Asm. Michele Matsikoudis

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all 11th-grade students in New Jersey public schools to complete a United States civics course as part of their high school graduation requirements, starting with the 2023-2024 school year. The course must cover fundamental principles of democracy, the U.S. government, New Jersey state government, and local county/municipal governments. School districts must ensure this civics course is included in their graduation requirements, and the content must prepare students to become informed citizens, voters, and community members. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for motor vehicle registration fee exemptions and toll exemptions on New Jersey toll roads to include disabled veterans approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to receive adaptive vehicle equipment. Specifically, it adds veterans who have completed VA Form 21-4502 and received approval under 38 U.S.C. §3901 to the existing list of exempt veterans. The law requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority to waive tolls for eligible veterans using E-ZPass on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway. It does not change existing exemptions for veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam War who meet current criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new standards for annual height, weight, and blood pressure screenings in New Jersey public schools for students in grades K-12. It requires screenings to be conducted by school physicians or nurses, ensures student privacy through physical separation during exams, and prohibits basing weight evaluations solely on BMI. Instead, evaluations must consider additional health factors like access to healthy food, safe exercise spaces, and other lifestyle barriers. The bill also mandates that school staff hold age-appropriate pre-screening discussions with students to explain the purpose and reduce anxiety.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $250 deduction from gross income for New Jersey taxpayers who serve the entire tax year on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard). It directly affects active-duty military members residing in New Jersey who maintain full-time service status for the whole year. The deduction reduces their taxable income, potentially lowering their New Jersey Gross Income Tax liability. The provision applies to taxable years starting January 1 following the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow individuals 18 years of age or older to possess bear spray for the purpose of repelling aggressive bears during outdoor activities like hiking and biking. Currently, New Jersey law limits personal defense sprays to devices containing no more than 3/4 ounce, but EPA-approved bear spray typically contains 7.6 ounces. The bill specifically permits possession of bear spray products that are EPA-approved and clearly labeled as such. It also provides civil immunity for reasonable use of bear spray in self-defense against bears, while maintaining that willful or grossly negligent use would not be protected.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prevent the expungement (deletion of records) of any arrest, charge, or conviction related to domestic violence. It affects individuals who have been arrested or charged with domestic violence offenses, even if they were not convicted (dismissed, acquitted, or discharged without conviction). The bill adds domestic violence offenses to the list of crimes that cannot be expunged, which already includes serious offenses like murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault. This change would apply to all domestic violence cases in New Jersey, regardless of whether a conviction occurred.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires developers of affordable housing in New Jersey to reserve at least 50% of low- and moderate-income units for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve Components, regardless of war service. It establishes a special waiting list for veterans and mandates outreach by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to connect eligible veterans with housing opportunities. Municipalities that provide such housing receive one standard housing credit plus a half-credit for each veteran-occupied unit toward their affordable housing obligations. The policy directly affects veterans seeking housing, developers building affordable units, and municipalities meeting state housing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands NJ Transit's Access Link paratransit service to include all U.S. Veterans Health Administration facilities in New Jersey. It requires NJ Transit to provide door-to-door service within a 1.5-mile radius around each facility and along the most direct route connecting it to the nearest NJ Transit bus or rail stop. The bill appropriates $1 million from the state General Fund to cover implementation costs. This directly affects veterans who use these health care facilities by improving their access to transportation services.

Maddy summaryThis bill criminalizes occupying an empty or vacant home without the owner's permission, addressing what the bill calls "squatting." It creates three specific offenses: forcibly entering a vacant dwelling (housebreaking), taking up residence without permission (unlawful occupancy), and reentering after a court-ordered eviction (unlawful reentry). All are classified as fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill presumes a person knows they lack permission unless they provide a notarized rental agreement with the owner's contact details, changing the current process where owners must seek civil court eviction.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fourth-degree criminal offense for using GPS or location-tracking devices to follow a vehicle with the intent to commit an unlawful act, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or theft. It directly affects individuals who misuse tracking technology to monitor others for harmful purposes. The key provision mandates a minimum five-year prison sentence for this offense under New Jersey's sentencing law (N.J.S.2C:43-7), which is an enhanced penalty compared to standard fourth-degree crimes. The bill aims to address technology-facilitated abuse by imposing stricter consequences for tracking used in unlawful contexts.