Asm. Heather Simmons

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 901, "Max's Law") requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine in health education for students in grades 6-12. Key provisions mandate teaching specific topics like abuse prevention, poisoning symptoms, emergency response, and legal protections for seeking help, using resources from federal agencies like the CDC and DEA. The bill also requires the state education department to provide resources, maintain online materials for schools and parents, and submit annual reports on the curriculum's effectiveness. The bill was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.278.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year pilot program offering tax credits to New Jersey commercial farms that donate edible fruits and vegetables to local charities. Farm operators can claim a 50% credit (up to $5,000 per donation period) against their corporation business tax or gross income tax for the wholesale value of donated produce. To qualify, farms must obtain written verification from charities detailing the donation’s variety, grade, quantity, and value, with the Secretary of Agriculture setting monthly wholesale value rates. The program caps total annual credits at $100,000 and requires donations to be documented through a standardized form. It directly affects commercial farms and qualifying charities, aiming to incentivize food donations while reducing tax liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's brewery licensing laws to permit certain licensed breweries to sell alcoholic beverages by the glass for on-premises consumption in designated salesrooms. Specifically, it expands the "Limited brewery license" (Section 1b) to allow license holders to sell up to 15.5 fluid gallons per person for off-premises consumption and to offer samples, while maintaining existing restrictions on food sales. The provision directly affects licensed breweries seeking to sell directly to consumers in tasting rooms or sales facilities. Note: The bill's title incorrectly references "wineries," but the text applies only to breweries producing malt alcoholic beverages, not wine producers. This bill was withdrawn after being enacted as P.L.2025, c.376.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new large retail facilities and warehouses (75,000+ square feet) to be designed with roofs capable of supporting solar panels. Specifically, the roof structure must accommodate the weight of operational solar systems covering at least 40% of the roof area (minus skylights, decks, or required setbacks). It mandates the Department of Community Affairs to establish standards for "solar-ready" construction, ensuring future solar installation is structurally feasible without major retrofits. The law applies to buildings where construction permits were not finalized before the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes a three-year "Urban Gardening Pilot Program" administered by the Department of Agriculture, appropriating $100,000 to fund up to three urban gardening projects in low-income neighborhoods. The program provides grants of up to $35,000 each to qualified municipalities or nonprofits for creating community gardens in areas with high poverty rates (20%+ poverty or below 80% median income), requiring applicants to partner with agricultural experts to teach residents about growing food. Projects must aim to improve neighborhood conditions and foster community integration across diverse groups, with the department reporting on outcomes to the legislature after three years. The bill expires upon submission of this evaluation report.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires all colleges and universities to install automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in unlocked, clearly marked locations within every athletic facility and student center. The AEDs must be accessible during facility operating hours and within reasonable distance of athletic fields. Institutions must also ensure at least two staff members trained in CPR and AED use are present during operations, and that all AEDs are regularly tested/maintained with emergency services notified of their location and type. The bill grants immunity from civil liability to institutions and staff using AEDs as required.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to New Jersey businesses that hire and retain neurodiverse employees in STEM/AI roles. Businesses receive credits of up to $9,000 per full-time employee (or $4,500 for part-time) annually, increasing with each consecutive year of employment. To qualify, employees must earn at least minimum wage, work in eligible STEM/AI positions (not as contractors), and be certified by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation as neurodiverse. The credits reduce corporate and gross income tax liability, capped at 50% of tax owed, and require employers to submit certification applications for eligible workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a $10,000 salary threshold for retired Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) members returning to teaching positions at public institutions of higher education in New Jersey. Currently, the exemption from having retirement benefits canceled applied only if such employment exceeded $10,000 annually; the bill eliminates this requirement entirely. As a result, retired PERS members returning to teaching roles at public colleges or universities will automatically retain their retirement benefits, regardless of their salary amount. The change aligns with legislative intent to fully exempt these retirees from standard retirement benefit cancellation rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows businesses registered with New Jersey's Division of Revenue to opt into receiving official business notices (like new rules or economic incentives) via email instead of paper mail. It applies to most business entities (corporations, nonprofits, etc.) that file registration documents, excluding government agencies. Businesses must still maintain physical mailing addresses for legal notices, and paper mail remains required where state law specifically mandates it. The Division of Revenue will collect email addresses and share them with relevant agencies (like Taxation and Economic Development) to enable electronic notifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the automatic presumption that defendants charged with sex offenses against minors can be released before trial. It directly affects individuals accused of sexual crimes involving victims under 18, requiring courts to weigh public safety and victim protection rather than assuming release is appropriate. Key provisions mandate that judges must consider specific risks (like community safety and victim contact) before ordering pretrial release, and if release is granted, it must include strict conditions such as avoiding the victim and complying with supervision. The bill does not change sentencing but alters pretrial detention decisions for these specific offenses. The bill was introduced on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.