Asm. Rosy Bagolie

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3743) requires all newly installed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to be accessible to drivers with disabilities, directly affecting charging station operators and the Department of Transportation (DOT). It mandates specific physical features like 11-foot-wide vehicle charging spaces with 5-foot access aisles, ADA-compliant routes, and accessible communication features (including payment systems and charger controls). The law requires new stations to meet these standards within 18 months of enactment, while allowing flexibility for existing stations to comply where feasible. The bill ensures EV charging infrastructure accommodates people using wheelchairs, canes, scooters, or walkers, aligning with federal ADA and ABA accessibility standards.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3403) limits how much landlords can increase certain recurring fees charged to residential tenants. It prohibits landlords from raising fees like pet, parking, or amenity charges by more than 10% within any 12-month period, with exceptions for initial fees in new tenancies. Tenants can seek remedies including lease termination, $1,000 penalties per violation per unit, and recovery of legal fees if landlords exceed the limit. The bill directly affects residential landlords and tenants in New Jersey and does not override existing rent control laws or eviction procedures. It is currently pending before the Assembly Housing Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new teacher certification endorsements in New Jersey to streamline pathways for educators, particularly in high-need areas like special education, STEM, and bilingual education. It replaces outdated endorsements (such as "Deaf or Hard of Hearing" titles) with clearer, more inclusive designations like "Students with Disabilities Preschool through Grade 12" and "Bilingual and Bicultural Preschool through Grade 12." The bill also removes individual subtest score requirements for elementary certification, requiring only a minimum average composite score instead, and eliminates barriers for native speakers in world language endorsements. These changes directly affect prospective and current teachers navigating certification, aiming to reduce financial and logistical hurdles that disproportionately impact underrepresented candidates.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to keep nasal rescue medications (like diazepam or midazolam sprays) and portable oxygen devices in secure, accessible locations throughout all school buildings and during school events. School nurses must designate trained staff to administer these during seizures if the nurse isn't present, after obtaining parental written consent and confirming staff training through state-established protocols. Parents must sign agreements acknowledging the school has no liability for injuries from administration and agree to cover potential costs. The state will reimburse districts for these costs, with training protocols developed by the Department of Education and Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2870) increases pension benefits for New Jersey police and fire personnel who suffer accidental disability or death caused by weapons. Specifically, it raises the accidental disability pension from two-thirds to 100% of the member’s final compensation when the injury or death results from weapon-related incidents during duty. It also increases the accidental death benefit for surviving families in these cases. The change applies to members whose disability or death occurs on or after the bill’s effective date, directly affecting active and retired police/firefighters in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for false alarms targeting places of worship in New Jersey. It amends the state's false alarm law to make such incidents a second-degree crime (carrying 5-10 years in prison or fines up to $150,000), while raising the minimum civil penalty from $2,000 to $5,000 (or actual response costs, whichever is higher). The law specifically defines "place of worship" as a building seating over 50 people used permanently for religious services by a recognized 501(c)(3) organization. It directly affects individuals who falsely report emergencies at churches, synagogues, or temples, and requires law enforcement to report such incidents annually. The bill aims to deter false alarms that disrupt religious gatherings and strain emergency resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2178) amends New Jersey's Commission on Human Trafficking to specifically require the commission to study human trafficking affecting women and children of color. The commission must identify risk factors making these groups vulnerable, develop prevention strategies, and recommend ways to improve support services for victims. The commission will continue its existing duties - like evaluating laws, reviewing victim programs, and promoting public awareness - but now with a focused mandate on racial disparities in trafficking. It will report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its findings and legislative recommendations related to this specific population.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2560) changes New Jersey law to allow civil lawsuits against casinos and simulcast facilities (and their employees) when they fail to enforce self-exclusion lists due to "reckless indifference or intentional misconduct." It directly affects people who voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling through the state's self-exclusion program, which was created in 2001 to help individuals with gambling problems. The key provision removes the current legal protection that shields casinos from liability for not preventing self-excluded individuals from gambling, but only when the casino acts recklessly or intentionally. This policy change would make casinos accountable for serious failures to follow the self-exclusion program, while maintaining existing protections for ordinary enforcement errors.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require public schools receiving state aid to begin regular high school instruction (grades 9-12) no earlier than 8:30 a.m. It directly affects school districts, charter schools, and specialized school districts that receive state funding. The requirement aligns with medical recommendations for adolescent sleep needs and applies starting the 2024-2025 school year. Exceptions exist for students with individualized education plans under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's requirements for teachers who want to instruct military science (JROTC) in high schools. It reduces the required military service from 20 years to 10 years for eligibility, while keeping the need for current military instructor certification. The revised endorsement would allow certified teachers to instruct grades 9-12 in military science programs, aligning with updated federal JROTC instructor standards. The change applies directly to current and future teachers seeking this specific teaching certification.