Asm. Michele Matsikoudis

Maddy summaryThis bill would create special "Woman Veteran" license plates in New Jersey, featuring a silhouette of a woman veteran saluting against an American flag with the words "Woman Veteran." To obtain these plates, applicants must provide proof of veteran status (via DD-214 or discharge documents) and pay a $50 application fee plus a $10 annual renewal fee. The additional fees collected fund a dedicated "Woman Veteran License Plate Fund," which annually supports organizations assisting women veterans. The program requires 500 initial applications and $25,000 in private funding before implementation, and expires if these conditions aren't met within 12 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the automatic presumption that defendants charged with repeat home invasion offenses will be released before trial. It specifically applies to individuals with prior convictions for home invasion burglary (C.2C:18-2.1) or residential burglary (C.2C:18-2.2) on separate occasions. Under current law, most defendants have a presumption of pretrial release, but this bill removes that presumption for these repeat offenders, requiring courts to evaluate detention instead. The change means judges must consider whether release would endanger the community or fail to ensure court appearance, rather than starting from a default of release.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5740) requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to conduct a domestic violence risk assessment with a victim's consent when responding to domestic violence incidents. The assessment, using the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) or an approved alternative, gathers information about recent violence, types of violence used, injuries, and weapon use. If the assessment indicates elevated risk of serious injury or death, officers must notify the victim and help connect them with crisis services. The bill also mandates training for law enforcement and judges on the assessment process and requires courts to consider the assessment when making pretrial release decisions in domestic violence cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the value of stolen property to be combined across multiple theft incidents occurring within a two-year period when they're part of a single scheme or pattern. It applies to various theft-related offenses including standard theft, receiving stolen property, fencing, motor vehicle theft, and shoplifting. Under the bill, the total value of property stolen across multiple incidents can be used to determine the severity of the crime, potentially elevating it to a higher criminal grade. The bill clarifies that evidence of a common scheme might include similar nature of acts, same perpetrator, and occurrence within a two-year timeframe. This change means that even if individual thefts don't meet the monetary threshold for a more serious offense, combined they might.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program to promote New Jersey-made craft alcoholic beverages and the retailers that sell them. It creates a "Certified Jersey Craft Alcohol Beverage Retailer" designation for stores selling at least 10% of their alcohol revenue from NJ craft producers (like breweries, cideries, or distilleries), and provides grants of up to $2,500 annually to these retailers for marketing, equipment, or facility improvements. The program is funded by 50% of tax revenue from craft beverage sales, plus potential state funds, administered by the Economic Development Authority. It directly affects NJ craft beverage producers and qualifying retail license holders who meet the sales threshold.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4812) establishes a 15-member Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding to examine New Jersey's higher education system. The task force, appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker, includes representatives from public universities, community colleges, student groups, faculty unions, and alumni associations. It will study governance structures, funding mechanisms, oversight roles, and best practices from other states to assess how well the system meets current challenges. The task force must issue a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year, using $200,000 in state funds for administrative costs. The bill does not change funding or governance directly but creates a process for evaluating these systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows parents or guardians to file a guardianship complaint for a minor up to six months before the minor turns 18, establishing a clear timeframe for these filings. It ensures any guardianship order only takes effect on the minor's 18th birthday to prevent gaps in legal protection during the transition to adulthood. The bill also specifies that guardianship complaints cannot be withdrawn without evidence the minor has capacity or has died. This change aims to streamline the process for minors who will need guardianship upon reaching adulthood.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to get prior approval from the State Board of Education before implementing any new standardized test requirement for public schools that isn't already mandated by state or federal law. It defines "standardized assessment" as a test given to all students in a specific grade or subject, with results analyzed across schools or student groups. Updates to existing tests (like new versions of current assessments) are excluded from this requirement. The bill applies directly to the Commissioner and State Board, changing the approval process for new testing mandates without altering current assessment requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey family courts to order temporary access to a marital home for one spouse during divorce proceedings, regardless of whether the property is jointly owned, solely owned, or leased. The court would set the duration of access without affecting ownership rights or property titles. It does not apply if a domestic violence restraining order protects the other party. The law would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to complete specialized training on electric vehicle (EV) fire safety. The training, to be developed by state agencies including the Division of Fire Safety and the Commissioner of Health, covers risks like lithium-ion battery fires that burn hotter and longer than gasoline fires. Firefighters must finish the training within 36 months of the law's effective date, and EMTs must complete it before certification or within the same timeframe if already certified. The law aims to ensure first responders are prepared for the growing number of electric vehicles on New Jersey roads.