Asm. Ellen Park

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients from paying municipal parking meter fees when traveling in a vehicle displaying their special license plate or placard issued by New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). It applies only when the veteran or recipient is driving or riding as a passenger, and does not cover vehicles parked longer than 24 hours in one location. The exemption specifically covers parking meter fees, not other parking costs, and requires the MVC to issue the necessary placards. The bill directly affects eligible veterans and Purple Heart recipients using municipal parking.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits sex offenders from holding jobs where 80% or more of duties involve contact with children, and makes it a crime to knowingly hire them for such roles. It defines "sex offender" broadly as someone convicted, adjudicated delinquent, or found not guilty by reason of insanity for sex offenses under Megan's Law. Violations carry third-degree criminal penalties (3-5 years in prison, up to $15,000 fine). The law excludes juveniles under 18 working in rehabilitative programs for other juvenile sex offenders.

Maddy summaryAJR 17 designates July each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey. This resolution aims to raise public awareness about cleft lip and palate birth defects - conditions affecting about 1 in 1,700 U.S. babies - which can cause feeding, speech, and dental challenges. It encourages New Jersey community organizations, medical institutions, and advocacy groups to collaborate on education, outreach, and research to support affected families and advance understanding of these conditions. The bill is procedural, requesting the Governor issue an annual proclamation to recognize the month.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1372) makes it a crime to solicit or induce others to share personal identifying information - such as Social Security numbers, credit card details, or biometric data - for identity theft or fraud. It directly affects individuals or entities attempting to obtain such information through deceptive means, including phishing scams. The law defines personal identifying information broadly to cover details used to identify a specific person, and violations are punishable as disorderly persons offenses (up to 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine). The bill aims to prevent identity theft by criminalizing the solicitation of sensitive data, aligning with existing identity theft definitions under New Jersey law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the New Jersey State Board of Education to require school districts to incorporate financial literacy instruction into existing mathematics and social studies classes, rather than creating new separate courses. It directly affects school districts by directing them to integrate practical skills like budgeting, debt management, and savings planning into current curricula. The resolution emphasizes this approach reduces administrative burden while ensuring students learn critical financial topics aligned with existing state standards. It is a non-binding recommendation, not a law, and does not impose new graduation requirements.

Maddy summaryAR 62 is a New Jersey Assembly Resolution (not a bill) urging the U.S. President and Congress to enact legislation granting amnesty and creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. It specifically references the need for 11 million undocumented immigrants to gain legal status, citing economic benefits and historical precedent from the 1986 Immigration Reform Act. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests federal action, emphasizing that current policies prevent immigrants from fully participating economically and socially. It was introduced in the Assembly on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey state government to appropriate a minimum of $10 million annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health for Public Health Priority Funding. It directly affects local health departments across New Jersey, which currently rely on property taxes and restricted state/federal funds for specific services like vaccines or environmental health. The funding would provide dedicated, unrestricted resources to cover operational costs and support core public health programs, rather than being tied to specific purposes. This establishes a mandatory annual appropriation starting July 1 after the bill's effective date, restoring a funding mechanism eliminated in 2011.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have established criminal penalties (fourth-degree crimes) for employers who knowingly falsify payroll records required under New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act or make false statements on public works contractor registration forms. It directly affects employers working on public construction projects subject to prevailing wage requirements. Currently, such violations are punishable only as minor offenses (up to 90 days in jail), but this bill would have increased penalties to up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fines. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was approved as part of P.L.2025, c.356, meaning the changes are now law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2066) establishes the "New Jersey STEM Scholars Grant Pilot Program" to provide competitive grants to public school districts, renaissance schools, and charter schools. The program funds three specific STEM education approaches: project-based learning, after-school STEM activities, and out-of-school STEM experiences. Schools applying must detail how funds will enhance existing programs or create new ones, recruit students, support educators, and ensure long-term sustainability. Grants must supplement, not replace, existing STEM funding and are subject to annual state appropriations. The program runs for four years, with funding sourced from state appropriations and private donations.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes an exemption in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that previously allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, these venues could permit smoking in areas used for gambling (like slot machine rooms or table games), but the bill would eliminate that exception. After passage, all indoor areas of casinos and simulcasting facilities open to the public for gambling would be required to be smoke-free. This change aligns these venues with the state's general indoor smoking ban, which applies to most public workplaces and spaces.