Asm. Rosy Bagolie

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey school boards to offer chess instruction to students in grades two through eight who are enrolled in gifted and talented or special education programs. The legislation amends existing state law to authorize these educational opportunities while permitting the Department of Education to create guidelines for implementation. The bill does not mandate chess programs but rather provides schools with the option to include chess as part of their curriculum for specific student populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to create a state-run sandbag reserve program that local governments can access to help prepare for and respond to flooding. The program would involve collecting, storing, and distributing sandbags to municipalities upon application, with distribution prioritized based on a required state-wide flooding risk study that considers factors like elevation, climate, and proximity to water. Local governments requesting sandbags must submit detailed applications describing their specific flood risks and needs, while the department must submit annual reports on program usage and effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Children and Families to create policies for providing security services, equipment, or technology to licensed child care facilities to ensure safe environments for enrolled children. The Department must annually meet with facility owners to discuss available funding and agree on specific security measures, with the Commissioner having final decision-making authority if an agreement cannot be reached. Child care facilities and their employees are granted immunity from civil liability when providing these security services, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Department must also develop a list of allowable expenditures for security-related items and adopt rules to implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes state funding for transportation services for preschool students in New Jersey. It amends existing education laws to require the state to calculate and report the average cost of providing transportation to preschoolers, which will be used to determine aid amounts for school districts. The funding formula adjusts transportation aid based on factors like student counts, distance traveled, and special needs, while also including preschool students who qualify for full-day preschool programs. School districts receiving this aid will see financial support specifically allocated to cover the costs of transporting preschool-aged children to and from school.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens New Jersey's existing laws against selling tobacco and vaping products to minors by increasing penalties for retailers and employees who violate age restrictions. It directly affects tobacco and vape shops, their staff, and anyone distributing these products by making it a petty disorderly offense to sell to anyone under 21. The key provisions raise civil fines for first, second, and subsequent violations, require retailers to verify age with valid identification, and allow for license suspension after repeated offenses. Additionally, 25% of collected fines must be allocated to youth-focused prevention education programs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits automobile insurance companies from raising rates for drivers who are determined not to be at fault in car accidents. The law requires insurers to file their underwriting rules with state regulators for approval and prevents them from using a driver's involvement in a non-fault accident as a reason to increase premiums. Additionally, the bill mandates that insurers apply their rating rules uniformly across the state and establishes a schedule for assigning points to various driving violations and accidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires county mosquito control agencies and commercial pesticide operators in New Jersey to notify residents at least five days before conducting mosquito spraying applications. The notification must be sent via telephone or regular certified mail and must include the date and time of the spraying as well as the specific chemicals that will be used. This change directly affects residents living within or adjacent to areas where mosquito control spraying is planned, giving them advance notice of when and what substances will be applied. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, overriding any existing rules that might have allowed for less notice.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every municipality in New Jersey to either operate or partner with a nonprofit to run an emergency shelter for homeless individuals within its borders, or alternatively contribute a fee based on population to a county fund that supports existing shelters. Municipalities choosing the fee option would pay $5 per resident according to the latest census data, which the county would then distribute annually to shelters based on the number of homeless people each facility serves. The legislation also mandates that all required shelters use a state system to provide real-time information on bed availability and allows towns to use existing occupancy fees to help cover the new costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts with high schools to partner with local union apprenticeship programs to create career exploration programs for students in grades 11 and 12. The partnerships must develop informational materials about available career pathways and a structured program with at least 25 hours of instruction, including orientation sessions and hands-on trade skill training. School districts must ensure that at least two percent of their graduating 12th-grade class completes the program and submit annual compliance reports to the Commissioner of Education. Funding for implementation may come from state aid, grants, workforce development funds, or private sponsorships, with the Commissioner of Education requesting necessary budget allocations annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that testosterone therapy is covered under New Jersey's existing Menopause Coverage Act for women diagnosed with perimenopause or menopause. It requires health insurance plans to provide testosterone therapy to the same extent as other hormonal treatments, even if the FDA has not specifically approved it for these conditions. The legislation also mandates that insurers provide clear information about covered menopause treatments and includes other services like non-hormonal medications, behavioral health care, pelvic floor physical therapy, and bone health treatments. This change directly affects women in New Jersey who use testosterone therapy for menopausal symptoms and the insurance companies that cover their healthcare.