Asm. Michele Matsikoudis

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to post employee resumes online for staff earning over $25,000 annually who aren't covered by collective bargaining agreements, with personal contact details like addresses and emails redacted. NJT must post these resumes within 30 days of the bill's effective date for current employees or within 30 days of hiring for new employees. It also mandates that NJT publish key details for all new contracts - including the contract copy, vendor name, purpose, and dollar amount - on its website within 30 days of signing. These requirements apply to both employee information and contracts entered into after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 23) establishes a special seven-member committee called the "New Jersey Nursing Home Pandemic Response Investigation Committee" to examine how state actions during the COVID-19 pandemic affected nursing homes, residents, families, and employees. The committee, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly with bipartisan input, has broad investigative powers - including issuing subpoenas, holding hearings, and gathering evidence - to review state policies, executive orders, and regulations related to nursing home care. It will operate until its investigation concludes, reporting findings and recommendations to the public and Legislature. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but authorizes a formal review of past state responses.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how judges are appointed for certain municipal courts in New Jersey. It removes the Governor and Senate from appointing judges for joint municipal courts (created by two or more municipalities) and central municipal courts (county-wide courts), shifting authority to local agreements or county officials. For joint courts, the appointment method would be set in the municipalities' agreement (filed with the courts). For central courts, county executives (in counties with that role) or county governing bodies would appoint judges instead of the Governor. Single-municipality courts remain appointed locally as they are now.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Taxation to study how state business income taxes affect where businesses operate, start up, and hire workers. The study will analyze tax return data from eight years before and after the bill's effective date (covering 2016-2024). The Division must submit a first report by January 15, 2026, detailing findings and recommendations for improving New Jersey's business climate, followed by annual reports for seven years. These reports will go directly to the Governor and Legislature, but the bill does not change tax rates or policies itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A279) requires sex offenders in New Jersey to report all Internet identifiers (such as email addresses, social media handles, and chat usernames) to law enforcement and to notify authorities within 10 days of any name change. Currently, sex offenders must report computer and internet use, but this bill specifically expands that requirement to include all internet identifiers used for communication. Failure to report internet identifiers or notify of a name change would be a crime of the third degree, punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine. The bill affects all individuals required to register as sex offenders under New Jersey's Megan's Law (P.L.1994, c.133).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's endangering welfare of a child law (N.J.S.2C:24-4) to specifically criminalize parents or caregivers who unlawfully use, manufacture, or distribute drugs while a child is present. It makes violating drug laws (N.J.S.2C:35-5 or N.J.S.2C:35-10) in a child's presence a third-degree crime (if manufacturing/distributing) or fourth-degree crime (if possessing/using), separate from the underlying drug offense. The law directly affects parents or caregivers with legal responsibility for a child who commit drug-related actions in the child's presence. The policy change adds a distinct criminal penalty for exposing children to drug activity, without altering existing drug offense penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's professional licensing boards to issue licenses to veterans who have a license in good standing from another state and were honorably discharged from military service. Veterans must provide proof of their honorable discharge and current license status, and meet other standard requirements like passing exams. The law mandates that boards evaluate equivalent military training and experience without requiring the same number of hours as non-veterans. This change helps veterans more easily transfer their licensed skills to jobs in New Jersey, removing a barrier to employment in regulated professions.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a 50% sales tax exemption on retail sales of tangible personal property for qualifying small businesses in New Jersey. It applies to businesses with their principal NJ location, independently owned, and employing fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees. The exemption excludes sales of motor vehicles, alcohol, digital products, cigarettes, and sales already subject to reduced rates in Urban Enterprise Zones or Salem County. The exemption would lower the state sales tax rate from 6.625% to approximately 3.3% for eligible transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary five-year teaching certification for New Jersey veterans enrolled in educator preparation programs at accredited colleges. To qualify, veterans must have completed at least four years of honorable military service, earned 60 college credits, and passed required subject exams. The certification allows school districts to hire these veterans full- or part-time while they complete their certification, and their teaching experience counts toward their program's clinical requirements. The program applies to veterans with military service who are pursuing teaching careers in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to adopt a suicide prevention policy covering prevention (proactive measures to identify risk), intervention (response to suicidal behavior), and postvention (support after a suicide attempt or death). The New Jersey Department of Education must create a model policy to guide school boards, which must develop their own policies in consultation with mental health experts and community stakeholders. School boards must post their adopted policies online and notify students, parents, and guardians of their availability. The policy must address all three areas (prevention, intervention, postvention) and specifically consider the needs of high-risk student groups.