Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to maintain all restrooms in good working order, applying to all schools serving students aged 5-20. It mandates daily cleaning and sanitation, with specific standards including functioning toilets/sinks, stocked toilet paper, secure stall doors, working hand dryers or paper towel dispensers, regularly emptied trash bins, and clean menstrual product disposal units. School districts must update or renovate restrooms as needed, and the Commissioner of Education will develop implementing rules. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program in New Jersey allowing family members or approved third parties to become certified homemaker-home health aides (CHHAs) for seniors aged 65+ enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare, or NJ FamilyCare who qualify for CHHA services. The home care agency must cover all certification costs (training, testing), and individuals cannot be required to repay these expenses. Certified services provided under this program will be reimbursed at a minimum rate of $30 per hour. The Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services must implement the program within six months of the bill's effective date, with services delivered under a registered nurse's direction.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission" within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to design and oversee construction of a memorial in Monmouth County honoring officers who died in the line of duty. The commission, consisting of seven members (three police association representatives and four public members including a retired officer), must select a location and design within 18 months and submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature. It appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to a dedicated "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund" for the memorial’s design and construction costs. The memorial will serve as a permanent tribute to fallen officers, with the commission managing the fund and project timeline.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (ACR 119) urges the U.S. President and Congress to enact federal legislation similar to two 2019 bills: the "Eviction Crisis Act" and the "Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act." It directly addresses the housing crisis affecting low-income families, citing that 3 in 4 low-income households in need of housing aid are denied help, 6 million families lack stable housing, and over 150,000 New Jersey families faced eviction in 2018. The resolution requests Congress to pass comparable measures - such as improving eviction data, reducing preventable evictions, and creating 500,000 new housing vouchers - to help families spend less than half their income on housing. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new programs but formally advocates for federal action based on these specific legislative models.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a free emergency alert system for all public and private schools. The system must allow schools to notify students, staff, parents/guardians, and teachers via mobile devices (with parental permission for students), work on all device types, and automatically alert local police during active shooter incidents. Schools must customize the system using registered contact details, and the commissioner must provide it at no cost to any school.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to developers who build affordable housing projects in designated "distressed neighborhoods" - specifically census tracts within municipalities facing economic hardship where median family income is below 80% of the statewide average. The tax credit applies to qualifying projects in these areas, as defined by the bill's amendments to existing law. Developers must meet specific affordability requirements and operate within neighborhoods identified as needing economic development assistance. The policy directly affects housing developers and aims to incentivize affordable housing construction in targeted communities.

Maddy summaryBill A4285 requires drug court programs in New Jersey to notify state departments if a participant tests positive for marijuana or cannabis. It directly affects individuals enrolled in drug court programs under special probation for substance use disorder. The key provision adds a mandatory reporting requirement to ensure relevant departments are informed of positive test results during treatment. This change updates existing rehabilitation program rules to address marijuana use without altering treatment eligibility or requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public colleges and universities in New Jersey to provide students with disabilities access to assistive services during class, such as note-taking software or a scribe, for recording course material. It specifically limits recordings to personal use and excludes tests or graded assignments completed during class. The policy applies directly to students with disabilities enrolled at public higher education institutions. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4270) requires Medicaid programs and health insurance carriers in New Jersey to give participating healthcare providers at least six months' written notice before changing policies that could lead to denial of coverage for services provided to patients. It directly affects doctors, clinics, and other healthcare providers who contract with Medicaid or private health plans. The key provision mandates that carriers must notify providers well in advance of any policy changes impacting coverage eligibility, ensuring providers have time to adjust. This applies to all managed care plans under New Jersey's Medicaid program, FamilyCare Health Coverage, and authorized health insurers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to inspect reports of mold infestation in healthcare facilities within six months of the law taking effect. It also mandates the DOH to develop guidelines for preventing or removing mold in these facilities within the same timeframe. The law defines "mold" broadly to include specific types commonly found in water-damaged building materials, such as Stachybotrys Chartarum. Healthcare facilities regulated by the DOH under Title 26 of New Jersey law would be directly affected by these new inspection and prevention requirements.