Asm. Michele Matsikoudis

Maddy summaryThis bill allows candidates for New Jersey's Senate and General Assembly who represent the same legislative district and belong to the same political party to be listed together on a single nominating petition. Currently, candidates for these two offices must submit separate petitions, requiring distinct signature collections. The bill does not change the required number of signatures but simplifies the process by enabling combined petitions for candidates running in the same district and party. It directly affects Senate and Assembly candidates seeking nomination in overlapping districts from the same political party.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Governor to hold monthly public hearings in different parts of the state whenever a public health emergency is declared under the Emergency Health Powers Act. It directly affects residents by providing a regular, structured opportunity to voice concerns and share information about how emergency measures impact communities. The hearings must occur at least once a month during the emergency declaration and its extensions, ensuring ongoing public input. The requirement applies to all new declarations and any modifications to existing declarations made before the bill takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts from granting custody or visitation rights to individuals convicted of specific sex crimes against minors, including first-degree kidnapping, criminal sexual contact, human trafficking involving minors, luring children (with prior sex crime convictions), lewdness, and promoting child prostitution. It expands existing law, which previously barred custody for sexual assault convictions, to cover these additional offenses. Courts may still award custody or visitation only if a parent demonstrates by "clear and convincing evidence" that it serves the child’s best interest, though orders must be stayed for 10 days to allow appeals. The law directly affects parents or guardians with these convictions, ensuring their access to children is restricted unless a court specifically determines it is necessary for the child’s welfare.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 15-member study commission to examine two key areas: (1) how New Jersey's long-term care facilities (including nursing homes and assisted living residences) prepare for infectious disease outbreaks, and (2) ways to encourage home health care services. The commission, composed of state agency representatives and industry experts, will analyze facility outbreak response plans, staffing adequacy during outbreaks, and methods to retain home health aides. It must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months, detailing findings and recommendations. The commission will expire 3 months after submitting its final report. (Note: This is a procedural study commission, not a policy change.)

Maddy summaryThis bill (A125) establishes an annual grant program to support county 9-1-1 emergency call centers (PSAPs) in New Jersey. It redirects 10% of the $0.90 fee collected from telephone bills - currently deposited into the 9-1-1 Trust Fund - to provide financial aid for counties to purchase, maintain, and upgrade PSAP technology. The Office of Information Technology, with input from Emergency Management, will distribute the grants and report annually to the Governor and Legislature. This directly affects all New Jersey counties operating public safety answering points that handle emergency calls.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to create special "Domestic Violence Awareness" license plates featuring a purple ribbon and the phrase "Domestic Violence Awareness." Vehicle owners pay a $50 application fee and $10 annual renewal fee, with the revenue deposited into a dedicated fund. The fund, managed by the Department of Children and Families, provides annual grants to nonprofit organizations supporting domestic violence victims. Implementation requires 500 initial applications and $25,000 in private funding to cover startup costs before plates can be produced.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A251) changes New Jersey's affordable housing rules by raising the maximum percentage of a municipality's housing obligation that can be met with age-restricted units (like senior housing) from 25% to 50%. It directly affects New Jersey municipalities required to provide affordable housing under state law. The key provision removes a previous 25% limit imposed by the Council on Affordable Housing, allowing communities to count up to half of their required affordable units as age-restricted. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryBill A1241 establishes the Code Blue Shelter Matching Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA). It provides matching funds to community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that offer shelter during Code Blue alerts (cold-weather emergency alerts), requiring these groups to first receive a grant from a county or municipality within the past year. The DCA will match these local grants up to $50,000 per county/municipality annually, with no cap on the total number of grants or individual nonprofit funding. Nonprofits must submit applications detailing their finances, the original grant amount, and how funds will be used, and the DCA must report program effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature within three years.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill provides a $500 annual tax credit against gross income tax for volunteer firefighters who have been actively serving for three consecutive years. It directly affects volunteer firefighters employed by incorporated volunteer fire companies or part-paid fire departments in the state. To qualify, a taxpayer must have been an active member for the entire current tax year and the two prior years. The credit reduces the taxpayer's state income tax bill by up to $500 but cannot lower the tax below zero.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the State Council of Developmental Disabilities membership from seven to eight State agency representatives, specifically adding the Commissioner of Children and Families and the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities. It expands the council's responsibilities to assist the Children's System of Care in identifying service gaps for children and youth under 21 with disabilities, and to help implement the New Jersey Autism State Plan Amendment. The council must now contract with community-based agencies to analyze service gaps and prepare recommendations, while seeking input from families, advocacy groups, and service providers. The annual report will now be submitted to three state departments (Children and Families, Health, and Human Services) instead of one, including specific recommendations on addressing service gaps for children with disabilities.