Asm. Mike Venezia

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's NJ STARS scholarship program to remove a one-year deadline for students who qualify for the scholarship but initially lack college readiness. It directly affects high school seniors in New Jersey who meet NJ STARS eligibility criteria but need remedial coursework to take college-level classes. The key change eliminates the requirement that these students must demonstrate readiness within one year of graduation, instead allowing their eligibility to remain active indefinitely as long as they meet the program's criteria when they enroll. This provides more time for students to complete necessary remediation before accessing the scholarship for up to five semesters of county college study.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a centralized database managed by the New Jersey State Police for law enforcement job applicants. It requires all state law enforcement agencies to collect and report applicant details - including identity, position sought, employment offer status, and reasons for denial (such as positive drug test results in the Central Drug Registry) - to this confidential database. Agencies must consult the database before making job offers, and the information will remain private, not accessible to the public. The Attorney General will establish guidelines for database operations, including disqualification standards and privacy procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-3843) allows military law enforcement officers who separated under honorable conditions within the past three years to receive training course credits toward New Jersey's basic police officer certification. It requires the Police Training Commission to grant exemptions for portions of the training course that match their prior military law enforcement training, without waiving the entire course requirement. The policy directly affects veterans seeking to become sworn law enforcement officers in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Medical Debt Homestead Protection Act," protects New Jersey residents from losing their primary home due to medical debt. It allows any person aged 18 or over living in New Jersey to exempt one home (a traditional house, condo/co-op, or manufactured home with land) from being seized or sold if a court judgment is issued for unpaid medical bills. The exemption applies only to medical debt judgments, not other debts, and limits each person to protecting just one residence. This change takes effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create and maintain a searchable website listing all educational programs and resources for students with disabilities eligible for special education. The site must include details on approved schools (in-state, out-of-state, and specialized programs), assistive technologies, and support organizations, searchable by disability type, location, and keyword. The Department must consult with the State Special Education Advisory Council and update the site annually to ensure accuracy. This directly affects students with disabilities, their families, and educators seeking accessible information about available services.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (AR 23) urges the U.S. Congress to renew funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides broadband internet discounts to low-income households. The ACP currently offers up to $30/month (or $75 on Tribal lands) for internet service and a one-time $100 device discount, benefiting over 20 million households nationwide - including 335,079 in New Jersey as of January 2024. The program is set to expire in April 2024 if Congress does not provide additional funding to replenish its $14.2 billion budget. New Jersey has received $152 million in ACP funding, saving enrolled households $8.3 million monthly on internet costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools (including district, charter, and renaissance schools) that employ school psychologists and offer in-person counseling to students in grades K-12 to also provide remote counseling sessions as an option. Schools must allow students to attend sessions remotely unless a school psychologist determines in-person counseling is necessary for the student's well-being. Students retain the right to choose in-person sessions if they prefer, and the bill defines "school psychologist" as someone holding a specific New Jersey certification. The law takes effect immediately for the next full school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public water suppliers in New Jersey to immediately notify local governments and schools whenever a serious drinking water violation occurs under federal EPA rules. Specifically, suppliers must contact municipal officials and school administrators (including charter schools, nonpublic schools, and colleges) via phone and email within the affected area. The notification must detail the contaminant, test results, locations of violations, and suggested remedies for affected customers. It applies to all public water systems and ensures transparency about water safety issues impacting communities and educational institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would add .50 BMG rifles to New Jersey's list of prohibited assault weapons under the existing ban. It directly affects owners of center-fire rifles capable of firing .50 BMG ammunition, who would no longer be permitted to possess them. The key change modifies the legal definition of "destructive device" to specifically include these rifles, expanding the current ban's scope. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been enacted.