Asm. Shavonda Sumter

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to review reimbursement rates paid to child care providers participating in the state's child care assistance program, specifically focusing on providers offering early morning or late evening hours. If the review finds current rates inadequate for these non-traditional hours, DHS must seek federal funding (like Child Care and Development Block Grant waivers) to cover the shortfall. DHS must then publish a written report of the review online and provide copies to affected providers upon request. The bill expires once this report is issued, aiming to address current reimbursement gaps that only cover about seven operational hours.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires public school districts and public colleges to appoint mental health specialists specifically for student-athletes. The specialists must conduct three mental health screenings per season, develop mental health policies, and provide resources to student-athletes, coaches, and staff. Schools must collect aggregated, non-identifying data on student-athlete mental health to create a statewide registry for trend analysis. The bill includes liability protection for specialists acting in good faith and provides funding from the General Fund for implementation. It directly affects all student-athletes participating in public school and college sports programs across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryAJR 168 designates March of each year as "Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) Awareness Month" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution aims to increase public and medical community understanding of FMD, a rare vascular condition causing abnormal arterial growth that can lead to complications like hypertension, stroke, or kidney issues. The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public awareness activities during March, as FMD often goes undiagnosed (with potential impacts on 4-5% of the population) and lacks a known cure or standardized treatment protocols. It does not create new funding or policies, but seeks to support existing efforts by the Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of America.

Maddy summaryThe "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey" establishes a state-level voting rights law to protect racial, color, and language-minority groups' voting rights. It requires election policies to be narrowly tailored to compelling justifications and prohibits methods that impair protected class members' ability to elect their preferred candidates. The bill creates a preclearance process for political subdivisions with prior voting rights violations before implementing election policies, mandates language assistance for language-minority groups meeting census thresholds, and provides remedies including alternative election processes and redistricting changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the scope of practice for optometrists in New Jersey by allowing them to prescribe more pharmaceutical agents (including some controlled substances), administer certain immunizations (for coronaviruses, influenza, and varicella-zoster virus), and perform simple ophthalmologic procedures like non-invasive laser treatments. It clarifies that optometrists must complete specific training and credentialing to provide these expanded services, including evidence of competence through accredited education programs. The bill directly affects licensed optometrists in New Jersey and their patients, who will have access to a broader range of eye care services from optometrists. The legislation updates the legal definition of optometry practice to better align with optometrists' doctoral education and clinical training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Director of the Division of Purchase and Property to review state pharmaceutical purchasing and create an annual prioritization list for bulk buying. The list focuses on the 25 highest-cost drugs/devices used by state programs, considering price, availability of similar alternatives, and must explain if any top-cost item is excluded. The director will coordinate with health agencies to implement bulk purchasing for priority items and develop outreach to help counties, local governments, and private buyers (like small businesses) access these savings. It mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on cost impacts, drug availability, and benefits for participating groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how public contracting units (like counties, school districts, and municipalities) can use cooperative purchasing agreements for construction projects. It prohibits time-and-materials contracts for public works projects covered by New Jersey’s prevailing wage and contractor registration laws, requiring instead that such projects use competitively bid agreements. The bill also allows contracting units to issue indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts for construction without final plans, provided bids remain competitive and outline how individual orders will be processed. These changes aim to standardize procurement processes while ensuring compliance with public works requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends a 2.5% surtax on corporation business tax (CBT) for businesses with over $1 million in taxable income, effective through December 31, 2025. It directly affects non-public utility corporations meeting the income threshold, requiring them to pay the surtax on top of existing CBT. Revenue collected must be dedicated to a new special account funding public transportation services/projects, public schools, and reimbursements for state employees' health care contributions. The surtax automatically suspends if federal corporate tax rates reach 35%, but otherwise remains active until the 2025 end date.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Infrastructure Capital Asset Reassignment Enterprise Fund (ICARE) Act establishes a trust fund that allows public entities like municipalities, counties, and school districts to transfer revenue-producing infrastructure assets to the fund. The fund will manage these assets to maximize their long-term value, with the proceeds increasing the pension funded ratios for State-administered retirement systems. The bill appropriates $20 million for the fund's operating expenses and creates a governing board to oversee administration, with the fund's assets maintained separately from other state funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to create a multimedia advertising campaign promoting teaching and education support careers as engaging and rewarding. The campaign must highlight available scholarships, student loan programs, and target recruitment efforts toward underrepresented racial groups and high-demand fields like special education, STEM, and bilingual education. It appropriates $1 million - funded from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds - to implement the campaign across digital, TV, radio, and print media. The policy aims to directly support the DOE's recruitment goals for educators and education support professionals.