Asm. Bill Moen

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the School Transportation Safety Commission within the Department of Law and Public Safety (though independent of department oversight). The commission will have eight members: three state officials serving ex-officio (Director of Highway Traffic Safety, Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator, and Education Commissioner) plus five public members appointed by the Governor. Its core duties are to review school bus safety regulations, produce biannual safety reports using transportation data, and track implementation of past safety recommendations from previous task forces. The commission may request information from state agencies to carry out these responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires applicants seeking to locate a substance use disorder treatment center within 500 feet of a school to first obtain local community support. Specifically, applicants must notify the local town/city council and county planning board about their proposed location and request a resolution of support from the council before submitting their license application. The applicant must then submit this resolution along with their license application to the state. This applies only to new applications for treatment centers near schools serving children aged 5-18, not existing facilities. The law aims to ensure community input before such facilities open near schools.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A2148 establishes a loan redemption program to help licensed mental health professionals reduce student loan debt. The program, administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, provides up to $1,000 annually toward eligible student loan balances for professionals working full-time in mental health counseling within the state. To qualify, applicants must be NJ residents, employed full-time in mental health services, have outstanding student loans without default, and meet additional criteria set by the authority. Participants may receive payments for up to four years, with annual proof of residency and employment required to receive each payment. The bill also penalizes false claims with a fourth-degree crime charge.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (ACR 70) is a symbolic gesture celebrating three specific elements: the Irish flag, St. Patrick's Day, and the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. It does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes - it is purely commemorative. The resolution expresses New Jersey's recognition of the historical significance of the Good Friday Agreement (signed April 10, 1998), the Irish flag's 175th anniversary (first flown in 1848), and St. Patrick's Day traditions. Copies will be sent to Ireland's Taoiseach and President as part of this ceremonial acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution 66 urges Congress to oppose any U.S.-United Kingdom trade agreement unless the Good Friday Agreement and other Irish peace process elements are preserved. The resolution states that the U.S. should link trade deal approval to maintaining the 1998 peace agreement, which established power-sharing in Northern Ireland and prevented a hard border with Ireland. It specifically references concerns that the UK's efforts to reinterpret Brexit-related Northern Ireland Protocol terms could undermine the peace agreement. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests Congress take this position on future trade negotiations.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Intergenerational Poverty Reduction Act establishes a 25-member Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security, including legislative, judicial, and public representatives with lived experience of poverty. The Commission must develop a strategic plan within 18 months with specific goals: reducing deep poverty by 50% by 2026, eliminating child poverty by 2031, and ending all poverty by 2036. The Act also creates an Interagency Working Group to coordinate state agencies, requires a data tracking system to monitor poverty trends, and mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on progress toward these goals. This legislation directly affects state agencies, low-income families, children in poverty, and community organizations working to address economic insecurity across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows secondary school classroom experiences to count as credit toward the classroom training requirement for registered apprenticeships. It directly affects students in New Jersey programs that link high school to apprenticeships, such as those under the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership Act. The key mechanism requires program partners to consult and obtain approval from the U.S. Department of Labor before implementing such credit agreements. This applies to all school-to-apprenticeship linkage programs and apprenticeship programs established under the referenced law. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2137 requires the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create and offer a smartphone app allowing residents to add digital versions of their New Jersey driver's licenses or state ID cards to their phones. The app must meet international security standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This directly affects all New Jersey residents who hold a physical driver's license or state ID card, enabling them to use a digital version instead of carrying the physical card. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, with the MVC responsible for developing the necessary rules and regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's licensing rules for nonresident military spouses - spouses of active-duty service members transferred to New Jersey due to military orders. It reduces the required work experience from five to two of the past seven years (instead of five years) for qualifying applicants seeking a temporary license. The temporary license, valid until the next renewal period, allows immediate practice while the board arranges a required exam within 30 days, with automatic revocation if the spouse's home-state license is revoked for misconduct or criminal offenses. The bill also requires background checks, fees, and proof of current licensure in another jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's four-year colleges and universities to offer bachelor's degree programs that students can complete in three years, starting by the 2024-2025 academic year. It mandates that these accelerated programs maintain the same credit and academic requirements as traditional four-year degrees, require summer coursework for two consecutive summers (with limited opt-out options), and guarantee course availability and internship integration. The bill exempts institutions with three or fewer undergraduate programs or those without summer sessions, though the state education secretary must encourage these schools to adopt the programs. Students in these programs may use state financial aid for summer tuition and housing costs, and institutions must report their implementation plans by January 2023.