Asm. Sean Kean

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4754 prohibits businesses from selling, manufacturing, distributing, or offering for sale personal flotation devices (PFDs) like lifejackets, water wings, or puddle jumpers that are not approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. The bill directly affects retailers and manufacturers operating in New Jersey, specifically targeting PFDs designed for children under 12 years old. Violators face escalating civil penalties: $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and $500 for third or subsequent offenses, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law aims to ensure consumers can purchase Coast Guard-approved PFDs, reducing risks associated with unapproved devices that may deflate or slip off, as highlighted by drowning statistics.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies specifically to members who have been retired and receiving benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those hired after the bill's effective date, those in deferred retirement, and those with 20-24 years of service. The COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners, with benefits up to $75,000 receiving full adjustment, while higher benefits are capped at a 1% annual increase. The $75,000 threshold will adjust annually based on inflation, and the bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds to cover both state and local costs for these adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $500,000 in state funding to New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) for its Huntington's Disease Grant Program. The funds directly support approximately 900-1,200 New Jersey residents living with Huntington's disease and 7,000 at-risk individuals by covering pre-symptomatic testing, neurology/psychiatry services, counseling, and disease management through grants to eligible institutions. The supplemental appropriation raises the program's total FY2023 funding from an estimated $200,437 to $700,437. It does not change eligibility criteria but increases available resources for existing services. The bill is a straightforward funding measure with no new requirements or procedural changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to allow homeschooled students residing in the district to participate in all school-sponsored extracurricular activities - including sports, clubs, and theater - on the same terms as enrolled students. Homeschooled students must live in the district, meet the same eligibility and tryout standards, and follow new guidelines developed by the Commissioner of Education to verify they receive equivalent instruction. The bill specifically prohibits students from switching to homeschooling solely to join athletic teams and mandates districts to provide physical exams and transportation access if offered to enrolled students. The Commissioner must create and publish these guidelines on state and district websites. The law takes effect in the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe "Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act" (A5103) establishes a program for New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities to incentivize construction of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) through a competitive bidding process. The bill directs the BPU to develop a program within one year of enactment, offering financial incentives per megawatt hour of electricity produced, with preference given to projects at former nuclear or fossil fuel plant sites and those that retrain former plant workers. Incentives would be funded from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," which collects revenue from New Jersey's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative participation. Selected SMR projects would be required to pay an annual administrative fee to cover program costs and could not sell environmental benefits associated with their energy production. The program must begin its first solicitation within two years of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 3-year pilot program that allows children with special needs (under age 21 who meet federal disability standards) to qualify for NJ FamilyCare benefits even if their family's income or assets would normally make them ineligible. It directly affects middle-income families who cannot afford care for their disabled children without Medicaid coverage. The program requires annual checks to confirm the child still meets the disability definition, with an appeals process if benefits are terminated. After the pilot ends, the state must report on participation, costs, and whether to make the program permanent. The bill expires upon submission of this final report.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $20 million in additional state funding for New Jersey's Summer Tuition Aid Grants program for the summer 2025 semester. It directs that eligible undergraduate students - those who received aid in the prior fall or spring semester and are enrolled in summer courses at the same institution - will receive 75% of the full grant amount they would normally qualify for under current law. The funds are allocated to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to cover tuition costs for students enrolled in six or more credits during summer 2025. This is a supplemental appropriation to the existing FY2025 budget, specifically increasing the grant amount for summer enrollment without changing eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4892) establishes clear operational standards for school-based health centers in New Jersey. It requires these centers - located on school property and operated separately from school districts - to ensure voluntary student participation, obtain written parental consent with guardian presence during services, and maintain strict health record privacy (separate from education records). The bill prohibits replacing school nurses or offering incentives for participation and mandates services be provided by qualified health professionals. It directly affects school districts, students, parents, and partnering health providers, while directing the State Board of Education to create implementing regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "Type S School Bus Certificate" that would allow certain qualified drivers to operate specific school buses without needing a commercial driver's license, passenger endorsement, or school bus endorsement. To qualify, drivers must be at least 21 years old, have held a basic driver's license for three years, pass physical and eye exams, complete a knowledge exam, and finish special training for students with special needs. The certificate would apply to "Type S school buses," defined as vehicles designed for nine passengers or less (excluding driver) with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more, used for transporting students to and from school. This would streamline school bus operations for qualified drivers while maintaining safety standards for student transportation. The bill amends existing school bus regulations to include this new certification pathway.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution 159 commemorates the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people (including American citizens) and took hostages. The resolution mourns the victims, condemns terrorism, stands in solidarity with both Israelis and Palestinians affected by the conflict, and calls for the release of all hostages and support for a peaceful resolution. It directs that copies be sent to Israel's U.S. Ambassador, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, and New Jersey's congressional representatives. As a symbolic gesture, it does not enact new laws or directly affect any group with policy changes.