Asm. Cleopatra Tucker

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4941) provides educational support professionals in New Jersey school districts - non-teaching staff like paraprofessionals or administrative workers - with seniority credit for military service. It allows them to count up to four years of active U.S. military service toward seniority, as if they were continuously employed, if they qualify for federal veterans' benefits. The credit applies to all military service, including time served before their current school district employment. This extends an existing benefit currently available to teaching staff to support staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for retailers who sell tobacco or vapor products to people under 21. First violations now carry $500 fines (up from $250), second violations $1,000 (up from $500), and third or subsequent violations $2,000 (up from $1,000). Small businesses with clear compliance policies pay only $100 for the first violation. Five percent of collected fines will fund public education on vapor product dangers and illegal sales. Retailers must also post new signs at points of sale and vending machines warning that selling to minors is prohibited.

Maddy summaryACR 98 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow New Jersey's Legislature to extend civil service hiring preferences to veterans who served during peacetime, not just those who served in wartime. Currently, state law grants hiring preference only to veterans who served during active war periods. The amendment would change the state constitution to remove the "in time of war" limitation, enabling future laws to include non-wartime veterans in this preference. This would directly affect veterans applying for state government civil service positions who did not serve during declared wars. The amendment requires voter approval before the Legislature could implement such a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $0.40 monthly fee per phone line for New Jersey residents using commercial mobile or IP-enabled voice services, excluding Lifeline program users. The fee is collected by telecom companies and paid quarterly to a new "9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline Trust Fund." Funds from this fee will directly support the state's 9-8-8 crisis system, including routing calls/texts to hotlines, mobile crisis response teams, crisis stabilization services, and public awareness campaigns. The bill aligns with federal requirements under the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state and local agencies that provide funding or issue licenses for substance or alcohol use disorder treatment to assess providers for conflicts of interest before distributing funds or granting licenses. Providers must submit financial statements, lists of board members and investors, and details about staff with outside jobs. If a conflict is found that could affect care, the provider must fix it to regain eligibility for state support. The assessment must occur at least once annually, ensuring decisions aren't unduly influenced by outside financial interests.

Maddy summaryS 4376 establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs in New Jersey, creating a dedicated state agency focused exclusively on veterans' needs. The bill transfers all existing veterans' programs, services, and personnel from the current Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to this new department. The new department will manage veterans' memorial homes, cemeteries, benefits programs, and other services, with a Commissioner who must be an honorably discharged veteran. This change makes New Jersey one of the few states without a separate department for veterans' affairs, aiming to provide more efficient and focused support for veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $2.4 billion in loans for environmental infrastructure projects during FY2026. It directly affects local governments and public water utilities (referred to as "project sponsors") seeking funding for clean water and drinking water system improvements. The bill specifies 151 clean water projects totaling $1.7 billion and 59 drinking water projects totaling $651.7 million that qualify for these loans, with repayment terms up to 45 years. The loans cover a portion of construction costs, and the bank can adjust loan amounts based on actual project expenses. The bill also includes provisions for transferring funds between state trust funds to support these projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program governance by expanding the State Health Benefits Commission to 11 members and eliminating the previous Plan Design Committee. It requires the program to offer exactly five health plans for employees and non-Medicare-eligible retirees, including a new "NJ Gold" plan that doesn't require salary-based employee contributions. The bill establishes an escalator system to adjust employee contribution rates based on premium cost trends, increasing rates if premiums rise significantly above inflation and decreasing them if premiums fall. Additionally, it mandates that local government employers must decide within one year whether to join the SHBP, with a two-year commitment if they choose to participate.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3052) expands academic flexibility for New Jersey public college students who are active-duty service members or their dependents (spouses/children) unable to finish a course due to unplanned military obligations like deployment. It changes the attendance threshold from 8 weeks to 55% of a course’s duration to qualify for grade options, adding temporary grades and online course transfers as choices. Students who complete 55% of a course can select a letter grade, pass/fail, incomplete, withdrawal, or online transfer (with approval), while those under 55% can choose incomplete or withdrawal. It also clarifies that pass/fail grades can later be converted to letter grades within a year by completing missed work, and ensures full tuition refunds for withdrawals. The law applies to all public institutions of higher education in New Jersey and takes effect immediately for the next academic year.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs as a principal department within New Jersey's Executive Branch, transferring all veterans-specific services currently handled by the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. The new department will be led by a commissioner who must be an honorably discharged veteran and will oversee veterans' homes, memorial cemeteries, and various services including benefits administration, counseling programs, and housing assistance. The legislation aims to create a more focused agency dedicated solely to veterans' needs, as New Jersey is one of few states without a dedicated veterans' affairs department. This change maintains all existing veterans' programs while creating a centralized agency to better coordinate these services for the state's approximately 900,000 veterans.