Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis bill requires long-term care facilities providing specialized care for Alzheimer's patients to meet minimum staffing levels, including having at least one staff member trained in memory care present at all times. Facilities must annually certify compliance with memory care practices (including patient enrichment activities) and report antipsychotic medication usage to the state. The bill mandates facilities to maintain daily staffing records, provide public access to shift staffing data, and share details about Alzheimer's-specific activities and safety protocols for prospective residents. It also directs the state to track and publicly report antipsychotic prescribing patterns and issue corrective plans for facilities exceeding safe usage thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3531) eliminates a fee charged by New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission when a car buyer pays off their loan and needs a new title without the lienholder noted. It directly affects residents who have satisfied financing for a motor vehicle, removing a $10 fee for re-issuing the title after loan payoff. The key provision requires the Commission to issue the lien-free title without charge upon proof of final payment. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryAJR 106 establishes a 15-member task force to address the underreported crisis of missing and murdered Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) women and girls in New Jersey. The task force, appointed by legislative leaders and the Governor with representation from impacted communities, will develop cultural competency training for first responders, create prevention materials for BIPOC communities, collect and analyze data on missing BIPOC women, identify abduction hotspots, and launch a public awareness campaign. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 18 months of its formation. The task force will use existing state agency resources and report on strategies to improve response systems and data collection for this specific population.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of low-speed electric bicycles (max 20 mph) and low-speed electric scooters (max 19 mph) in New Jersey to register these vehicles with the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and maintain liability insurance. Registration costs $8, expires after 11 months, and requires MVC approval of the vehicle type. Owners must carry minimum liability coverage of $35,000 per person for bodily injury, replacing prior exemptions that allowed operation without registration or insurance. The bill directly affects all residents who own or operate these devices on New Jersey roads and paths.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A124) allows eligible New Jersey educators to deduct up to $1,200 from their gross income tax for unreimbursed classroom supply expenses. It directly affects K-12 teachers in public or nonpublic schools within the state who spend their own money on required materials. The deduction covers specific items like books, pencils, computers, lab equipment, and other daily classroom supplies. The provision applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires each New Jersey county school superintendent to hire a violence prevention specialist who will develop a school safety plan with community partners like mental health providers, teachers, and parents. The plan must create a prevention team with mental health specialists to identify at-risk students, provide on-site mental health services, and coordinate with community agencies, law enforcement, and courts. It allocates $10 million from the state General Fund to the Department of Education for implementation, including annual updates to statewide guidelines and training materials. The bill directly affects all public school districts and students in New Jersey, focusing on early intervention and integrated mental health support within school communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public high school students in New Jersey who observe Ramadan to opt out of required physical education classes and school sports programs during the holy month. Students must submit written notice to their principal before schedules are finalized, and can substitute physical education with an instructional course or study hall that provides equivalent graduation credits. Student-athletes may also be excused from sports, cheerleading, or intramural programs with written notice to their coach, and coaches cannot penalize them for this absence. The policy specifically accommodates Muslim students fasting during Ramadan, without exempting them from other required health education courses.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public schools and approved private schools for students with disabilities to count virtual or remote instruction days toward their 180-day school year requirement when schools close due to inclement weather, hazardous transportation conditions, or specified emergencies like public health emergencies. Currently, schools could only use virtual instruction for closures lasting more than three consecutive days; this bill expands eligibility to include single-day closures and weather-related closures. Schools must submit their virtual instruction program to the commissioner for approval within 30 days, and approved virtual days will count as full school days for attendance, graduation requirements, and course credit. The commissioner will establish guidelines addressing technology access, virtual day length, and impacts on school meals and assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's school transportation policy by lowering the mandatory mileage threshold for preschool through fourth-grade students. Under the change, school districts must now provide free bus transportation to students living more than 1.5 miles from their public school (down from the previous 2-mile limit for this grade group). The bill maintains existing distance requirements for older students: 2 miles for grades 5-8 and 2.5 miles for grades 9-12. It directly affects public school students in preschool through fourth grade who live beyond the new 1.5-mile distance from their assigned school.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A564) amends New Jersey law to explicitly include "emergency, transitional, and permanent housing" as a permitted use of the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund." The fund, which is administered by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, currently receives civil penalties ($50-$500) imposed on domestic violence offenders and other designated funds. This change ensures that housing assistance for domestic violence victims is directly funded through this dedicated source, alongside existing services like shelter, legal advocacy, and transportation. The bill applies to all domestic violence victims in New Jersey receiving services through the Department of Children and Families.