Asm. Sean Kean

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1632) requires New Jersey public school districts to allow home-schooled students residing in the district to join school-sponsored extracurricular activities - like sports, clubs, and theater - under the same rules applied to enrolled students. To participate, home-schooled students must live in the district, meet activity-specific eligibility and tryout standards, and follow new guidelines developed by the Commissioner of Education. The bill also mandates that districts provide access to required physical exams (if offered to enrolled students) and prohibits students from transferring to home education solely for athletic advantage. The Commissioner must create and publish these guidelines to ensure home education meets equivalent standards for participation. The law takes effect in the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and private schools participating in athletic associations (like NJSIAA or NCAA) to designate sports teams as "male," "female," or "coed" based solely on biological sex. It prohibits students assigned male at birth from joining female-designated teams, requiring disputed cases to be verified through a physician's statement confirming reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and genetic makeup. The law protects schools from penalties for maintaining sex-segregated teams and provides legal remedies for students denied athletic opportunities or facing retaliation due to violations. It directly affects all K-12 schools and colleges in New Jersey affiliated with major athletic associations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) from accepting certain U.S. immigration documents as proof of identity when issuing driver's licenses or ID cards. Specifically, it bans the use of documents related to deportation or removal issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Homeland Security (DHS), including orders of release or supervision. The law directly affects applicants seeking standard driver's licenses, ID cards, or permits who might otherwise rely on these immigration documents for identity verification. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits homeowners' association (HOA) board members, officers, and management employees from engaging in conflicts of interest. It directly affects HOA governing bodies by banning them from: (1) accepting contracts or employment from businesses where they or their immediate family hold a 5%+ interest, (2) using their position for personal financial gain, or (3) participating in decisions involving their financial interests. Key mechanisms include mandatory disclosure of board members' business ties to contractors and requiring the Department of Community Affairs to investigate violations, with authority to remove violators or void related board actions. The law aims to prevent self-dealing in HOA operations, which manage significant community budgets.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's pretrial detention rules by creating a rebuttable presumption that defendants charged with certain violent crimes must be held in jail before trial. It applies to cases involving murder, life sentences, serious violent offenses (like domestic violence, human trafficking of minors, or crimes under specific statutes), or when prosecutors allege a high risk of flight or danger. Courts must assume detention is necessary unless the defendant proves otherwise through a hearing. The bill also clarifies that monetary bail should only be used when no other conditions can ensure court appearance or community safety. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for prescribing and dispensing benzodiazepines (like Xanax and Valium) and similar sleep medications (like Ambien). It requires healthcare providers to give patients a detailed pamphlet about risks, obtain signed consent, and use bold labels warning of addiction risks. Prescriptions for these drugs cannot exceed four weeks without medical justification, and providers must follow safe tapering protocols to help patients reduce use gradually. The rules apply to most patients but exclude those receiving care in long-term facilities like nursing homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1634) prohibits New Jersey local governments - including municipalities, counties, school districts, and public agencies - from naming public property (like roads, schools, parks, or buildings) after groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the federal government, excluding recognized sovereign nations. Local governments must remove existing names within 30 days and rename affected property within 90 days, with the state reimbursing associated costs. Violations trigger daily deductions from state aid, calculated by dividing annual aid by the number of fiscal days. The Division of Local Government Services must maintain and publish an annual list of designated terrorist groups for compliance.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 1605) prohibits public school boards from teaching family life education, sex education, sexual health, sexual orientation, or gender identity to students in preschool through fourth grade. It directly affects school districts and educators in New Jersey who must stop providing these specific topics in early grades. The bill requires the State Board of Education to revise the statewide health education standards within 30 days to align with this prohibition. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 619) creates a new criminal offense for "doxxing," defined as knowingly sharing someone's personal details (like address or phone number) online without consent to cause fear of harm, violence, or stalking. It specifically targets disclosures that create a serious risk of bodily injury, stalking, or severe emotional distress (mental anguish) to the person or their close relations - such as family, household members, or close associates. Exceptions apply for good-faith disclosures to the public about suspected unlawful conduct, to law enforcement, or during official investigations. Violations are a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine), escalating to a third-degree crime if serious harm occurs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows drivers with standard non-commercial licenses (after specific training) to operate small school buses called "Type S" without needing a commercial driver's license or school bus endorsement. It directly affects school districts, transportation contractors, and drivers who currently transport students in these smaller vehicles. The key mechanism requires employers to provide safety training on student interactions and special needs before drivers operate Type S buses. The bill updates existing laws to include Type S bus drivers in safety and conduct regulations, while maintaining that probationary drivers or those with suspended licenses cannot operate them.