Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1315) establishes standardized credit transfer policies between New Jersey's public colleges and universities. It requires all public institutions to create a statewide transfer agreement ensuring general education credits and associate degrees transfer seamlessly to four-year programs, and a reverse transfer agreement allowing students enrolled at four-year schools to earn associate degrees from community colleges for credits completed there. The bill creates a new "New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson" within the Higher Education office to resolve disputes over credit transfers and monitor compliance. It directly affects public colleges, students transferring between institutions, and community colleges offering associate degrees. The bill is pending before the Assembly Higher Education Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Dominican-American Commission to advocate for the state's growing Dominican-American community, foster cultural engagement, strengthen ties with the Dominican Republic, and address community issues. The commission, composed of 21 members (including legislative appointees and 13 community advocates appointed by the governor), will report annually to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations. It will operate under the Department of State, with members serving staggered terms (two to four years) and focusing on cultural promotion, community advocacy, and policy recommendations. The commission directly serves New Jersey's Dominican-American residents, who the bill identifies as the state's fastest-growing Latino population.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school boards in New Jersey to create written policies for any video surveillance systems using artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. The policy must detail the system's benefits and challenges, specify what data is collected, explain how data will be used, outline access plans, and mandate visible signage in areas where surveillance occurs. School boards must also share this policy with parents and guardians of students. The law applies to districts using such AI surveillance systems and takes effect for the first full school year after enactment. It does not create new surveillance but sets clear guidelines for existing or future systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires retailers in New Jersey to store bath salts - defined as crystalline or flaked substances used to perfume or soften bathwater - in locked display cases or behind counters, accessible only to employees. It directly affects retailers selling bath salts, mandating physical restrictions to limit consumer access. First violations result in a written warning, while repeat violations could lead to fines up to $20,000 under consumer fraud laws. The sponsor states the goal is to prevent minors from misusing bath salts, though the bill itself focuses on retail display requirements.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (ACR 117) urges the U.S. President to expand access to free menstrual products in schools nationwide. It argues that Title IX - which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools - should be interpreted to require schools to provide menstrual products, addressing how lack of access causes students to miss school or use unsafe alternatives. The resolution cites data showing over half of high school students who menstruate face attendance disruptions due to period poverty, risking health issues like infections. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal force but seeks to encourage federal action through policy interpretation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state and local governments (including counties and municipalities) from using public funds or property to support immigrant detention facilities. Specifically, it bans state/local spending on constructing, renovating, or leasing public property for detention, paying private facility costs, or covering detention expenses for privately-owned facilities. The law allows public health and safety resources for detained individuals but does not affect existing detention operations. It directly affects state/local budgets and property decisions related to immigration enforcement. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 2738 amends the state's child endangerment law to create penalties for using social media to endanger children. It specifically targets individuals who knowingly share or distribute content via electronic communication (including social media platforms) that harms a child's physical, mental, or moral welfare under age 18. The law defines "child endangerment" through electronic communication as actions likely to cause harm, with penalties ranging from a third-degree crime for most people to a second-degree crime if the person has legal care responsibility for the child. The bill excludes Section 230 providers (like social media platforms themselves) from liability under this provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal immigration enforcement agencies from using publicly owned or controlled lands (like parking lots, vacant lots, and garages) as staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases. It requires local governments to install clear signage on such properties and implement physical barriers where needed, while exempting properties under existing leases. The bill also extends this protection to eligible private properties (such as businesses, nonprofits, and faith institutions) by providing free signage, and appropriates funds from the General Fund for implementation. It explicitly states the law does not interfere with criminal warrants or other lawful uses of property.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill A3125 bans the sale of menstrual products containing regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals linked to health concerns. It directly affects manufacturers selling products like tampons, pads, cups, or underwear in New Jersey, prohibiting both intentionally added PFAS and PFAS above trace levels. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a testing system using approved labs, with results available for inspection by the Department of Health. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under state law, with penalties up to $20,000 per offense, and takes effect two years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to follow strict rules when using automated license plate readers (ALPRs). It prohibits unauthorized access or use of ALPR data (a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine) and mandates annual audits to ensure ALPRs are used only for legitimate law enforcement purposes. Agencies must submit detailed annual reports to the Attorney General covering device counts, data readings, storage, data requests (including out-of-state/federal), and security breaches. Finally, it sets a two-year mandatory retention period for ALPR data (with limited early purging allowed for cost reasons) and requires date stamps on transferred data to maintain compliance.