Rep. Gary Schaer

Maddy summaryACR 33 is a concurrent resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire (1915-1923), which caused the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Armenians, and condemning Azerbaijan’s attacks on civilians in the Republic of Artsakh with Turkish support. It directs New Jersey to commemorate the genocide, reject denial of the genocide, and promote education about its historical significance and relevance to modern conflicts. The resolution urges the U.S. President and Congress to recognize Artsakh’s right to self-determination and condemn Azerbaijan’s military actions against the region. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formalizes New Jersey’s policy stance.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a minimum daily reimbursement rate of $950 for pediatric skilled care nursing facilities (SCNFs) participating in New Jersey's Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare programs. It directly affects four facilities providing specialized long-term care to medically fragile children and youth up to age 21: the Pediatric Long Term Care Center (Mountainside/Toms River), Phoenix Center (Haskell), and Voorhees Pediatric Facility. Facilities must comply with state/federal licensure, safety, and quality standards to qualify for this rate. The bill appropriates necessary funds from the General Fund to cover this reimbursement increase.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to appoint an antisemitism monitor at any state institution of higher education. The monitor reviews campus policies protecting Jewish students and staff, establishes anonymous reporting for antisemitism incidents, and issues quarterly reports with recommendations for improving safety and policy implementation. Institutions must adopt all monitor recommendations, and failure to comply could result in reduced state funding or loss of student financial aid eligibility. The monitor's salary is paid by the institution, and "antisemitism" is defined per the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 working definition.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3944) creates new performance standards for nursing homes, directly affecting facilities that receive federal one-star ratings or fail to meet metrics in three key areas: resident physical health (e.g., bedsores, falls), mental well-being (e.g., medication use, depression), and operational factors (e.g., staff turnover, vaccination rates). It establishes a tiered response system: a warning for first failures, sanctions like restricting Medicaid admissions for repeated failures, and severe penalties including removing Medicaid residents or suspending payments for persistent underperformance. Nursing homes failing standards in three of four consecutive quarters must submit a 18-month improvement plan for state review. The bill aims to strengthen accountability for nursing home quality without specifying expected outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis is an Assembly Resolution (AR 33), not a bill, urging Congress to require VA hospitals to provide all routine medical screenings for women veterans on-site at every facility. Currently, women veterans sometimes must travel to off-site clinics for screenings like mammograms or Pap tests, creating unnecessary burden. The resolution argues that on-site screenings would improve access, reduce travel time/resources, and ensure care consistency with private-sector standards. It does not create new law but formally requests congressional action to address this gap in veterans' healthcare access.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the deadline by which New Jersey school districts must notify parents and nonpublic schools about transportation options for students attending nonpublic schools. Specifically, it moves the notification date from August 1 to July 15 before the school year begins. School districts must now decide by this new date whether to provide bus transportation or pay aid in lieu of transportation, and they may inform families earlier if costs likely exceed the payment limit. The change directly affects school districts, nonpublic schools, and parents of nonpublic school students.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill, the "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act," prohibits landlords from threatening to disclose or disclosing tenants' immigration status to force them to leave, or using that status as a reason to evict. It directly protects residential tenants, especially immigrant and undocumented residents, by banning such discriminatory practices in housing. Key provisions include allowing tenants to sue landlords for violations (with damages up to $2,000 per incident), preventing courts from questioning immigration status in housing cases unless directly relevant to a tenant’s claim, and making it harder for landlords to use immigration status as an eviction reason. The law amends existing tenant protection laws to explicitly shield tenants from housing discrimination based on immigration status.

Maddy summaryThis bill reschedules New Jersey's 2025 primary election from June 3 to June 10, 2025, to avoid conflict with a religious observance. It establishes a permanent rule requiring the Secretary of State to move primary election dates to the first Tuesday after a religious observance that significantly burdens in-person voting. The law mandates that election officials and the public be notified within seven days for the 2025 change and by January 1st for future years. It applies to all primary elections for delegates to national conventions and general elections statewide, ensuring adjustments to all related deadlines. The bill defines "religious observance" as days when religious practices substantially prevent voting in person.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale of candy containing lead, mercury, or cadmium above 100 parts per million (0.01%) by weight, whether intentionally added during manufacturing or naturally occurring. It directly affects candy manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in New Jersey, requiring manufacturers to submit written certifications confirming compliance and keeping records available for public review. The Department of Health can inspect facilities, test products, and issue fines up to $25,000 per violation for retailers and $100,000 for manufacturers within 30 days. The law excludes flour-based or refrigerated candy from its definition of "candy" and mandates removal of non-compliant products from sale.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly protect people from "disparate impact" discrimination - meaning policies that seem neutral but disproportionately harm individuals in protected groups (such as race, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation). Currently, courts have interpreted the law to cover this, but the bill would codify that protection directly into statute. It affects anyone facing discrimination in housing, employment, or services due to such policies, making it easier to seek legal remedies. The change clarifies existing protections without altering the scope of covered discrimination.