Asm. Michele Matsikoudis

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a New Jersey state tax deduction of up to $5,000 annually for disabled veterans who incur expenses related to service animals. It covers costs for purchasing, training, and maintaining a service animal, including food, grooming, and veterinary care. To qualify, a veteran must be honorably discharged with a service-connected disability (as defined by the U.S. Veterans Administration) and own a service animal meeting the federal definition under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The deduction applies to expenses not already deductible under existing medical expense provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new affordable housing developments (called "inclusionary developments") with 10 or more units or four or more stories to meet LEED Silver or equivalent green building standards. Developers must also submit impact studies on traffic, schools, stormwater, and carbon emissions (if clearing over one acre) to local municipalities before construction begins. The law applies to new projects only, exempting those with applications submitted before the law takes effect. It directs the Department of Community Affairs to create implementing rules within eight months of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey public and private colleges and universities from receiving state funding if they boycott or divest from Israel-supporting businesses or Israeli businesses. Specifically, institutions that engage in actions defined as boycotting Israeli goods/entities, divesting due to a company’s support of Israel (including through "in-kind" or for-profit ties), or participating in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement would lose access to state operating aid, education facility bonds, general obligation bonds, and state student scholarship funds. The bill explicitly excludes divestment for "prudent economic reasons," such as financial risk management. It applies to all parts of an institution, including endowments and departments, and defines key terms like "boycott" and "divestment" in plain language. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention for defendants charged with sexual assault or criminal sexual contact involving a minor, or endangering the welfare of a child. Under this law, if a prosecutor seeks pretrial detention for these specific offenses, the court must order detention unless the defendant provides evidence (by a preponderance of the evidence) showing they are not a flight risk or danger to the community. The defendant is entitled to a hearing to challenge the presumption, but the burden of proof falls on them to overcome it. This change applies only to these child-related offenses and does not alter pretrial detention rules for other crimes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students receiving opportunity grants through New Jersey's Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program to use a portion of their award for summer courses that count toward graduation or their academic major. Students must notify the Secretary of Higher Education before the academic year begins, resulting in a proportional reduction of their grant funds during the regular academic year. The bill also requires annual reporting by institutions on summer grant usage and graduation rates, implementing a 2016 College Affordability Study Commission recommendation.

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding assembly resolution (AR 139) expressing formal appreciation to the staff of the New Jersey General Assembly. It specifically thanks the Chief Clerk and all staff members - including Sergeants at Arms, committee services, administrative personnel, and others - for their dedication, expertise, and service during legislative sessions. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is purely a symbolic gesture recognizing staff contributions to the legislature's operations. Copies will be distributed to all General Assembly staff members.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "New Jersey Anti-Semitism Task Force" within the Department of State to research anti-Semitism, develop recommendations, and issue annual reports. The permanent 18-member task force - including legislative leaders, law enforcement, Jewish community representatives, and public members - will identify evidence on anti-Semitism history, stereotypes, and systemic issues affecting Jewish communities in New Jersey. It must hold at least four public meetings yearly (including one in-person) and submit its first annual report within 12 months of its first meeting. The task force directly affects Jewish communities in New Jersey and requires state resources for its operations, without creating new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to study how state agencies use artificial intelligence (AI). The council, made up of the state's Chief Technology Officer, two Assembly members, two Senate members, and two public AI experts, will evaluate AI's benefits and risks in government operations. It must develop ethical guidelines to prevent bias and protect privacy, recommend safe AI practices for state agencies, and review current AI systems for fairness. The council will report its findings to the Governor and Legislature within one year and then cease to exist.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4401 bill establishes an online public registry of individuals convicted of human trafficking offenses who are incarcerated, on parole, or participating in community release programs. The registry will include specific details about each person's conviction, sentence, location, and criminal history, organized into four categories based on their status. The bill also mandates training for law enforcement, hotel/motel staff, healthcare employees, and court personnel on recognizing and responding to human trafficking. Additionally, it requires schools to incorporate age-appropriate human trafficking prevention education into middle and high school curricula, covering topics like online safety and grooming tactics.

Maddy summaryThis bill would adopt New Jersey into the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, an interstate agreement that allows dentists and dental hygienists licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses in each state. To practice in another participating state, licensees would need to meet requirements like passing national board exams and having graduated from accredited programs, and would apply for a "compact privilege" to practice there. The compact would establish a commission to oversee the agreement and a data system to share licensure and disciplinary information among participating states, with adverse actions in one state affecting a professional's ability to practice in all participating states.