Asm. Michele Matsikoudis

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's four-year public colleges from charging tuition or fees to the spouse of a disabled veteran who meets specific conditions. To qualify, the spouse must be enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing, have applied for all eligible state and federal grants/scholarships, and applied for VA tuition benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The state will reimburse institutions for waived tuition and fees. The policy directly affects spouses of veterans certified by the VA as having a total, permanent service-connected disability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover prostate cancer screening without cost sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance). It expands the definition of "prostate cancer screening" to include more diagnostic methods beyond digital rectal exams and PSA tests, such as urinary analysis, serum biomarkers, and medical imaging. The coverage applies to men age 50+ who are asymptomatic, and men age 40+ with family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors. The bill extends these requirements to additional insurance types, including individual health insurance policies, that weren't previously required to cover prostate cancer screening under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey public elementary schools to assess the academic and health benefits of using therapy dogs in wellness programs. It requires the state Department of Education (DOE) to select six school districts (two per geographic region) that apply with details about their schools, student wellness participation, and therapy dog plans. The DOE will provide participating districts with guidance on therapy dog activities, handler training, dog health checks, and insurance requirements. After three years, the DOE must submit a report evaluating whether the program improved student attendance, confidence, and academic outcomes like reading skills. The pilot directly affects public elementary schools that apply and participate.

Maddy summaryBill A4372 allows educational research and services corporations to contract for any goods or services - including educational technology, consulting, staffing, and related support - on behalf of member institutions like public colleges, school districts, and municipalities. The bill exempts these contracts from public bidding requirements under New Jersey law, including the County College and State College Contracts Laws. It broadens the scope of agreements these corporations can enter into and classifies them as "shared services agreements," streamlining procurement without standard public bidding processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors and subcontractors working on public projects to submit payroll records to New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). It applies to any business performing work for public bodies (like state/local governments or projects funded by public money), including construction, maintenance, or repair work. The key mechanism mandates that these contractors must register with DOLWD and provide payroll details to verify compliance with prevailing wage laws and apprenticeship program requirements. This affects all employers engaged in public work contracts, ensuring transparency in worker compensation and program participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to help school districts increase their sourcing of local foods for students. It appropriates $6,500,000 from the General Fund, with $5.5 million dedicated to grants and $1 million for administrative costs. Eligible school districts (those serving students eligible for subsidized meals) can apply for annual grants based on size: small districts (under 5,000 students) receive $10,000-$50,000, medium districts (5,000-10,000 students) get $20,000-$125,000, and large districts (10,000+ students) receive $44,000-$250,000. At least 80% of grant funds must reimburse costs for sourcing additional local foods, while up to 20% can cover equipment or staff training, with priority given to districts in food deserts or those sourcing from small/mid-sized farms.

Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for school counselors in New Jersey. It mandates that school counseling programs at colleges must incorporate the American School Counselor Association's model and include training in social-emotional learning and career planning. School counselors (defined as those with a NJ certification and endorsement) must provide services addressing students' academic, career, social, and emotional needs, and complete required professional development in areas like mental health awareness, trauma-informed practices, and cultural competency. The bill also creates a new State School Counselor Liaison position within the Department of Education to support school districts and advance comprehensive counseling services. These changes directly affect school counselors, school districts, and higher education institutions offering counseling certification programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a 25% gross income tax deduction for K-12 teachers in New Jersey. It directly affects teachers employed by public school districts, charter schools, Renaissance school projects, or qualifying nonpublic schools. The deduction reduces taxable income by 25% of the wages paid by these employers during the tax year. The policy applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time $5 million grant program to help 10 specific New Jersey school districts implement free, full-day kindergarten programs. The districts affected - Moorestown, Haddonfield, Metuchen, Monroe, Millstone, Chathams, Bridgewater-Raritan, Hillsborough, Cranford, and Westfield - must apply with implementation plans and cost estimates. If approved, each district receives an equal share of the $5 million to cover program setup costs. The program applies only to districts not currently offering free, full-day kindergarten.