Navy Veteran License Plate Fund" that supports programs for Navy veterans. The plates require design approval from the Motor Vehicle Commission and the Adjutant General, and implementation depends on securing at least 500 applications and $25,000 in private funding to cover initial costs. The program remains inactive until these conditions are met, with a 12-month deadline for implementation after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to create and distribute a satisfaction survey to clients using support coordination agencies. The survey will rate agencies on a 1-5 star scale based on client feedback, with quarterly updates published online. It directly affects clients receiving developmental disability services and the support coordination agencies providing those services, aiming to improve transparency and service quality. The rating system will be publicly available on the Division's website, with implementation required 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create an internet-based tracking system for rape kits (also called sexual assault forensic evidence kits). The system will allow victims, law enforcement officers, healthcare providers, and labs to monitor a kit's journey from collection at a medical facility through testing and final disposal. It mandates the Attorney General to issue guidelines for this tracking system, ensuring transparency in the chain of custody. The law, which became effective in January 2025, directly affects victims of sexual assault, healthcare facilities, law enforcement, and forensic labs handling these kits.

Maddy summaryAssembly Bill A5193 declares contracts to conceal, alter, or destroy evidence for payment (to hinder law enforcement) unlawful and void. It directly affects crime victims whose evidence was hidden by individuals or private entities (like companies) in exchange for money or compensation. The bill creates a new civil lawsuit right for victims to sue those parties within five years of discovering the concealment. Key provisions make such agreements unenforceable and allow victims to pursue separate legal remedies without replacing existing rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4475) establishes mandatory standards for court-ordered domestic violence counseling programs in New Jersey. It directly affects domestic violence offenders required by courts to participate in counseling and the counseling programs themselves. The bill requires all such programs to include four key components: risk assessments identifying escalation factors, education on power/control tactics, clear attendance tracking protocols, and regular reviews by the Department of Children and Families for funded programs. These standards ensure consistent accountability and program effectiveness for offenders mandated to attend counseling.

Maddy summaryACR 138 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the 40th anniversary of New Jersey's Jersey Fresh program, a state-sponsored initiative established in 1984 to promote locally grown produce. The resolution recognizes the program's role in supporting New Jersey farms, increasing consumer awareness of seasonal produce, and serving as a national model for agricultural branding. It does not create new laws or policies but formally commends the program's success in connecting consumers with locally harvested fruits and vegetables across all 21 counties. The resolution directs copies to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the State Board of Agriculture for their records.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies specifically to members who have been retired and receiving benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those hired after the bill's effective date, those in deferred retirement, and those with 20-24 years of service. The COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners, with benefits up to $75,000 receiving full adjustment, while higher benefits are capped at a 1% annual increase. The $75,000 threshold will adjust annually based on inflation, and the bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds to cover both state and local costs for these adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to provide current non-retired members and those applying for retirement after the bill's effective date with the same benefits as members enrolled before July 1, 2007. It eliminates tiered membership by moving all current TPAF members to Tier 1, requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) in TPAF, and allows Defined Contribution Retirement Program participants to transfer service credit to TPAF without transferring contributions. Participants in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program have six months to opt out of the transfer after receiving notice. These changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis bill reschedules New Jersey's June 2025 primary election from June 3 to June 10, 2025, to accommodate a religious observance. It adjusts most election-related deadlines to align with the new June 10 date, but keeps specific deadlines - such as those for nominating petitions, ballot position drawing, and mailing vote-by-mail ballots - tied to the original June 3 date. The Secretary of State must notify county clerks, election boards, and the public within seven days of the bill's effective date and publish a revised election calendar. This change directly affects all voters, candidates, and election officials participating in New Jersey's 2025 primary election cycle.