Asm. Nancy Muñoz

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that public employee pension benefits in New Jersey be calculated using only base salary - regular, periodic pay - as defined by employer policies - not overtime, bonuses, or other extra compensation like holiday pay, vacation pay, or retroactive raises. It explicitly excludes forms of "extra compensation" such as lump-sum payments for accumulated sick leave, pay for temporary duties, or individual salary adjustments made near retirement. Pension benefits will no longer include these excluded payments, and any contributions made on them must be refunded without interest. The Division of Pensions and Benefits will investigate cases where reported base salary appears to include such extra compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey State job applicants who have had a first interview to disclose any past or ongoing criminal investigations. The Civil Service Commission must create a form asking applicants about investigations by law enforcement (including accusations from other state employees), arrests, charges, convictions, and court outcomes related to those investigations. The form also specifically asks about past arrests or convictions for sexual assault offenses under state law (N.J.S.2C:14-2 or 14-3). This disclosure requirement applies to all State government positions in classified, unclassified, and senior executive service.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing within 10 years of their initial licensure to renew their license. Nurses unable to complete the degree within 10 years may request a one-time extension of up to two years to finish it. The requirement applies only to nurses initially licensed on or after the bill's effective date, not to currently licensed RNs. The bill amends state nursing licensure law to establish this educational progression for new graduates.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey county clerks to send a confirmation notice to voters who apply for mail-in ballots and request delivery to a different address than their registered voting address. The notice, sent to the voter's registered address, will confirm the separate mailing address and provide instructions for correcting errors in the request. It directly affects voters who choose a non-registered address for ballot delivery, ensuring they are notified of the change. The bill amends existing election law to add this mandatory notification requirement, which is not currently required under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to include instruction on the dangers of texting while driving in health education classes for students in grades 9 through 12. The curriculum must cover how cell phone use while driving causes erratic behaviors like lane-weaving and sudden speed changes, leading to accidents, and provide statistics on related injuries and fatalities. The state education commissioner will supply schools with sample lesson materials and resources to support this teaching. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3159) creates a 10% price preference for businesses owned by women veterans or women actively serving in the U.S. military when competing for New Jersey state contracts paid with public funds. It directly affects qualifying businesses that meet specific criteria: at least 51% ownership/control by a woman veteran or active-duty woman, with the business based in New Jersey and independently operated. The preference means a qualified business can win a contract even if its bid is slightly higher than others, as long as it remains the lowest after applying the 10% discount. The bill defines "woman veteran" as a female with an honorable military discharge and "woman serving in the military" as a female on active duty or who completed initial training.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1038) requires New Jersey municipalities to maintain a minimum credit rating to exercise redevelopment or rehabilitation powers under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (P.L.1992, c.79). Specifically, municipalities must have a credit rating of A- or higher from Standard & Poor's/Fitch or A3 or higher from Moody's over the prior three years. It directly affects all municipalities seeking to conduct redevelopment investigations, approve plans, or designate areas needing rehabilitation under this law. The provision applies to all municipal redevelopment functions outlined in Section 4 of the referenced law, limiting these powers to financially stable jurisdictions with qualifying credit ratings.

Maddy summaryThe Opportunity Scholarship Act establishes a five-year pilot program providing tax credits to New Jersey taxpayers who contribute to scholarship organizations. These organizations would distribute scholarships to low-income children (from households earning no more than 250% of the federal poverty threshold) attending chronically failing schools in eight targeted districts (Asbury Park, Camden, Elizabeth, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Passaic, and Perth Amboy). The program would award up to 10,000 scholarships in its final year, with schools receiving scholarship students required to accept them without additional fees and provide annual assessments to track student progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to permit graduating high school students to wear a military sash or stole (issued by a U.S. military branch) during graduation ceremonies. It directly affects students who have completed all diploma requirements but are not necessarily active military members - unlike the existing law, which only covered dress uniforms for active service members. The key provision expands the allowable military attire to include sashes/stoles worn atop graduation robes, without requiring active service status or completion of basic training. The change applies immediately to all public school graduation ceremonies across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require health insurers in New Jersey to provide coverage for mammograms starting at age 35, lowering the current requirement from age 40. It mandates one baseline mammogram for women at age 35 and annual mammograms for women 35 and older. Women under 35 with family history of breast cancer or other risk factors would still receive coverage as determined by their healthcare provider. The legislation amends multiple sections of New Jersey law to implement this change across various health insurance plans.