Asm. Andrea Katz

Maddy summaryThis bill (A561) allows New Jersey public school students to have up to five excused absences per school year for mental or behavioral health needs. These absences will not count toward chronic absenteeism (defined as missing 10% of school days) or affect perfect attendance records. Schools must provide opportunities for students to make up missed work and may require non-medical documentation to verify the need. After two such absences, schools may refer students to support staff.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A3010 requires businesses and public buildings to install diaper changing stations in designated public restrooms. It applies to "Group A or M occupancy" venues (like restaurants, stores, libraries, and schools) during new construction or renovations costing over $5,000, and mandates stations in both men’s and women’s restrooms (or a dedicated family restroom) with clear signage. Public buildings, including K-12 schools (which need only one station per campus), must comply within 37 months of enactment, with $500,000 appropriated for reimbursement of installation costs. The bill does not apply to casinos, nightclubs, or bars, as these venues typically lack young children.

Maddy summaryBill A1158 would add Burlington County as a member county of the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), which currently includes Atlantic, Cape May, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. The bill also changes the composition of the SJTA Board of Commissioners by adding new members to represent Burlington County. This change would give Burlington County representation on the SJTA board and allow the county to participate in regional transportation planning and decision-making. The bill amends existing legislation that established the SJTA and its governing structure. The change would not affect the SJTA's existing responsibilities or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's alcohol licensing rules by removing limits on how many plenary retail distribution licenses a single person or business can hold, specifically for stores that primarily sell food or alcohol. Under current law, individuals could only hold up to two retail alcohol licenses, but this bill allows for up to four licenses after two years (with two used in qualifying food stores) and up to six licenses after six years (with four used in qualifying stores). A qualifying food store is defined as one where groceries and food make up at least 65% of annual sales, while a qualifying liquor store must have alcohol sales making up at least 90% of annual sales. Businesses acquiring additional licenses beyond the original two will pay a 10% transfer fee to the municipality, except for stores in urban food deserts. The bill does not increase the total number of licenses a municipality can issue, but rather changes how many licenses one entity can own.

Maddy summaryAJR 79 is a New Jersey joint resolution designating September 22nd of each year as "Veterans Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Day." It does not create new programs but establishes an annual observance to raise public awareness about suicide risks among veterans and active military personnel. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging state officials and citizens to observe the day with activities honoring veterans who died by suicide and supporting those at risk. This designation aims to reduce stigma around mental health treatment and highlight existing resources provided by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and other organizations. The resolution originated from a veteran's initiative to memorialize those lost to suicide, including Senior Airman Robert McRae Dean.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school teachers to complete eight hours of mental health first aid training within their first year of employment. Teachers must also recertify every three years in this training, which covers identifying mental health and substance use disorders, recognizing warning signs, and responding to crises in students. The training specifically addresses common youth mental health issues like depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use disorders. This policy directly affects all public school teachers in New Jersey through mandatory professional development requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new standards for annual height, weight, and blood pressure screenings in New Jersey public schools for students in grades K-12. It requires screenings to be conducted by school physicians or nurses, ensures student privacy through physical separation during exams, and prohibits basing weight evaluations solely on BMI. Instead, evaluations must consider additional health factors like access to healthy food, safe exercise spaces, and other lifestyle barriers. The bill also mandates that school staff hold age-appropriate pre-screening discussions with students to explain the purpose and reduce anxiety.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $17 million supplemental appropriation for New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2023 budget to fund lake management grants through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The grants will support qualified entities - including lake commissions (like the Lake Hopatcong Commission), local governments, and nonprofits focused on publicly accessible lakes - to cover costs for maintenance, water quality improvement, and preventing harmful algal blooms. The DEP must establish a program prioritizing projects that enhance public access, recreational use, and conservation, with funds also covering eligible stormwater and pollution management activities that directly benefit lake use. This one-time funding is specifically directed at lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 16-member Task Force on Student Mental Health to examine public school programs addressing student mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and trauma. The task force includes education officials, school staff (teachers, counselors, psychologists), parents, and appointed experts to study how schools identify mental health needs, evaluate counseling services, link mental health to school safety, determine funding requirements, and review successful programs from other states. The task force must issue a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of organizing, after which it will expire. The bill directly affects all public school students in New Jersey by aiming to improve access to mental health care programs through evidence-based policy recommendations.

Maddy summaryACR 58 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. It would raise the annual deduction to $1,000 in 2024, $1,500 in 2025, $2,000 in 2026, and $2,500 starting in 2027, with the amount remaining at $2,500 annually thereafter. This change directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses, who qualify for the deduction on real and personal property taxes. The amendment requires voter approval after legislative passage to take effect.