Asm. Michele Matsikoudis

Maddy summaryThis bill, A300, requires New Jersey hospitals to allow patients with developmental disabilities to have a designated caregiver - such as a family member, guardian, or direct support professional - accompany them throughout their entire hospital stay, except during active surgery where safety concerns arise. Hospitals must provide patients or their guardians an opportunity to choose this caregiver at admission, document the choice (or refusal) in medical records, and permit the designated person to stay with the patient. It clarifies that the designated caregiver is not obligated to provide care during the stay or after discharge. The bill applies specifically to patients with developmental disabilities admitted to licensed general hospitals in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3170 bill would create special license plates displaying "Combat Action Ribbon" and its emblem for veterans who earned this military award. Applicants must provide proof of receiving the ribbon (via DD-214 form) and pay a $50 application fee plus a $10 annual renewal fee. The fees fund a dedicated account supporting veteran programs, with private donations covering initial costs up to $25,000. The program requires private funding to launch and could end if annual plate costs exceed the $50 fee for two consecutive years.

Maddy summaryAR 86 is a symbolic Assembly Resolution expressing New Jersey's support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks. It condemns Hamas for launching a "massive, unprovoked war" involving rocket attacks, killings, abductions, and violence against civilians (citing 1,400 Israeli deaths and 30 American citizens among the casualties). The resolution formally supports Israel "as it defends itself" and directs copies to Israel's Prime Minister, U.S. ambassadors to Israel and the U.S., and New Jersey's members of Congress. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact new laws but publicly affirms New Jersey's stance on the conflict.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1034 revises the definition of child abuse or neglect to include acts committed by non-parental caregivers (such as teachers, staff, or volunteers in institutions), not just parents or legal guardians. It requires the Division of Child Protection and Permanency to refer children under 18 who engage in problematic sexual behaviors (defined as committing or facilitating sexual abuse against others) to treatment centers or behavioral health providers. Services are voluntary unless the division determines a high risk of future behavior and the child or parent refuses care, in which case they become mandatory. The bill mandates detailed documentation of service types, reasons for referral, acceptance status, timing, and outcomes in each child's case plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to annually collect data from all school districts on school employees who were disciplined, separated, or resigned due to pending or resolved allegations of child abuse, sexual misconduct, or harassment. The DOE must then submit two annual reports to the legislature: one summarizing the collected data broken down by school district and statewide, and another tracking implementation of a related 2018 law requiring background checks for school employees. The bill also prohibits unauthorized release of confidential information related to these reports. It directly affects school districts, the DOE, and the legislature, with no changes to employee employment standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A321) streamlines EMT-Basic certification for veterans who served as Combat Army Medics or Navy Hospital Corpsmen (or equivalent roles). It allows these veterans to skip the standard certification exam if they hold current National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification, have served in those specific roles, and pass a background check. The state must also publish clear online instructions about this process on the Department of Health website. This directly affects honorably discharged veterans with qualifying military medical experience seeking EMT careers in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) to obtain board of directors approval before entering any settlement agreement related to workplace discrimination or equal employment opportunity complaints. Currently, NJ Transit's bylaws only mandate board approval for settlements exceeding $500,000, but this bill expands that requirement to all such settlements. NJ Transit must also submit an annual report detailing all approved settlements, comparing them to previous years' data, and identifying the affected departments - this report must be published online and shared with the Governor and Legislature. The bill takes effect immediately, aiming to increase transparency and oversight of discrimination-related resolutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows police officers to be assigned to polling places located in public schools during elections. Specifically, it amends election law to permit district boards, election superintendents, or county clerks to request police presence at these school-based polling locations for maintaining order and providing security. The request must be made explicitly for school polling places, and any assigned officer must focus solely on election security during voting hours. The bill also requires documentation of such assignments, including the reason, duration, and outcome, to be recorded and made publicly available.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definitions of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and abuse of persons with developmental disabilities to include animal cruelty against animals owned or cared for by the victim. It requires specific professionals - including veterinarians, child welfare workers, residential care facility employees, and law enforcement officers - to report suspected animal cruelty to appropriate authorities when they have reasonable cause to believe it has occurred. The bill provides civil and criminal immunity for anyone reporting in good faith, protecting them from liability related to the report. It also defines "animal cruelty" broadly to include violations of various animal welfare statutes and standards for domestic livestock.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the requirement for public school employees in New Jersey to maintain their principal residence within the state. It amends New Jersey Statute 52:14-7 to remove the residency rule specifically for school district employees, charter schools, and Renaissance school projects. The change applies only to these educational roles, while residency requirements remain in place for all other state and local government employees.