Asm. Shavonda Sumter

Maddy summarySJR 100 designates every July as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about cleft lip and palate birth defects. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging community organizations, medical institutions, and advocacy groups to collaborate on educational programs and research about these conditions. This symbolic measure does not create new laws or funding but aims to foster understanding and support for individuals and families affected by cleft lip and palate.

Maddy summaryAJR 226 designates April 11 of each year as "Black Doula Day" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to honor Black doulas, who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during childbirth. It aligns with Global Black Doula Day and references New Jersey's maternal health disparities, where Black mothers face over seven times higher pregnancy-related mortality rates than white mothers. This is a ceremonial designation with no new policy requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) from using federal benefits received by a child in out-of-home placement (such as foster care) to reimburse the state for the child's care costs. Instead, DCF must use these benefits - like Social Security or Veterans benefits - to cover the child's unmet needs (e.g., medical or educational expenses beyond state coverage) or save them in a dedicated account for the child's future. DCF is required to apply for federal benefits on behalf of eligible children, maintain separate accounts for these funds, and provide annual reports to the child, parents, and court on their use. The law ensures children's federal benefits directly support their personal needs and future, rather than offsetting state expenses.

Maddy summaryAJR 150 designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution encourages community organizations, medical institutions, and advocacy groups to raise public awareness about cleft lip and palate birth defects - conditions affecting about 1 in 1,700 babies in the U.S. - and promote collaboration on outreach and research. It does not create new laws or funding but requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to support this awareness effort. The resolution directly affects New Jersey residents and families impacted by these birth defects by fostering community engagement and education.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover prostate cancer screening without cost sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance). It expands the definition of "prostate cancer screening" to include more diagnostic methods beyond digital rectal exams and PSA tests, such as urinary analysis, serum biomarkers, and medical imaging. The coverage applies to men age 50+ who are asymptomatic, and men age 40+ with family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors. The bill extends these requirements to additional insurance types, including individual health insurance policies, that weren't previously required to cover prostate cancer screening under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent "Minority-Serving Institution of Higher Education Fund" to support public colleges and universities in New Jersey that are federally designated as minority-serving institutions (like HBCUs or Hispanic-serving institutions). The fund, financed by state appropriations and eligible federal/private funds, provides money for four specific initiatives: increasing minority student enrollment and graduation rates, expanding college access, closing equity gaps in education, and supporting student success programs. The state's Higher Education Secretary will manage the fund and distribute money to qualifying schools based on a set method, requiring institutions to report how they use the funds. This directly affects public higher education institutions serving minority students across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to publicly report employment and earnings data for graduates, including full-time job placement rates in their major field, overall employment, graduate school enrollment, and average salaries one year after graduation. Institutions must disaggregate this data by race, ethnicity, age, family income, gender, and first-generation status. They must post the information on their websites annually, maintain it for four years, and conduct annual surveys starting in the first full academic year after enactment. This applies to all institutions of higher education in New Jersey, directly affecting students, families, and prospective applicants seeking transparency about post-graduation outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands financial aid eligibility for New Jersey students at public colleges. It increases the income threshold for the Community College Opportunity Grant Program from $65,000 to $100,000 annual adjusted gross income, allowing more students at county colleges to qualify for "last-dollar" aid (covering remaining tuition costs after other grants). It also codifies the Garden State Guarantee Program, providing similar last-dollar grants for students in their third or fourth year (90-128 credits) at four-year public colleges, with income eligibility capped at $100,000. Both programs require students to apply for other aid, maintain academic standing, and enroll full-time (12+ credits for four-year schools, 6+ for community colleges).

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Center for Black Excellence in Health at Rutgers University. The center will address health disparities in Black communities and people of color by facilitating public health programs, researching culturally appropriate care models, building community partnerships, and recommending systemic changes to the state's health system. It requires Rutgers to form a 12-member steering committee with state agencies, health organizations, and advocacy groups to guide the center's work. The center may accept grants and Rutgers may hire staff to support these activities, with the bill taking effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4971) creates a "Small Business Interruption Grant Program" administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA). It provides grants to small businesses in low-income communities (defined as municipalities under 10,000 population with >7.5% poverty rate) that suffered economic loss due to prolonged state infrastructure or construction projects. Grants are based on actual or projected revenue loss from closures or reduced business, with $750,000 appropriated from the General Fund to fund the program. Businesses must independently own and operate (<100 employees), be located in a qualifying community, and demonstrate project-related revenue loss to qualify.