Asm. Cleopatra Tucker

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual payments from New Jersey's Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund to municipalities by $15 million (from $740 million to $755 million) over two years. It directly affects most municipalities (excluding those with a municipal purposes tax rate of $0.10 or less per $100) by requiring them to subtract this additional aid from their property tax levies. The bill also prohibits municipalities from anticipating certain revenue when creating annual budgets. These changes aim to provide more direct property tax relief to local governments through the existing fund, which receives energy-related tax revenues.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows veterans living in New Jersey State veterans' residential facilities to have service dogs and emotional support dogs on-site. It requires facilities to permit these animals under federal guidelines but adds that emotional support animals (not covered by federal law) are now explicitly allowed. Facilities may deny access if animals aren't controlled, aren't trained to eliminate waste outdoors, or pose health/safety risks, and veterans must provide documentation confirming the animal's certification and current vaccinations. The bill directly affects veterans with disabilities who rely on these animals for support.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 3711 requires all public school districts to add age-appropriate lessons on interacting with law enforcement to social studies curriculum starting in 2018-2019. It mandates teaching students about police responsibilities for public safety, individual duties to follow lawful directives, and legal rights during police interactions. The bill specifies two curriculum tiers: basic lessons for K-4 students and more detailed instruction for grades 5-12. An advisory committee - including police unions, civil rights groups, and education organizations - will help develop the materials, with the Commissioner of Education overseeing implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's major transportation and economic authorities - including the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA - to actively consider and prioritize hiring minority and women employees, as well as awarding contracts to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Authorities must publish quarterly reports online detailing employee demographics (by gender, race, and ethnicity) and contractor diversity, including average salaries and contract values. The law defines "minority" broadly to include Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, and specifies that businesses owned by these groups must meet a 51% ownership threshold to qualify. If passed, these measures would directly affect hiring and contracting decisions across these agencies' operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts when New Jersey law enforcement officers may use deadly force. It removes previous justifications for using deadly force during arrests (such as for burglary, robbery, or kidnapping) or to prevent escapes from custody. Now, deadly force is only permitted if an officer reasonably believes there is an immediate threat of deadly force to themselves or another person. The change applies to all police officers and correctional staff making arrests or maintaining custody.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires employers with employees serving customers in public places (like restaurants, stores, or hotels) to train staff about the rights of people with disabilities to bring service or guide dogs into those spaces. Employers must provide training using a pamphlet created by the Labor Commissioner, which outlines key topics based on state and federal disability laws (including the ADA). Employees must sign a form acknowledging they received and reviewed the pamphlet, which employers must keep for three years. The bill aims to prevent discrimination by ensuring staff understand and comply with access laws for service animals.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's domestic violence laws to strengthen firearm restrictions for alleged abusers. It requires law enforcement officers to arrest individuals suspected of domestic violence when there is probable cause, including cases involving visible injuries, existing restraining orders, or weapons. Officers must seize firearms on the premises if they believe a victim faces serious injury risk, and must deliver seized weapons to the county prosecutor within 45 days. The prosecutor may then petition a court to revoke the accused person's firearm permits or return weapons to the owner, with a hearing required within 45 days of seizure. The law directly affects domestic violence victims, alleged abusers, law enforcement, and courts handling these cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create standardized protocols for hospitals and licensed birthing centers to collect and report detailed, de-identified data on maternity care. The data must cover specific metrics like maternal health conditions (e.g., hypertension, hemorrhage), delivery methods (e.g., induction timing, cesarean rates), and infant outcomes (e.g., birth weight, complications). The DOH will annually evaluate this data to set statewide benchmarks, identify quality improvement opportunities, and compare hospital performance. Results and recommendations must be reported to the Governor and Legislature yearly, aiming to enhance maternal and infant health outcomes through data-driven care.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1911) requires New Jersey counties to separately list spending on veterans' services - such as transportation and employment counseling - in their annual budgets submitted to the Division of Local Government Services. It directly affects county governments, mandating they specify these expenditures instead of grouping them with other services. The key provision is a new budget reporting requirement, ensuring transparency about how funds are allocated to veterans' programs. The bill applies to all county budgets submitted after its effective date, which follows enactment. It does not create new programs or funding but improves accountability in existing budget submissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to create a free bereavement counseling program for family members and specific volunteer caregivers of veterans who died by suicide. It directly affects spouses, parents, children, household residents, and unpaid volunteer caregivers who provided counseling for at least three months before the veteran's death. Key provisions include matching applicants with licensed clinicians (max 30 counseling hours per year, up to 24 months), requiring funeral directors and Veteran Service Officers to provide program information, and allowing applications for up to five years after the veteran's death. The program must be administered at no cost to participants, with DMVA responsible for recruiting clinicians and coordinating with federal VA resources.