Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to issue special license plates for veterans certified by the VA as having service-connected disabilities. The plates, displaying "Disabled Veteran" and a wheelchair symbol, allow these veterans to park in disability-reserved spaces without needing additional permits or placards. The plates are free, non-transferable, and must be displayed on the vehicle while parked. Misuse of the plates can result in revocation and forfeiture of the plate. The bill directly affects disabled veterans who meet federal VA certification criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors working on New Jersey public works projects to verify that all craftworkers meet minimum qualifications. Specifically, it mandates that contractors register electronically and provide proof that each journeyperson has either completed a registered apprenticeship program meeting federal standards or has four years of documented work experience (with union members under certain collective bargaining agreements exempt). The law also requires contractors to confirm they participate in approved apprenticeship programs for any craftworkers they employ. These requirements apply directly to contractors bidding on or performing state-funded construction projects.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 229 requires colleges and universities to collect and publicly report detailed employment outcomes and earnings data for recent graduates, along with other key metrics like graduation rates, costs, and financial aid. Institutions must post annual, disaggregated data (by race, gender, income, and other factors) on their websites, including employment rates, average student debt, and cost projections for different student scenarios. This transparency aims to help prospective students and families compare institutions based on concrete outcomes rather than general information. The law applies to all higher education institutions in New Jersey, with reports due annually and linked directly from application pages. The Secretary of Higher Education will also compile comparative profiles to help students easily evaluate institutions.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill introduces a 9 percent surtax on income generated by prediction markets, affecting both the companies that run these platforms and the individuals who earn money from them. The law defines prediction markets as systems where people bet on the outcomes of future events, such as elections, sports games, or entertainment releases, and applies to operators starting July 1, 2025, while taxing individual earnings beginning January 1, 2026. Under the new rules, these taxes are calculated on net income for businesses and gross income for individuals, with very limited options for tax credits available to offset the liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 13-member Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding to examine New Jersey's public higher education system. The task force, including representatives from the governor, legislature, university leaders, and labor groups, will analyze governance structures, funding mechanisms, reporting requirements, and workforce alignment over one year. It must hold public hearings and submit recommendations to the governor and legislature by the one-year deadline, using $200,000 in state funds for its operations. The bill does not enact policy changes but creates a study mechanism to inform future funding and governance decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's rules for health care sharing ministries to allow for greater diversity in how these organizations are formed. It removes a federal requirement that such ministries must have existed since 1999, arguing that this rule is outdated and allows some groups to exploit loopholes. The legislation also adds transparency by requiring these ministries to publish annual reports on their membership numbers and participant counts online. Additionally, the bill clarifies that individuals who join these ministries are exempt from state health insurance mandates, provided the organizations meet specific audit standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary task force to study and suggest improvements for transportation services for people with disabilities and senior citizens in New Jersey. The seven-member group includes state officials and representatives from advocacy organizations, who will meet to examine issues like travel obstacles, infrastructure, and new technologies such as automated vehicles. After organizing within 30 days, the task force will hold public hearings and submit a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 18 months before the group dissolves.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year pilot program to provide school-based mentoring for kindergarten through third-grade students in public schools located within 1,000 feet of a site where gunfire occurred in the previous school year. The program aims to improve the social-emotional and behavioral skills of these students by offering weekly, 25-minute one-on-one sessions focused on emotional monitoring, resilience, and self-control. Under the plan, the state Commissioner of Education will select the Jersey City School District and six other schools across the state to participate, providing grants to cover costs and allowing the use of third-party administrators. Participating schools must train mentors, identify students with specific developmental challenges, and evaluate progress before, during, and after the curriculum. At the end of the pilot, the Commissioner will report to the Governor and Legislature on whether the program should be expanded statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Attorney General to create a single, standardized curriculum for basic police training across the state. The Attorney General must work with the existing Police Training Commission to develop this course, which will then be taught at all approved police training schools. The law also gives the Commission authority to enforce this new curriculum, inspect training schools, and ensure instructors meet specific qualifications. Additionally, the Attorney General is tasked with reviewing and updating the curriculum annually to keep it current.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New Jersey State Police to create a new community policing unit designed to build trust and transparency with the public. The unit will work with local agencies and community groups to address crime and quality of life issues, while also implementing recruitment practices aimed at increasing racial and ethnic diversity. Additionally, the legislation mandates biennial training for all troopers on inclusive communities and requires each officer to complete a minimum number of community engagement hours annually. To ensure accountability, the Superintendent of State Police must submit an annual report to the Attorney General and the Legislature detailing the unit's activities.