Asm. Kenyatta Stewart

Maddy summaryThis bill would make it legal for adults aged 21 and older to grow and possess marijuana plants for personal use in New Jersey. Under the proposed law, individuals could grow up to six plants for recreational use or up to 10 plants for medical use, with a household limit of 12 plants total. The legislation removes criminal penalties for maintaining or operating premises used to grow these limited quantities of marijuana for personal purposes. Additionally, the bill requires the state's Cannabis Regulatory Commission to create rules within 90 days of enactment to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to mandate that students identified as engaging in bias-related conduct meet with a certified school psychologist weekly for at least nine months. The law defines bias acts as any behavior motivated by protected characteristics such as race, gender, or sexual orientation that creates a hostile environment, and includes actions like displaying hate symbols or using discriminatory language. Districts must employ psychologists trained in implicit bias and racial equity to provide restorative interventions aimed at understanding underlying causes and preventing future incidents. The legislation emphasizes support and education over purely punitive measures, requiring staff training and transparent reporting to address rising bias incidents in schools.

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 amends New Jersey's earned sick leave law to explicitly allow employees to use accrued sick leave for immigration-related proceedings. It directly affects workers facing immigration court hearings, consultations with legal counsel, or other immigration-related legal matters. The key provision adds "time needed by the employee in connection with an immigration-related proceeding" as a permitted use under the existing sick leave statute. This change aligns with the state's existing framework for sick leave, which already covers medical care, family care, and domestic violence situations. The bill does not alter sick leave accrual rates or documentation requirements for this new purpose.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 123) is a symbolic measure sponsored by Assemblyman Kenyatta Stewart that supports International Mother Language Day (observed February 21). It encourages New Jersey residents to observe the day through ceremonies and activities, and directs the state to send copies of the resolution to UNESCO and New Jersey's congressional delegation. The resolution references UNESCO's work on linguistic diversity and highlights data showing over 6,000 endangered languages globally, including many Native American languages in the U.S. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally expresses New Jersey's endorsement of preserving linguistic heritage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Statewide tele-psychiatry program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services, appropriating $4 million to provide real-time psychiatric assessments and treatment for patients in mental health or substance abuse crises. The program connects hospitals (referring sites) with licensed mental health providers (consulting providers) via video or audio, enabling timely care without requiring patients to travel. The Department must contract with a partner to implement the program statewide within three years, monitor its operation through annual site visits, and report yearly to the Governor and Legislature on metrics like assessment volumes, patient stays, and changes in involuntary commitments. It specifically requires facilitating linkages with critical access and small rural hospitals to expand access to psychiatric services.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's window guard requirements for residential rental units and multiple dwellings. It expands the protected group to include children under 13 (previously 10) and persons with disabilities, requiring window guards on windows in units where these individuals reside or are regularly present. Key provisions mandate that window guards must prevent falls by limiting space between the guard and window to less than four inches, include sound features like chimes, and prohibit rigid metal stops as a safety method. Landlords must install and maintain compliant guards upon tenant request, with specific notice requirements for common interest communities (like condos) to their associations. The law updates technical specifications for installation and design to enhance safety for vulnerable occupants.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent "Support for Students Exposed to Domestic Violence Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Education. The fund provides financial support to public schools for three specific purposes: (1) school-based therapy and trauma-informed mental health services for students impacted by domestic violence, (2) identifying resources to address unmet needs of these students, and (3) funding staff training and employment for mental health personnel. The Department of Education will administer the fund, allocate money to schools based on its own methodology, and require schools to report how funds are used. This policy directly affects public schools and students exposed to domestic violence across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey courts and agencies to make expunged criminal records available to individuals upon request for immigration or naturalization purposes. It directly affects noncitizens in New Jersey who have had criminal convictions expunged and need these records for U.S. immigration applications or citizenship processes. Under the bill, if a person with an expungement order requests records for immigration matters, the court or designated agency must provide the records to them or their representative, rather than stating "no record exists." This change ensures expunged records remain accessible for federal immigration requirements without requiring the individual to seek additional legal action.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey law to allow courts to vacate (cancel) expungement orders for criminal records at any time, not just within five years as previously required. It directly affects individuals who had criminal records expunged, as courts can now reconsider those orders if "good cause" exists - such as new convictions after expungement, changes in circumstances, or eligibility errors. Key mechanisms include expanding the grounds for vacating orders beyond undisclosed prior charges and adding procedural steps: petitions must include proof of service, objections must be filed within 60 days, and courts must rule within 120 days. The changes aim to provide flexibility for courts while ensuring due process for affected individuals.