Asm. Chris DePhillips

Maddy summaryThis bill, "Max's Law," requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction about fentanyl and xylazine dangers in health classes for students in grades 6 through 12. The curriculum must cover prevention, symptoms of poisoning, emergency response, and relevant laws protecting those seeking help. School districts must use resources from federal agencies like the CDC and NIH, and the state education department will provide materials and post online resources for staff, students, and parents. The law takes effect immediately, applying to the first full school year after enactment, with annual reports evaluating its impact on youth drug use and poisoning.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes municipalities and school districts to install school bus monitoring systems with cameras to capture vehicles illegally passing school buses. If a violation is recorded by such a system, the violator would face a $250 civil penalty instead of criminal penalties, with collected funds going to the municipality or school district for safety programs. The monitoring systems must capture specific evidence including the bus's flashing lights, the violating vehicle's license plate, and the date/time/location of the violation. Recorded images are not public records and must be purged within 95 days of recording. The registered owner of the vehicle would be liable for the penalty unless they can prove the vehicle was used without consent or was stolen.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The program must develop public campaigns about symptoms, early detection, and safety; create accessible educational materials for health providers; and train emergency responders, judicial staff, and social services personnel. DHS must consult with the Alzheimer's Association and make materials available online in English and Spanish. The initiative is subject to available funding and aims to improve community understanding and response to Alzheimer's disease.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1067) requires the state's Department of Human Services to conduct a landscape analysis of mental health services accessible to deaf and hard of hearing residents. It mandates that mental health services be provided in a client's primary communication method (like sign language or speech), delivered by professionals certified in that method and trained in culturally appropriate care for the deaf community. The bill also requires the creation of a resource guide listing providers meeting these standards and defines key terms like "culturally affirmative mental health services." It directly affects deaf and hard of hearing individuals seeking mental health care across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows state and local government vehicles used for snow and ice removal to display both amber and green warning lights during operations that create traffic hazards. Currently, such vehicles may only use amber lights for hazard warnings; this bill adds green lights as an additional signal under the same conditions. The green lights may only be activated when the vehicle is actively engaged in snow/ice removal that requires unusual driver caution, and the vehicle must also display the required amber lights simultaneously. This change modifies existing vehicle code provisions (R.S.39:3-54 and R.S.39:3-50) without creating new fees or expanding the practice to other vehicle types.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public school staff in New Jersey to complete training on caring for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders every two years. It directly affects school staff (including teachers, coaches, and support personnel) and students with these conditions. The training, provided through Department of Health-approved courses by nonprofit organizations, covers recognizing seizures, emergency response, and daily care. This update builds on existing law (P.L.2019, c.290) that already requires schools to develop individualized health plans for affected students but adds the mandatory biennial staff training requirement. The law applies to all school-sponsored activities, including those outside regular school hours.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed group homes serving adults with developmental disabilities (specifically those receiving Tier C and Beyond services) to install video monitoring devices in common areas - like living rooms, dining spaces, and entrances - only if all residents and their authorized representatives (such as legal guardians or power-of-attorney holders) collectively consent in writing. Group homes must actively seek this consent within six months of adopting a policy, obtain written consent from new residents before they move in, and annually remind all residents of their right to request monitoring. The devices would capture only video (no audio), and the bill mandates that employees must also provide written consent to the monitoring as a condition of employment. It does not apply to group homes already equipped with such devices or to facilities serving children.

Maddy summaryThis bill would merge three transportation authorities - the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, and New Jersey Transit Corporation - into the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT). On the "Transfer Date," DOT would assume all powers, assets, debts, and employees of these entities, ending their separate operations. The bill requires coordination between DOT and the current authorities to ensure a smooth transition, including transferring funds, property, and contracts. After consolidation, these entities would no longer operate independently, with DOT managing all transportation planning and infrastructure under one agency.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a proportional property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans who are honorably discharged and have a service-connected permanent disability rated at 10% or higher. It directly affects qualifying veterans (and their surviving spouses) by reducing their property taxes in line with their disability rating, with a $10,000 cap for exemptions below 100% disability. Veterans deemed unemployable due to service-connected disability receive a full 100% exemption, matching current benefits for those with 100% disability ratings. The bill also requires the state to reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax costs for these exemptions, including administrative expenses, through annual reporting by local tax authorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a 2.5% surtax called the "Corporate Transit Fee" that applied to corporations with New Jersey taxable income exceeding $10 million during 2024-2028. It directly affects large corporations meeting this income threshold, removing their obligation to pay this fee for all future privilege periods after enactment. The bill repeals the existing law (P.L.2024, c.20) that required the fee and mandated its revenue fund New Jersey Transit's operating costs and capital projects. Effective immediately upon enactment, qualifying corporations will no longer pay this surtax.