Asm. Heather Simmons

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 from existing state funds to provide a specific grant for farmland preservation in Washington Township, Warren County. The funds come from $200,000 in constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues and $300,000 from the 2009 Farmland Preservation Fund. The grant is for municipal planning purposes to support farmland preservation efforts, as authorized under New Jersey law. Washington Township is the direct recipient, with this allocation specified in the bill. The funds are sourced from established, dedicated programs for open space and farmland conservation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes legal protections for patients and healthcare providers accessing or providing reproductive and gender-affirming health care services in New Jersey. It creates a new crime for interfering with these services (including physical obstruction, intimidation, or damaging property), with penalties ranging from a disorderly persons offense to a fourth-degree crime. The bill also prevents New Jersey from extraditing people for legally protected health care activities, prohibits licensing boards from penalizing providers for services that are legal in New Jersey but illegal in other states, and protects patient privacy related to these services. It specifically ensures that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus has no independent legal rights under New Jersey law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to specifically include Sikhism as a protected class, making it illegal to commit hate crimes against Sikhs based on their religious identity. It appropriates $100,000 annually for three years to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives, including law enforcement training on Sikh identity features like turbans and religious symbols to prevent misclassification of hate incidents. The bill requires the Office of Attorney General to develop public awareness campaigns and educational programs about Sikhism for public schools, and mandates that all public entities incorporate anti-Sikh hate into their bias intimidation policies and diversity programs. These changes directly affect Sikhs in New Jersey (who are the second-most targeted religious group for hate crimes) and all public institutions across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics, authorizing state funding for six annual fellowships. It targets scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals with doctoral degrees (PhD or equivalent) in natural sciences, engineering, or healthcare, placing three fellows with New Jersey's Legislature and three with the Executive Branch for one-year, full-time terms. Each fellow receives a $60,000 stipend plus health benefits, administered by Rutgers' Eagleton Institute. The bill appropriates $338,000 annually for stipends and program administration, codifying an existing program that has operated for several years.

Maddy summaryThe "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act" (A4483) requires health insurance plans, Medicaid, and the State Health Benefits Program to cover cancer treatments administered through IV or other non-digestive system methods, along with survivorship care plans for patients with Stage III, IV, or terminal cancer, with no cost-sharing required. The bill prohibits mortgage lenders from initiating foreclosure actions and creditors from starting collection proceedings against cancer patients undergoing treatment, requiring dismissal of such actions upon physician certification. Additionally, it provides up to 45 days' eviction protection for tenants with cancer who submit physician certification, and extends employment protections for cancer patients taking disability leave. This legislation directly affects cancer patients in New Jersey who are receiving treatment for advanced stages of cancer, ensuring they face fewer financial barriers during their treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Children and Families to develop a program promoting trauma-informed care to help children and families affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress. The program mandates creating a toolkit for state employees and community partners, promoting a Trauma Awareness Month, and identifying gaps in services. It also requires all state agencies serving children and adults to implement trauma-informed practices, including staff training on ACEs and using trauma-sensitive language in contracts. The goal is to improve health and educational outcomes by addressing childhood trauma early through evidence-based approaches.

Maddy summaryS 2082 creates a 12-member New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force to examine the state's current teacher and administrator evaluation system established under the 2012 TEACHNJ Act. The task force will specifically study the use of student growth objectives in evaluations, assess administrative burdens on educators, review current research on effective evaluation practices, and recommend potential updates to the law. It will hold public hearings and submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature by September 30, 2024. This bill does not change evaluation rules directly but sets up a process to review them; the current system affects all public school teachers, principals, and administrators in New Jersey. The task force includes representatives from teachers' unions, school administrators, and education associations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits four specific substances - brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye 3 - from being used in commercial foods sold, distributed, or manufactured in New Jersey. It amends state law to deem food containing these substances "adulterated," directly affecting food manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating within the state. The prohibition applies to all processed foods sold to consumers, with enforcement handled by the New Jersey Department of Health under existing sanitary code penalties. The law takes effect 13 months after enactment, allowing time for industry compliance.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 129) urges Congress to pass the federal "Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act" (H.R. 3106). The resolution describes H.R. 3106 as a bill that would make it a crime to intentionally disclose or threaten to disclose digitally altered intimate images without consent, and would allow victims to file private lawsuits. It directly addresses victims of non-consensual deepfakes - digital forgeries that create fake pornographic images of people without their permission, causing emotional and reputational harm. The resolution cites a recent incident at a New Jersey high school as context for supporting this federal legislation. Note: AR 129 itself is a non-binding resolution, not a law, and only urges congressional action on H.R. 3106.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded Kidney Donor Insurance Fund to provide lifelong health insurance coverage for live kidney donors in New Jersey. Eligible donors receive comprehensive gold-level coverage through the state's Individual Health Coverage Program, including prescription drugs, with all premiums paid by the state. The fund, administered by the Department of Banking and Insurance, covers all costs for donors' health benefits plans starting from the bill's effective date. It directly affects live kidney donors by ensuring they have guaranteed, lifelong health coverage without personal or employer financial responsibility.