Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $44.7 million Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to help eligible New Jersey school districts affected by state aid cuts in the 2024-2025 school year. It provides grants covering two-thirds of each district's state aid reduction (capped at 9.9% of their prior year's tax levy) and allows eligible districts to temporarily exceed normal tax increase limits to offset these cuts. Districts receiving aid must maintain staff levels from the previous year unless enrollment declines, requiring commissioner approval for reductions. The program specifically excludes SDA districts (special needs districts) from the tax levy exception but does not affect their existing tax authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain New Jersey school districts that will lose state aid to submit their budgets after the state's FY2025 budget is finalized. It specifically applies to districts where the state aid reduction exceeds their unused tax authority (known as "banked cap" under current law). The Commissioner of Education must permit these districts to submit budgets within five days after the FY2025 appropriations act is enacted, and may adjust the budget calendar to create a compressed timeline for approval. The change applies only to the 2024-2025 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Division of Minority and Women Business Development within New Jersey's Department of Treasury, led by a State Chief Disparity Officer. The officer will track contract awards to minority- and women-owned businesses, monitor participation rates, and report findings to the Governor and Legislature. All state departments and agencies must appoint a liaison to cooperate with this division. The bill codifies an existing 2006 executive order, requires full implementation of certification rules for these businesses (prohibiting self-certification), and modifies small business set-aside contract procedures. It directly affects state agencies, contractors, and minority/women-owned businesses participating in state procurement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Director of the Division of Purchase and Property to review all state purchasing for menstrual products and develop a centralized contract to reduce costs for state agencies. It mandates that the director award a single contract for menstrual products (including pads, tampons, and cups) upon request by any state department, making it available to all executive branch entities and cooperative purchasing groups. Non-profit organizations may also purchase under this contract with director approval, subject to reporting requirements on expenditures. The bill directly affects state departments, agencies, and eligible non-profits using state procurement systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Peer Recovery Specialist Committee to regulate individuals providing peer support for substance use disorder and mental health challenges. To become certified, applicants must meet specific requirements including a high school diploma or equivalent, 500 hours of peer recovery experience, 46 hours of training in key areas (advocacy, mentoring, wellness support, and ethics), and a background check. The committee will oversee certification, enforce standards, and manage renewals, while exempting clergy, students in training, licensed professionals (like social workers), and volunteers in self-help groups who do not claim the certified title. The law requires anyone using the title "peer recovery specialist" to hold certification, except in exempted circumstances outlined in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill would adopt New Jersey into the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, an interstate agreement that allows dentists and dental hygienists licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses in each state. To practice in another participating state, licensees would need to meet requirements like passing national board exams and having graduated from accredited programs, and would apply for a "compact privilege" to practice there. The compact would establish a commission to oversee the agreement and a data system to share licensure and disciplinary information among participating states, with adverse actions in one state affecting a professional's ability to practice in all participating states.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "EMS Part" within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), specifically for emergency medical services employees. It establishes enhanced retirement benefits including a pension equal to 50% of final compensation for employees with 20 or more years of service, plus additional benefits for those with 20-25 years of service. Eligible positions include emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical services supervisors, and other certified health professionals providing emergency medical services. The State will cover increased pension costs for counties and municipalities resulting from this new retirement system component.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey hospitals to include fentanyl and xylazine testing in standard urine drug screenings when conducted for patient diagnosis. It directly affects licensed general acute care hospitals that perform such screenings. Hospitals must report de-identified positive results for either drug to the state Department of Health, without altering existing opioid or overdose reporting requirements. The goal is to improve overdose treatment by providing healthcare workers with critical drug detection data and to help the state track the spread of these dangerous substances.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Attorney General or Commissioner of Health to inspect retail stores selling cigarettes and vapor products at least twice yearly. It mandates follow-up inspections within three months of any violation related to prohibited flavored products. Violations of flavor restrictions (like fruit or candy flavors) trigger escalating civil penalties ($250-$1,000 for cigarettes; $500-$2,000 for vapor products), with fines paid to the violating municipality’s treasury. The law updates enforcement procedures to centralize inspections under state health authorities, replacing prior local enforcement authority for these specific violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4340) establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act," creating a Migrant and Refugee Resource Coordination Program within the Department of Human Services. The program connects migrants (individuals relocating to New Jersey from another country) and refugees (those with federal refugee status) to existing public assistance resources like housing, healthcare, job training, education, and legal services. The Department must collaborate with local governments and community groups, run multilingual outreach campaigns, and submit annual reports tracking program effectiveness and service numbers. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.