Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a dedicated Human Trafficking Unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety. The unit must include assistant or deputy attorneys general (with one designated as Coordinator) and will handle criminal prosecutions, assist counties in investigations, connect victims to support services, and collaborate with state agencies like Health, Labor, and the State Police. It also mandates ongoing training for law enforcement on trafficking cases and requires an annual public awareness campaign to educate about trafficking signs, consequences, and victim support. The Coordinator must report yearly to the Governor and Legislature on the unit's work and suggest improvements. This directly affects victims, law enforcement, county prosecutors, and state agencies working on trafficking cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades penalties for repeat offenses of buying sex (prostitution as a patron) in New Jersey. A first offense remains a disorderly persons offense, but a second or third offense becomes a fourth-degree crime, and a fourth or subsequent offense becomes a third-degree crime. The bill also requires that fines collected from these offenses be directed to the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund" to support survivors of human trafficking. It applies specifically to individuals who repeatedly engage in purchasing sexual services.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's County Agriculture Development Boards to create a program accepting donated farmland from commercial farmers and leasing it to new farmers residing in the state. It also establishes a tax credit for donating land, capped at $100,000 or the value of the donated portion (calculated as a share of the farm's assessed value based on the donated acreage). To qualify for leased land, new farmers must meet board-established criteria, including New Jersey residency. Donors must apply for certification through the board to claim the tax credit, which is processed by the Division of Taxation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prevent individuals incarcerated in New Jersey state or county facilities from receiving Medicaid, Work First New Jersey, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. It requires the Department of Human Services to obtain monthly updates on incarcerated individuals from correctional facilities and courts, then compare these lists to benefit enrollment data. If someone is identified as incarcerated, their benefits would be immediately suspended. The bill directly affects people currently held in custody, removing their eligibility for these programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the rules for municipal court staff when towns form shared courts. If two or more municipalities agree to establish a joint or shared municipal court, judges (serving 3-year terms), public defenders (serving 1-year terms), and prosecutors (serving 1-year terms) can have their current terms ended early. Their positions will be filled by new appointments under the new court structure, rather than waiting for the original term to expire. This applies to all municipal court staff whose terms would otherwise continue under current rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 2025 law (P.L.2025, c.283) that required health insurers, Medicaid, and other health plans to cover recommended immunizations without cost-sharing. The repealed law mandated that New Jersey’s Department of Health consider the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations when setting vaccine coverage rules. By repealing this law, the bill removes the requirement for insurers to cover ACIP-recommended vaccines without patient cost-sharing and eliminates the need for the Department of Health to reference ACIP in its recommendations. The repeal directly affects health insurers, Medicaid, and patients seeking covered immunizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to create special "Sons of the American Legion" license plates for vehicle owners. It requires a $50 one-time application fee and a $10 annual fee, with all collected funds deposited into a dedicated fund. The money in this fund is then annually appropriated to the Sons of the American Legion Detachment of New Jersey to support its activities. The plates must display a design approved with the local Legion detachment and follow standard vehicle registration rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission to create an online system that verifies proof of auto insurance coverage. It directly affects motor vehicle insurers (who must provide policy data), law enforcement (who can check coverage in real-time during traffic stops), and drivers (who must maintain valid insurance). The system replaces all existing verification methods, uses specific data like vehicle identification numbers and policy details, and includes security measures to protect information. The goal is to more effectively identify uninsured drivers, with the Commission able to suspend registration for vehicles operated without insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other local government entities to purchase at least 5% of their goods and services from the Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA), which supports rehabilitation facilities. It grants the CNA a "right of first refusal" for any goods/services typically bought through cooperative purchasing catalogs, provided they can match prices within 15% of fair market value. The bill also mandates that the Division of Purchase and Property create training protocols for all purchasing agents to ensure awareness of the CNA program, with annual reporting on compliance by all affected entities. These requirements apply to all state and local government bodies authorized to make purchases.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows high school juniors and seniors (grades 11-12) to miss up to three school days per year for college visits, tours of technical schools, or military recruitment activities without penalty. Absences for military enlistment prep - like testing, medical evaluations, or interviews - are specifically designated as excused. Schools cannot list these absences on student transcripts, job applications, or attendance records, and they won’t affect a student’s perfect attendance status. The policy aims to support college and career pathway exploration while ensuring no academic or administrative disadvantage for participating students.