Asm. Heather Simmons

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 2513 requires school meal providers (including school districts and contracted food service companies) to prioritize purchasing food from farms or food producers located within New Jersey state borders or within 100 miles of the school. This applies to all schools participating in federal school meal programs like the National School Lunch Program. The law mandates that at least 20% of food purchased for school meals must come from these local sources, aiming to support regional agriculture. The bill amends existing school meal procurement rules to establish this geographic preference requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Jersey Spirits Program" within New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to promote distilled alcoholic beverages made in the state using locally grown ingredients like grains, fruits, and herbs. The program requires the Department to run advertising campaigns, share information about NJ distilleries and products, and establish a "Jersey Spirits" label (similar to the existing "Jersey Fresh" food label) to help consumers identify locally produced spirits. It directly benefits New Jersey distilleries that use state-grown ingredients by increasing their market visibility and consumer awareness. The program takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing (PDN) services by $4 per hour. It sets a minimum rate of $65 per hour for registered nurses (up from $61) and $53 per hour for licensed practical nurses (up from $49), applying to both fee-for-service and managed care Medicaid delivery systems. The change directly affects nurses providing in-home PDN services and requires the state to seek federal approval for the rate adjustment. The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2761) requires the Division of Parole to establish statewide residency restrictions for high-risk sex offenders. It prohibits these offenders - specifically those sentenced to life parole for crimes involving minors under 18 - from living within 500 feet of schools, child care centers, or playgrounds. Exceptions apply if the offender is in a correctional facility, receiving mental health treatment, had an existing residence before the law, or if a parole board or court grants a specific exemption. Parole officers must enforce these restrictions when approving residences for these offenders.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of members in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It directly affects current and future retirees who are members of this system, restoring annual benefit increases tied to inflation. The key provision amends existing law to allow the retirement system's board of trustees to reinstate these automatic COLAs without requiring additional contributions from members, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't harm the fund's long-term stability. The bill does not create new benefits but returns a previously reduced feature of the retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents certain New Jersey school districts from facing state aid reductions during the 2019-2025 school years. It specifically exempts regional school districts and high-need districts (SDA districts) meeting certain criteria - such as having above-average local tax rates, spending below adequacy levels, or meeting administrative cost benchmarks - from annual aid cuts. Districts with a negative "State aid differential" (meaning they receive less state funding than needed) will instead receive aid equal to their prior year's amount plus a portion of any state aid increases. The bill also ensures regional districts created after 2021 receive the greater of their new regional funding or the combined prior funding of their constituent districts.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires most private and public employers to create written policies granting employees the right to ignore work communications during nonworking hours (defined as hours outside an employee's scheduled shift). Exceptions include emergencies (threatening safety or operations) or last-minute scheduling changes, which must be agreed upon in writing. Employers who repeatedly violate this right (three or more documented cases) face civil penalties of at least $100 per violation. The law excludes employees covered by collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all professional nursing schools in New Jersey to add specific education about inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) to their curricula. The curriculum must be developed in consultation with IBC experts and cover diagnosis and treatment. IBC is a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer that often lacks lumps, may not show on mammograms, and disproportionately affects younger women and Black women. The goal is to improve early detection and treatment outcomes by ensuring nurses are trained to recognize IBC symptoms.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the age threshold for automatic jury service exemption in New Jersey from 75 to 70 years old. It directly affects residents aged 70 or older who would now qualify for an automatic excuse from jury duty, replacing the previous requirement of being 75 or older. The bill amends statute N.J.S.2B:20-10 to update this age requirement while maintaining existing exemption categories like recent service, severe hardship, or volunteer emergency roles. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment. The bill is currently pending referral to the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a fee on institutional investors (like real estate investment trusts or corporations) owning single-family residential properties that meet specific "unproductive" criteria, such as overgrown vegetation, disconnected utilities, or lack of furnishings. It directly affects institutional owners of residential properties that are deemed abandoned or vacant under the bill's detailed definitions. The fee mechanism aims to incentivize productive use of these properties, increase housing availability, and generate revenue for housing needs. The legislation targets the growing role of institutional investors in reducing housing supply, as documented in a 2022 state study.