Asm. Michele Matsikoudis

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to publicly post on its website quarterly details of federal safety violations it received (including fines paid) for the previous three months, plus all violations from the prior five years. All published violation data must remain online for five years. Additionally, NJT must create a confidential toll-free hotline and email system for the public to report safety concerns affecting transit users. The bill directly affects NJT's transparency practices and aims to improve public awareness of safety issues on New Jersey's transit system.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal process for submitting and publishing proposed changes to the Governor's annual budget recommendations. It requires all budget resolutions (proposals to add, delete, or modify funding items) to be filed with legislative budget committees and published publicly on the Legislature's website by June 1 each year. The bill mandates that sponsors include detailed explanations of proposed changes and disclose any potential conflicts of interest involving themselves or immediate family members related to the funding recipient. This affects all Assembly and Senate members, the State Treasurer, and the public by requiring timely disclosure before the final appropriations bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryACR 27 is a concurrent resolution (not a bill) calling for a special legislative session to address property tax relief and reform. It requires the Legislature to convene within seven days of passage, dedicating the session solely to considering property tax policy changes. The resolution cites high property taxes as a burden on residents, particularly affecting low-income families, seniors, and homeowners. It does not propose specific tax changes but mandates that lawmakers introduce and vote on relevant bills during this session.

Maddy summaryAJR 14 designates October of each year as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in New Jersey. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public awareness activities and community programs. The resolution symbolically highlights domestic violence as a statewide issue affecting all New Jersey residents, regardless of age, gender, or background. It does not create new laws, funding, or mandates beyond the annual proclamation.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A709 requires the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to authorize third-party vendors - such as private driver training schools, employers, or local government agencies - to administer knowledge and skills tests for commercial driver license (CDL) applicants. The bill removes the previous requirement for the MVC to wait for a pilot program evaluation before approving vendors, and eliminates the MVC’s authority to limit the number of authorized vendors statewide. It also mandates that third-party vendors charge no more than the state’s cost for administering skills tests. This directly affects CDL applicants seeking faster testing options and third-party providers aiming to offer these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 2020 law that prohibited stores, restaurants, and food pantries from providing single-use plastic bags, paper bags, polystyrene foam containers, and plastic straws. It would allow these businesses to once again sell or provide these items without requiring customers to specifically request them. The repeal directly affects retail establishments, food service businesses, and food banks that currently face restrictions on these products. This change reverses specific environmental restrictions on single-use products implemented in 2020.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to create a Veterans Outdoor Recovery Task Force. The task force, including state agency heads and co-chairs, will identify barriers and opportunities for veterans to access public lands for outdoor therapy, specifically targeting veterans with PTSD (affecting 11-30% of veterans per the bill's cited statistics). It must hold public hearings, develop recommendations to improve outdoor therapy access, and submit a report to the legislature and governor within 18 months. The task force expires after submitting its final report. The bill directly affects veterans seeking mental health support through outdoor recreation on public lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits students enrolled in New Jersey public schools (K-12) who are convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for specific sexual offenses - including aggravated sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2), sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-3), or attempts - to attend the same school building or use the same school bus as their victim. The court must enforce these prohibitions as part of sentencing, probation, or other legal dispositions. It directly affects students convicted of these offenses and ensures victims are not exposed to the perpetrator in school settings. The policy applies to all public K-12 schools and takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A277 requires all new voting machines purchased or leased for use in the state's elections to produce a voter-verifiable paper record for each vote cast. This paper record must be available for the voter to inspect at the time of voting and preserved for potential manual audits or recounts. The bill applies only to machines acquired after the law takes effect, prohibiting the Secretary of State from granting waivers for these new machines. Existing machines in use before the law's effective date may still qualify for temporary waivers under specific funding conditions. The requirement aims to enhance election security and verification through a physical paper trail.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent unit within New Jersey's Office of Emergency Management to specifically support residents with access and functional needs during disasters. It directly affects people with disabilities, older adults, those with limited English proficiency, limited transportation access, or limited financial resources for disaster preparedness and recovery. The unit will assess needs before, during, and after emergencies; identify statewide resources; ensure access to those resources; and coordinate with local emergency offices to implement best practices across North, Central, and South Jersey. The unit will consist of one full-time supervisor and three full-time planners to serve these populations statewide.