Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis proposed bill establishes the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program to reduce financial barriers for future teachers. It provides eligible students up to $7,200 per semester for full-time clinical practice (the final teaching internship) in approved teacher preparation programs at New Jersey institutions. To qualify, students must be NJ residents enrolled full-time in an approved program and complete required steps for clinical practice. The program requires annual data collection on participants' demographics and program experiences, with funding to be appropriated annually by the legislature. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Education Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to voluntarily contribute a portion of their tax refund or make an additional payment when filing their state income tax return to support United Way of New Jersey. It establishes a special "United Way of New Jersey Fund" within the Department of the Treasury to collect these contributions, with administrative costs deducted before deposits. The Legislature must annually appropriate all funds in the special fund, distributing them equally to all United Way chapters across the state for their programs. The bill does not require contributions, only provides an option for taxpayers to support United Way through their tax filing process.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill provides a $1,000 annual deduction from state gross income for eligible volunteer firefighters and first aid/rescue squad members. To qualify, volunteers must serve the entire tax year and meet specific service thresholds: firefighters need 60% attendance at alarms/drills plus Firefighter I certification, while first aid/rescue members need 10% attendance at alarms/drills plus approved training or EMT certification. Fire and rescue departments must submit annual lists of qualifying members to state health and community affairs agencies for verification. The deduction applies to taxable years starting after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A2564 requires all teaching certification candidates - both new graduates from approved educator programs and out-of-state teachers - to complete youth mental health education training by the 2027-2028 school year. This includes either a course or a state-developed online module covering youth mental health risks, creating safe classroom environments, and cultural competence. Approved educator programs must update their curricula to include this requirement and submit revisions to the Department of Education. Candidates with comparable training completed within the past five years may apply for an exemption. The bill applies directly to educators seeking or holding teaching certifications in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics, creating a formal structure for recruiting scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals with PhDs. It requires appointing a minimum of four fellows annually - two to work with the New Jersey Legislature (in specified offices) and two with the Executive Branch - to provide expert analysis on policy issues. The bill appropriates $360,000 for initial program costs and mandates annual funding of $520,000 starting in fiscal year 2025 to cover fellow stipends, benefits, and administrative expenses. Fellows, designated as "John Weingart Science Fellows," serve full-time for one year.

Maddy summaryAJR 32 is a procedural resolution proposing a rule change to New Jersey's evidence rules. It would allow evidence that a victim promptly reported sexual assault or employment discrimination to be admitted as a hearsay exception, specifically to address jury assumptions about delayed reporting. This change directly affects cases involving these crimes by enabling courts to consider timely complaint evidence without requiring the victim to testify about the report itself. The resolution, if adopted, would be implemented by the New Jersey Supreme Court under existing procedures, not by creating new law. It focuses on clarifying admissibility for factual evidence, not altering legal standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new retirement plan within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) specifically for emergency medical services (EMS) workers, including paramedics, EMTs, emergency medical supervisors, and other certified personnel who provide life support services. It requires these employees to join the "EMS Part" of PERS, pay a 10% salary contribution, and receive enhanced retirement benefits: 50% of their final salary for 20+ years of service, or a special option of 65% of final salary plus additional payments for 25+ years of service. Existing retirement credits will transfer to the new plan without extra cost to employees, and the bill also provides death benefits to beneficiaries equal to half the employee's final salary. The bill directly affects all eligible EMS employees in New Jersey state, county, and municipal roles.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how New Jersey school districts handle nonrenewal of nontenured staff contracts. It replaces current informal "Donaldson hearings" with a formal hearing process for staff whose chief school administrator recommends against renewal. Key requirements include: the school board must hold a formal hearing with the board attorney present, the staff member must submit supporting materials 3 days in advance, and the board must issue a written decision detailing the facts, reasoning, and how it addressed the written reasons for nonrenewal. The bill also requires video functionality to remain active during remote hearings unless during a formal recess.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Office of Financial Assistance within New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to help small businesses access public financial assistance. It directly affects eligible entities - companies with under 225 NJ-based employees in tech or green energy sectors (like biotech, renewable energy, or IT) - by streamlining their access to state and federal grants, loans, and tax credits. The key mechanism is a new common online application platform that lets businesses identify all available programs, store required documents for reuse, apply to multiple programs simultaneously, and track application status. The EDA office will develop this platform and provide technical support to help businesses navigate the application process.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2134) automatically grants tenant protections under New Jersey's Relocation Assistance Act to renters displaced by fire in multi-unit buildings (two or more dwelling units). It defines "displaced person" to include tenants forced out when fire damage makes their rental unit uninhabitable, as certified by a housing inspector. Key provisions require landlords to offer displaced tenants the right of first refusal to return to their repaired unit (with amenities equal to or better than before the fire) and allow tenants to pay $1/month rent to maintain this right while the unit is uninhabitable. The bill removes the prior need for municipalities to pass separate resolutions to extend these protections to fire victims, streamlining access to relocation assistance.