Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3126) amends New Jersey law to provide disability insurance coverage for members of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) who become disabled. It replaces previous disability retirement allowances with group insurance coverage, funded through a special "Teachers Group Disability Insurance Premium Fund" paid by employers. The policy provides a monthly benefit equal to 60% of a member’s base salary (minimum $50) for total disability starting before age 60, covering up to age 70, while excluding pregnancy, war injuries, and self-inflicted harm. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was already enacted as P.L.2025, c.370.

Maddy summaryAJR 97 designates July of each year as "Uterine Fibroid Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The resolution aims to increase public awareness about uterine fibroids - a common noncancerous condition affecting 20-50% of reproductive-age women - and highlight its impact on quality of life, including symptoms like heavy bleeding and infertility. It specifically addresses racial disparities (with 80% of Black women developing fibroids by menopause) and gaps in research, urging support for affected individuals and further study into diagnosis and treatment. The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to encourage community engagement and promote state-level initiatives, without creating new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners to maintain and submit certified minutes of all meetings and public hearings to the Governor. The Governor has 15 days to approve or veto the minutes; any action taken by the commissioners cannot take effect until this period ends (or until approval is granted), unless the Governor approves the minutes sooner. The bill also ensures that bondholder rights and existing financial obligations remain unaffected by this process.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools that already provide free tampons and sanitary napkins to students to prominently display signage about their availability in key locations like nurse's offices, bathrooms, and locker rooms. It directly affects schools offering these menstrual hygiene products, ensuring students can easily find them. The law defines "menstrual hygiene products" specifically as tampons and sanitary napkins for use during menstruation. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires retailers to provide a raincheck if an item advertised via a digital coupon (like a weekly circular or website discount) is unavailable in stock. The raincheck must allow the consumer to purchase the same item at the advertised price or discount for at least 60 days. It directly affects consumers who rely on digital coupons and retailers offering such promotions. Violations are treated as consumer fraud under state law, potentially resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3119) extends New Jersey's child care subsidy law (P.L.2021, c.324) through June 2025, requiring licensed child care centers and registered family day care providers to base government payments on the number of enrolled children eligible for subsidies, not on daily attendance. It mandates that providers set staff wages and work hours based on enrollment numbers, not attendance, and requires the Department of Human Services to study enrollment-based versus attendance-based payment systems within three years. The law directly affects child care providers receiving state subsidies by changing how their funding is calculated and administered. The extension ensures continued stability for providers and families during the study period.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A 3418 requires the Department of Health (DOH) to create and distribute public education materials about cardiomyopathy and related high-risk heart conditions (like long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome) to schools, healthcare providers, and families. The materials will explain symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies specifically targeting children, adolescents, and young adults to address sudden cardiac arrest risks. The DOH must also develop a public cardiomyopathy risk assessment tool and submit regular reports on the condition's prevalence and research needs. These materials and tools will be shared with school administrators, coaches, healthcare professionals, and posted online, aiming to improve early detection and awareness.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to grant up to 10 excused absences per school year for students experiencing symptoms of specific menstrual disorders, including dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, menorrhagia, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Students must be allowed to make up missed work, and these absences cannot count toward chronic absenteeism or affect attendance-based awards. Schools may request medical documentation to verify the condition, and the state education commissioner must develop criteria for defining these absences. The policy directly affects menstruating students in public schools who manage these health conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Health Care for Child Care Program" to provide state-funded health insurance coverage for employees at licensed New Jersey child care centers. It appropriates $10 million from the General Fund to cover the full premium costs for eligible workers - those employed at least 30 hours weekly for 90 days at a licensed center or registered family child care home - through New Jersey’s gold-level health plan. The program eliminates out-of-pocket costs for workers and their employers, with the Department of Banking and Insurance administering the fund. It directly affects child care workers, who often lack employer-provided health benefits, and aims to stabilize the sector by reducing financial strain on centers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3519) amends New Jersey's sentencing law (N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1) to establish domestic violence victim status as a specific mitigating factor in criminal sentencing. It directly affects defendants who were victims of domestic violence (defined as abuse from a current/future spouse, household member, person with shared children, or dating partner) and whose abuse contributed to their criminal behavior. Key provisions require courts to consider this factor during sentencing, provide trauma-informed reentry support services for affected individuals, and allow for resentencing in cases where this factor was not previously considered. The bill aims to address how the justice system handles cases where domestic violence was a contributing factor to criminal conduct.