Asm. Bill Moen

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2160 establishes a three-year pilot program to help high school students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) correctly. The program requires participating school districts (selected to represent urban, suburban, and rural areas across three regions) to provide 12th-grade students with classroom instruction or workshops on FAFSA requirements, including necessary documents, key terms, eligibility, and deadlines. It also mandates that schools provide parents or guardians with written or electronic information about the FAFSA and offer paper copies upon request. All student and family information shared under the program must comply with state and federal privacy laws. At the program's end, the Commissioner of Education must report on implementation and recommend whether statewide adoption is feasible.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2187) requires New Jersey State Police and local police departments that use social media to share information about missing persons or wanted persons to create and follow a protocol for removing those posts. Specifically, it mandates that such posts must be removed within six months after the person is found (missing) or arrested/dismissed (wanted). The law directly affects law enforcement agencies using social media for these purposes, aiming to prevent outdated information from causing harm like employment issues. It does not change how police gather or share initial information, only sets a clear timeline for removal once the case is resolved.

Maddy summaryAJR 71 is a New Jersey joint resolution urging Congress to pass the federal "National Apprenticeship Act of 2021" (H.R. 447). The resolution highlights that this bill would provide over $3.5 billion in federal funding over five years to expand registered apprenticeship programs (RAPs), which offer structured job training with industry standards and lead to nationally recognized certifications. It notes that RAPs currently help apprentices secure jobs with average salaries around $70,000 and are supported by bipartisan congressional efforts. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests Congress to enact H.R. 447 to strengthen apprenticeship access nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public service employers in New Jersey (such as public schools, local governments, and nonprofits) to certify employees’ eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF), which forgives student loans after 10 years of qualifying public service work. It specifies that educators must be credited with 3.35 hours worked per hour of classroom time for certification, without overriding better terms in collective bargaining agreements. Employers must provide completed PSLF forms to employees upon request, annually, and at separation, and must distribute standardized materials about the program. The state’s Secretary of Higher Education must create and update promotional resources (including a summary letter, fact sheet, and FAQ) to help employers share PSLF details with all staff annually and new hires within 30 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's "Student and Parent Consumer Information Act" by removing several previously required reporting items for public colleges and universities. It eliminates mandates for institutions to report graduation rates by major, student-athlete graduation rates, transfer rates, detailed cost breakdowns, financial aid descriptions, projected four- and six-year costs, and loan indebtedness data disaggregated by demographics. The bill adds a new requirement for public institutions to report the number and percentage of borrowers for whom they certified student loans, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, income, gender, and first-generation status. These changes apply exclusively to public higher education institutions in New Jersey, streamlining their reporting obligations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A921) requires licensed healthcare professionals and homemaker-home health aides who provide in-home care to complete annual bias training. Specifically, they must take one credit of cultural competency and implicit bias training within one year of the law’s effective date, then every two years thereafter. The training curriculum, developed by the Department of Health, covers identifying biases related to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, communication techniques, and health disparities. The Department of Health will maintain an electronic database to track compliance with this requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a $1,000 personal tax deduction for New Jersey residents who volunteer with the New Jersey Medical Reserve Corps (NJMRC) and complete at least 150 hours of service during a state-declared public health emergency. It directly affects NJMRC volunteers meeting these service requirements by reducing their taxable income for state income tax purposes. The deduction is added to existing personal exemptions under New Jersey law and applies only during emergencies defined in state statute. The policy change provides a concrete tax benefit to eligible volunteers without altering other tax rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2461) adds a $3,000 annual deduction to New Jersey's gross income tax for surviving spouses of veterans who meet specific criteria. It directly affects surviving spouses (widows/widowers) whose veteran spouse died while on active duty, was honorably discharged, or was released under honorable circumstances from military service. The deduction is added to New Jersey's tax code as a personal exemption under N.J.S.54A:3-1, subsection (b)(8), and applies only to those who have not remarried. The change provides tax relief to this group without altering existing veteran tax benefits for living veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county improvement authorities to establish student loan refinancing programs for eligible residents. It permits student borrowers who live in a county or parent borrowers who are New Jersey residents or have primary employment in the state to refinance their student loans at lower interest rates. The programs must offer at least two repayment plans, including one with income-based options, and cannot create undue financial hardship for borrowers. Refinanced loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, and authorities must ensure borrowers can speak with live representatives who have access to their loan information.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning Affairs (LGBTQ+ Commission) within New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights. The commission will develop recommendations for laws and policies affecting LGBTQ+ individuals, review state agency practices in areas like health, education, and employment, and identify resources such as scholarships and funding opportunities. It will consist of 17 members, including agency representatives, a healthcare expert specializing in LGBTQ+ health, an LGBTQ+ individual, a parent or guardian, an attorney, and a social service agency representative. The commission must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature with its findings to improve state policies and programs for LGBTQ+ residents.