Asm. Mike Venezia

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's law enforcement agencies to collect specific applicant data - including identity details, position sought, employment status, and disqualification reasons - and submit it to a confidential database maintained by the State Police. The database will include information like name, address, social security number, and whether an applicant was disqualified (e.g., due to a positive drug test in the Central Drug Registry). All agencies must consult this registry before making job offers to applicants. The Attorney General must issue guidelines for data collection, disqualification criteria, and database confidentiality, ensuring the registry remains non-public.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Mental Health Access Act (A555), increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health services in New Jersey. It requires Medicaid to pay providers at least the Medicare rate for evidence-based outpatient counseling services (individual or group), provided the service is listed in the federal National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs or meets state-approved criteria. The policy directly affects licensed substance abuse treatment facilities and health professionals (under Title 45) who provide these services and bill Medicaid. The change applies to services provided on or after the effective date, which is four months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public school students in New Jersey to miss class for musical performances at military funerals, including playing "Taps," without penalty. It requires schools to record such absences as excused on attendance records, meaning they won't count against perfect attendance or appear on transcripts. The policy specifically covers students participating in ceremonies honoring veterans or military members, including those organized by veterans' groups. Schools may request documentation to verify the student's participation in the event.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Education to create and maintain a searchable website listing all educational programs and resources for students with disabilities. The website must include details on approved in-state and out-of-state schools, special education programs, assistive technologies, and support organizations, all searchable by disability type, location, and keyword. The Department must consult with the New Jersey State Special Education Advisory Council to keep the information current and update the site annually. This directly benefits families and students with disabilities seeking accessible, centralized information about educational options.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to complete training on interacting with people experiencing behavioral health crises, such as mental illness or substance use disorders. The training curriculum, developed by the Department of Law and Public Safety with the Department of Human Services, covers recognizing symptoms, de-escalating situations, suicide prevention, understanding common medications, identifying community resources, and state standards for involuntary treatment. It mandates specific content including behavioral health disorder recognition, interview techniques, medication effects, and local treatment options. The Attorney General may issue guidelines for implementing this training, which applies to all officers encountering such situations. The bill aims to improve officer responses during mental health crises through standardized, evidence-based training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires NJ Transit to create a safety plan for evacuating passengers if a train or light rail vehicle becomes stuck inside a tunnel. The plan must ensure NJ Transit either moves the train out of the tunnel or evacuates passengers within one hour of immobilization. If NJ Transit fails to meet this one-hour deadline, it must submit a detailed report explaining the delay and appear before a legislative committee upon request to discuss the incident. The bill directly affects NJ Transit operations and passengers traveling on its rail lines through tunnels. It establishes concrete timeframes and accountability measures for emergency response.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a 2.5% gross receipts tax on retail sales of firearms and a 10% tax on retail sales of firearms ammunition within New Jersey. It directly affects retailers selling these items in the state, excluding sales delivered outside New Jersey, mailed to out-of-state purchasers, or sold to federal, state, or local government entities. The tax applies to gross receipts from qualifying sales and must be reported monthly to the Division of Taxation. Definitions clarify that "firearms" include weapons expelling lethal projectiles via combustion, and "firearms ammunition" covers cartridges, components, and propellants. The tax takes effect 30 days after enactment for sales beginning in the first full quarter after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A111) requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to create two dedicated websites: one in English and one in Spanish, to promote enrollment in Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs. The English site will list health navigators and community centers assisting with health insurance enrollment, including languages spoken at each location, while the Spanish site will mirror this content with a Spanish domain name for easier access. DHS must also launch a bilingual public awareness campaign to advertise these websites, directly benefiting Spanish-speaking residents and community organizations helping them access health coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey - including employer-sponsored group plans, individual policies, and health maintenance organizations - to cover prenatal genetic testing during the first trimester of pregnancy. It specifically mandates coverage for three test types: carrier screening (a cheek swab to identify inherited disorder genes), nuchal translucency screening, and chorionic villus sampling. The coverage must be provided at the same level as other medical conditions, applying to all plans delivered or renewed in New Jersey after the bill's effective date. This directly affects pregnant individuals with health insurance in the state by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for these specific early-pregnancy screenings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to provide written informational materials to all students in grades K-12 about the U.S. citizenship process. The materials must cover applying for citizenship, preparing for tests, and local citizenship workshops, and must be available in English, Spanish, and any other language significant to the district's student population. School districts must also host two annual parent sessions (in-person or virtual) explaining citizenship steps. The New Jersey Department of Education will develop guidelines to help districts identify resources. The law applies to all public school districts starting the first full school year after enactment.