Asm. Cleopatra Tucker

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2773 requires domestic violence offenders to surrender firearms and have their firearm permits revoked upon conviction or when a restraining order is issued. It mandates courts to order immediate firearm surrender within 5 business days, allowing 10 days for licensed dealers to take possession of surrendered firearms. Law enforcement must properly store surrendered firearms and may charge defendants for storage costs. The bill also requires courts to search domestic violence records before issuing restraining orders to check for firearm ownership and ensures records are cross-referenced to prevent offenders from retaining firearms.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create standardized protocols for hospitals and licensed birthing centers to collect de-identified maternity care data. It mandates tracking specific metrics including maternal demographics, complications (like preeclampsia or hemorrhage), delivery methods (inductions, C-sections), infant outcomes (birth weight, birth defects), and gestational age. The DOH must analyze this data annually to identify quality improvements, establish statewide benchmarks for care, and compare hospital performance against those standards. The DOH will report findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of enactment and annually thereafter.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3168 bill would allow the state to issue special "Woman Veteran" license plates for female veterans who provide proof of service (such as a DD-214 form). Applicants would pay a $50 one-time application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee, with excess revenue (after covering production costs) deposited into a dedicated fund supporting female veteran programs, including housing assistance for homeless women. The program requires private funding (up to $25,000) to cover initial costs and needs at least 500 completed applications before plates are produced. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 for two consecutive years, the program could be discontinued.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's professional licensing boards to issue licenses to veterans who hold a good-standing license in another state, provided they were honorably discharged from military service and meet all other licensing requirements (including any exams). Veterans must provide documentation of their honorable discharge and the good standing of their out-of-state license. The bill mandates that boards evaluate equivalent training and experience without requiring the same number of hours as typically needed in New Jersey. This policy change aims to help veterans with existing licenses more easily obtain work in New Jersey's licensed professions by reducing state-specific barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1213) provides $15 million in supplemental state funding to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation via the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The funds will support expanding the Vietnam Era Museum by 11,850 square feet to achieve accreditation, acquire modern equipment for preserving artifacts, and enhance educational programming. The Foundation, which serves over 10,000 New Jersey students annually, will use the expansion to improve museum facilities and visitor experiences. This direct funding supports the Foundation's mission to honor Vietnam War veterans and educate the public through its museum and programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey law to remove the automatic disqualification from jury service for individuals with prior convictions of serious crimes (indictable offenses), except for convictions of murder or aggravated sexual assault. It allows people who have completed their sentences for other serious crimes to be considered for jury duty, provided they meet standard qualifications like U.S. citizenship and county residency. The bill does not affect those currently incarcerated for serious crimes, who remain disqualified. This update expands the pool of potential jurors by including more people with past criminal records, while maintaining specific exclusions for the most severe offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates an exception in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that previously allowed smoking in casinos and simulcasting facilities. It would require these venues to become smoke-free, meaning no smoking would be permitted inside for employees, patrons, or visitors. The change directly affects casino operators, staff, and customers at all New Jersey casinos and simulcasting facilities (such as those with slot machines, table games, or dedicated seating for betting). This policy shift extends the existing indoor smoking ban to these locations, removing a long-standing exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3134) allows surviving spouses and unmarried children of public safety employees who died while on duty or within 24 hours of duty to apply for reimbursement of the first six months of their COBRA health insurance costs. It directly affects dependents of New Jersey state/local police, firefighters (paid/part-time/volunteer), correctional officers, and emergency responders who lost coverage upon the employee's death. The state appropriates $750,000 annually to reimburse qualifying applicants who apply by March 1 each year, with payments allocated pro-rata if funds are insufficient to cover all applications. The reimbursement applies only to the initial six months of COBRA coverage, not the full 36-month federal benefit period.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of the New Jersey National Guard or U.S. military reserves called to active duty to retain eligibility for fire department positions after returning from service. It specifically ensures that if a service member met a municipality's fire department maximum age requirement at the closing date of a civil service exam, they are deemed to still meet that requirement when placed on a new eligibility list after military service. The provision applies when they submit proof of service and an application within 12 months of the original list's expiration, without requiring new exams. It directly affects military members seeking fire department employment in New Jersey municipalities governed by specific statutes (N.J.S.40A:14-12 or 40A:14-42 through 40A:14-44).

Maddy summaryNew Jersey A602 establishes the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" within the Department of State to study and develop recommendations for addressing historical and ongoing racial disparities stemming from slavery and systemic discrimination. The 11-member task force, appointed with representation from the Governor, legislative leadership, and civil rights organizations, will examine New Jersey's role in slavery, its legacy of racial discrimination, and potential remedies over a 24-month period. The task force must hold at least six public meetings across the state and issue an interim report within 12 months and a final report with recommendations within 24 months. This legislation directly affects Black communities in New Jersey who face significant racial disparities in housing, wealth, education, and criminal justice. The task force's work will inform potential policy changes and reparative measures to address these systemic issues.