Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1 million annual "Census Complete Count Trust Fund" within New Jersey's Department of State, funded by the State General Fund. The fund will be invested, with all interest earnings added back to support efforts to ensure every resident is counted during each federal decennial census. It directly affects New Jersey's population counting process, which determines federal funding for schools, infrastructure, and services. The Department of State will use these funds to support state, local, and community organizations working to achieve a full census count.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the minimum annual salary for full-time public school teachers in New Jersey from $18,500 to $60,000 (with $61,500 for teachers holding a master's degree or higher), effective for the 2022-2023 school year and all future hires. It directly affects all public school teachers in New Jersey school districts and educational services commissions who are certified as performing acceptably. The bill mandates that school districts cannot pay below these new minimums and requires the state to cover the full difference between current salaries and the new minimums for the 2022-2023 school year, phasing down to zero funding by 2027-2028. This establishes a concrete policy change in teacher compensation standards without altering existing collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Highway Traffic Safety to launch a public awareness campaign about bicyclist and pedestrian safety. It directly affects the public, including cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists, by educating them on specific safety rules. The campaign must cover existing laws requiring cyclists to stay right on roads, safe passing distances for motorists (including for e-bikes and scooters), associated penalties, and dangers of violations. The goal is to inform people about current legal requirements and safety practices without changing existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends multiple New Jersey statutes to replace the term "inmate" with "incarcerated person" in legal language. It updates terminology across provisions related to court records, departmental reporting, legal representation, release notifications, and correctional facility operations. The change is purely linguistic - no legal procedures, rights, or requirements are altered. It directly affects all state laws and documents referencing individuals held in correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2308) requires New Jersey health insurance carriers to cover enrollment in recovery high school alternative education programs for students with substance use disorders. It directly affects students in these programs and health insurers, mandating coverage when a certified professional (like a counselor or physician) determines it is clinically appropriate based on DSM criteria. The law specifies that this coverage must be provided under the same terms as other medical benefits, without extra copays, deductibles, or limits. It amends existing insurance laws to include this specific benefit for recovery high schools established under P.L.2015, c.254. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3716) requires rental car companies to provide renters with clear notice about deleting personal data from a vehicle's computer system when returning the car. The notice - required to be posted at return locations, on company websites, or in rental agreements - must advise renters to unpair personal devices and delete information like navigation history, phone data, or garage codes. Rental companies failing to comply face civil penalties of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat violations, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law directly affects rental car businesses and renters in New Jersey, aiming to protect personal data stored in vehicle systems.

Maddy summaryThis newly introduced New Jersey bill (A 2602) revises annual reporting requirements for public colleges and universities. It expands existing reporting to require institutions to include retention rates, applicant numbers, and acceptance rates - along with all student data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, family income, and first-generation status. The bill mandates that institutions use this detailed student data to evaluate campus diversity, inform admissions policies, and improve equity initiatives and resource allocation. These changes apply to all public higher education institutions in New Jersey and would first take effect for the academic year following enactment. The bill does not change current reporting on graduation rates, SAT scores, or student financial aid programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows prosecutors to request extended prison sentences for repeat offenders convicted of receiving stolen property. It applies to individuals with two or more prior separate convictions for this crime (or substantially equivalent offenses), provided the current offense occurred within 10 years of either their last prison release or their most recent prior conviction. The court must hold a hearing where the defendant can challenge the evidence before imposing the extended term. This changes sentencing options for repeat property crime offenders by expanding eligibility for longer prison terms under specific prior conviction conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (NJ A3268) allows New Jersey public school districts to count virtual or remote instruction days toward their required 180-day school year when schools close due to weather, emergencies, or health directives. It requires districts to submit approved virtual programs to the education commissioner, ensures equal educational access for students with disabilities (including IEP services via technology), and specifies that virtual days count as full school days for graduation, course credit, and state assessments. The commissioner must establish guidance on technology access, day length, and impacts on lunch programs and state testing. It directly affects all public school districts, charter schools, and students, including those with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students not enrolled in public schools (including homeschooled students, charter school students, county vocational students, and nonpublic school students) to participate in interscholastic sports in their district of residence, provided they meet the same eligibility standards as public school students. To qualify, students must prove district residency, meet all athletic requirements (like physicals and academic standards), and demonstrate they receive an academically equivalent education. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association resolves eligibility disputes, and the Department of Education will create guidelines for verifying academic equivalency. Students previously ineligible for athletics when leaving a public school remain ineligible under this bill.