Asm. Cleopatra Tucker

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide property tax rebates to New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. Eligible veterans would receive a rebate equal to their disability percentage of the property taxes paid on their primary residence, with the rebate capped at $5,000 annually. The program is limited to veterans with gross income under $200,000 and does not apply to veterans already exempt from property taxes due to 100% disability ratings. Veterans would need to apply annually for the rebate, and funding would depend on annual legislative appropriations. The bill specifically targets veterans with less than 100% service-connected disability ratings who currently pay property taxes on their primary residence.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2423, now P.L.2025, c.35) formally renames New Jersey's "Juvenile Justice Commission" to "Youth Justice Commission" throughout state law. It updates all statutory references, definitions, and provisions (such as in Sections 1, 3, and 1 of related laws) to replace "Juvenile" with "Youth" while preserving all existing legal procedures and policies unchanged. The bill has no policy impact - it solely adjusts terminology to reflect the commission's focus on youth services rather than juvenile justice. The name change is now law, effective March 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success, a new 25-member body within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (though independent of it), to develop a statewide initiative focused on preventing family crises and promoting well-being for infants, children, youth, and families. The Council will identify gaps in current services, recommend policies to shift focus from crisis response to prevention, and coordinate with state departments and community organizations across New Jersey. It will create county-level councils to assess local needs and develop preventive services, and will receive $4 million in state funding to implement these efforts over three years. The initiative aims to improve outcomes through four pillars: positive family relationships, financial security, quality education, and health. The Council must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations for improving family support services.

Maddy summaryThe "Climate Superfund Act" would hold fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and are responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and the bill's effective date. The bill establishes a program through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to collect these payments and distribute funds for climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would pay their proportional share of damages over nine years, with options for installment payments, and the collected funds would specifically support projects that help communities prepare for climate impacts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1445 requires public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who withdrew due to military service (including active duty, National Guard, or Reserve service). Schools must reinstate students with their exact academic standing from before their service interruption. Students must submit a written request for the next available semester, and institutions cannot charge application or processing fees for these requests. The law applies starting the first full academic year after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health services in New Jersey to be provided in a culturally affirming and linguistically appropriate manner for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It mandates that services be delivered in the client's primary method of communication, as determined by the client's preference or a communication assessment, and that mental health professionals be certified as fluent in that method. The bill establishes a deaf services coordinator position within the Department of Human Services to oversee implementation, develop certification standards for professionals, and ensure access to services statewide, including through telemedicine in underserved areas. It also requires the development of a statewide system of care with specific standards for communication accessibility and cultural competence in mental health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide heat stress standard to protect workers from heat-related illness and injury in New Jersey. It requires most employers to develop and implement heat-related illness and injury prevention plans that include monitoring heat exposure, providing cool or cold potable water, offering paid rest breaks with access to shade or climate-controlled spaces, implementing emergency response procedures, and conducting employee training. Commercial farms have a separate prevention plan developed by the Department of Agriculture, while amusement parks and certain emergency operations (like firefighting and law enforcement) are exempt. Employers must conduct annual reviews of their plans, maintain records for three years, and face penalties for violations or retaliation against employees who report heat-related concerns. The bill takes effect immediately, with the Department of Labor required to adopt implementing rules by June 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's existing affordable housing preference program for veterans to include South Korean veterans who served as allies to the United States during the Vietnam conflict. It adds South Korean veterans who are New Jersey residents and have been declared to have a service-connected disability (for "disabled veteran" status) or simply served in the conflict (for "veteran" status) to the priority categories for affordable housing. Under the bill, homeless South Korean veterans would receive first priority, disabled South Korean veterans second priority, and family members who are primary residential caregivers to disabled South Korean veterans third priority. The Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs will determine eligibility for South Korean veterans seeking these housing preferences. This change applies to housing projects financed by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, public housing authorities, and other entities administering affordable housing programs in the state.

Maddy summary# Summary This bill renames the Juvenile Justice Commission as the Youth Justice Commission and updates all statutory references from the "New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice" to the "New Jersey Code of Youth Justice." The sponsor's intent is to better reflect the commission's mission to assist and rehabilitate court-involved youth and provide programs, support, and opportunities designed to help youth grow, thrive, and become independent, productive, and law-abiding citizens. The bill also includes numerous amendments to the laws governing the commission, including provisions related to mental health screening in juvenile detention facilities, room restriction policies, data collection requirements, education programs, and staffing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who left school due to military service, including active duty in the Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve. Schools must reinstate these students with the same academic standing they held before their service interruption and grant readmission for the next available semester upon written request. The bill prohibits institutions from charging application or other fees for these readmission requests. It takes effect immediately, applying to the first full academic year after enactment.