Asm. Alixon Collazos-Gill

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Mental and Behavioral Health for Hispanics and Latinos Act" to address mental health needs in New Jersey's Hispanic and Latino communities. It requires the Commissioner of Health to develop and implement a culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach strategy - created with community input - to reduce stigma, increase awareness of common mental health conditions, and provide information on evidence-based treatments. The strategy must address pandemic impacts and consider differences within subgroups like gender, age, and ethnicity. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to fund this effort and mandates annual reports to track progress in improving mental health outcomes for these communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools and nonpublic schools receiving federal funding to post specific information on their websites. Schools must clearly state students' rights under Title IX, provide the Title IX coordinator's contact details (including phone and email), and explain how to file complaints - including statute of limitations and investigation procedures. The Commissioner of Education must also send annual reminders to schools about these requirements. The law applies immediately to schools subject to Title IX regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to hire a consultant to conduct a statewide assessment of recycling, composting, and reuse conditions for packaging products. It establishes a "Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council" within the DEP and appropriates $500,000 for the assessment. The study will evaluate current packaging recycling rates, collection systems (including curbside and drop-off), waste disposal data, and infrastructure gaps across covered entities like schools, government facilities, and residential buildings. The findings will help identify needs and gaps in the state's packaging recycling system.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the State Treasurer, with input from the Environmental Protection and Agriculture secretaries, to appoint an acting executive director for the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) if the permanent position remains vacant for one year or more. The acting director would serve a minimum of one year at an annual cost not exceeding $150,000, bypassing standard civil service rules. The GSPT would retain full oversight authority over the acting director. This directly addresses the trust’s ongoing leadership vacuum - since July 2021 - ensuring continued management of state conservation funds and reporting on open space, farmland, and historic preservation initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A1698) allows eligible voters to register to vote on election day or during early voting at their assigned polling place or early voting site, provided they meet specific requirements. It directly affects voters who missed the standard 21-day registration deadline before an election. Key provisions require voters to provide valid ID (like a utility bill or photo ID), complete a provisional ballot affirmation statement confirming they haven't voted already, and submit the registration in person. The bill updates existing law to make same-day registration at polling locations a standard option, ensuring provisional ballots from eligible voters are counted if all requirements are met.

Maddy summaryAJR 18 is a non-binding New Jersey joint resolution urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to study hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a potential treatment for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI). It does not create new programs or funding but requests the VA conduct research on HBOT's efficacy, referencing existing VA pilot programs and prior evidence reviews. The resolution directly addresses the VA, not veterans or healthcare providers, and focuses on gathering evidence to inform future treatment options. It was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly's Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's property tax appeal process for properties valued at $1,000,000 or more. It allows property owners and taxing districts to file appeals directly with the State Tax Court instead of the county board of taxation, with deadlines tied to assessment notification dates. If an appeal is filed in both forums for the same property, the county board must dismiss its case without prejudice, transferring full jurisdiction to the Tax Court. This change primarily affects owners of high-value properties and local taxing districts by streamlining their appeal options for significant assessments.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution, not a policy bill. It formally expresses the New Jersey General Assembly's appreciation to all its staff members - including the Chief Clerk, committee staff, administrative personnel, and others - for their dedication and service during legislative sessions. The resolution commends their "outstanding dedication, cooperation, and excellent work" in supporting the Assembly's operations. It requires the Clerk to send copies of the resolution to every staff member. As a procedural measure, it has no legal effect or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3702) makes it a fourth-degree crime for a landlord or property owner to knowingly rent a dwelling that qualifies as "illegal occupancy" (violating housing codes, zoning, or health/safety regulations) when that rental causes serious bodily injury or death to another person. Landlords convicted face up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The bill does not replace existing civil penalties for illegal occupancy but adds criminal liability specifically when harm occurs. It directly affects landlords who rent unsafe properties they knowingly allow to remain non-compliant.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 107) urges the U.S. Congress to study food deserts and assess whether federal action could address them. It does not create new programs but requests a federal study on geographic areas with limited access to affordable, healthy food - disproportionately affecting low-income communities, including over 1.3 million New Jersey residents. The resolution emphasizes that current state efforts, like New Jersey’s Food Desert Relief Program, are insufficient and that federal research could inform better state-level solutions. It specifically asks Congress to evaluate the feasibility of federal policy interventions.