Asm. Cleopatra Tucker

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1877) helps New Jersey National Guard members and reserve military personnel who were called to active federal duty before their civil service exam list expired. It ensures they retain eligibility for fire department positions if they met the maximum age requirement at the original exam's closing date. The law allows them to be placed on a new civil service list using their original exam score, without reapplying for age eligibility, and covers both fire department and existing police department positions under similar rules. The policy applies to those returning from military service who qualify as veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-1906) creates special New Jersey license plates displaying "Woman Veteran" for eligible female veterans. To qualify, applicants must provide military discharge documentation (DD-214) and pay a $50 application fee plus a $10 annual renewal fee. The fees fund a dedicated "Woman Veteran License Plate Fund," which supports programs for female veterans - including shelter assistance for homeless women - administered by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs. The Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Adjutant General, designs the plates and manages the program, with initial costs covered by non-public contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's assault statute (N.J.S. 2C:12-1) to increase penalties for assaulting specific public safety personnel. It designates assault on a Class Two special law enforcement officer while performing duties as aggravated assault, and adds that causing bodily injury through arson (violating N.J.S. 2C:17-1) that harms emergency services personnel (including firemen, medical staff, and law enforcement) is also aggravated assault. The bill does not include provisions allowing arson investigators to carry firearms, as that detail is absent from the provided bill text. The summary is based solely on the assault statute amendments included in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to research and develop proposals addressing generational harms from New Jersey's role in slavery and systemic racial discrimination. The task force will examine historical and current disparities affecting Black communities, including voter disenfranchisement, youth incarceration rates, housing discrimination, wealth gaps, and school segregation. It will produce a report with policy recommendations for state-based reparations based on documented harms. The bill directly affects Black residents of New Jersey who face these systemic inequities, as outlined in the legislative findings.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 946), now law as P.L.2025, c.177, requires mental health services to be provided in the communication method preferred by each deaf or hard of hearing individual - such as sign language or oral communication - based on their assessment. It mandates that mental health professionals be fluent in that method, trained in cultural needs, and able to collaborate with interpreters. The law also requires a state resource guide listing specialized mental health services and ensures individuals can help shape their own care plans. It directly affects all deaf or hard of hearing residents seeking mental health support in New Jersey, addressing long-standing barriers in access and care quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the "BRAVE Act," requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to give contract preference to vendors employing the highest percentage of veterans when awarding goods or service contracts. Vendors competing for DMVA contracts must submit employee veteran data, which the department must verify within 30 days; false claims lead to 5-year contract bans and contract termination. It defines "veteran" broadly to include disabled veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The law directly affects businesses seeking DMVA contracts and aims to incentivize veteran employment through procurement preferences.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2748) expands New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly protect individuals based on "service in the Armed Forces of the United States" and "liability for service" (meaning being subject to military service requirements). It directly affects current military members, veterans, and those subject to military service obligations in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The key change adds these categories to the list of protected characteristics under the law, ensuring discrimination claims related to military service can be addressed under existing anti-discrimination statutes. The bill was withdrawn after being enacted as P.L.2025, c.307, meaning it is now law.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts New Jersey disabled veterans from admission fees at state parks and forests and removes fees for motor vehicle access to park beaches for fishing. It specifically covers veterans honorably discharged with a service-connected disability (any degree) verified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Current law already provided free entry to seniors (62+), totally disabled residents, and National Guard members with training completion, but did not include disabled veterans for beach access fees. The bill extends both free entry and free beach access to all qualifying disabled veterans, regardless of disability severity.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called "theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person" in New Jersey. It directly affects senior citizens and people with disabilities who are exploited financially by individuals in positions of trust (like caregivers, financial advisors, or family members). The law requires separate criminal sentences for this new offense and any underlying financial crime (such as fraud or embezzlement), preventing convictions from merging. It amends existing statutes to define "vulnerable person," "position of trust," and clarify sentencing, without changing penalty levels. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Public Safety Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Supreme Court to automatically dismiss unresolved municipal court charges, complaints, and arrest warrants for specific low-level offenses that have remained pending for five years or longer. It applies to offenses like shoplifting under $200, minor assault, disorderly conduct, and possession of small amounts of marijuana (50g or less), but excludes violations of municipal ordinances. The bill also mandates that the state's Administrative Office of the Courts conduct two studies within six months: one on expanding existing dismissal programs and another on implementing a voluntary surrender program for non-violent offenses. These provisions aim to reduce court backlogs and eliminate outdated legal actions against individuals.