Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program within the Department of Environmental Protection to fund schools that collect plastic waste for upcycling into new furniture. It allocates $5 million to distribute proportional awards to eligible public and private K-12 schools based on the amount of plastic each school collects. The program will operate as a three-year pilot, allowing schools to purchase desks, chairs, and other furnishings made from recycled school-collected plastics.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Fairness for School Districts in Development Restricted Areas Act, provides additional state funding to specific school districts located in municipalities within New Jersey's Highlands or Pinelands preservation areas. To qualify, a school district must have a resident enrollment of over 500 students, be entirely located in a municipality where at least 25 percent of the land is in these protected areas, and have experienced a net loss in state school aid since the 2017-2018 school year. The funding amount is calculated by multiplying $250 by the number of acres in the municipality that fall within the preservation areas, with maximum annual caps of $2.5 million for districts with fewer than 1,000 students and $5 million for larger districts. The legislation takes effect immediately and applies to the first full school year following its enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 947) requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign and develop policies for recognizing and treating perinatal anxiety - a condition affecting approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women. It mandates that healthcare providers screen all pregnant and postpartum patients for perinatal anxiety during prenatal visits (at least once per trimester), before discharge after birth, and at early postnatal check-ups, using the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) or an approved alternative. Providers must also give patients and their families clear information about symptoms, coping strategies, and treatment resources. The bill directly affects pregnant and postpartum women, their healthcare providers, and birthing facilities across New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to survey all antenatal and prenatal care clinics across the state - including those that have closed or reduced services in the past two years - to evaluate maternity care access and quality. The survey will collect data on clinic availability, service gaps (particularly for low- and moderate-income pregnant women), and demographic information about patients, while excluding personal health details. The DOH must analyze the data to identify disparities in care based on income or location and develop strategies to improve access and quality. Within 18 months, the DOH will publish findings online and submit a report to the legislature with recommendations for policy action.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies permit review requirements under New Jersey's Coastal Area Facility Review Act to address nuclear energy facilities. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner to evaluate whether a nuclear facility's radioactive waste storage and disposal methods are safe, comply with Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards, and do not endanger life or the environment. Currently, the commissioner only assesses waste disposal, but this change expands the review to include storage methods as well. The bill applies specifically to nuclear energy generation facilities operating in the state. No fiscal impact is expected from this legislative change.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies permit review requirements under New Jersey's Coastal Area Facility Review Act to allow the Department of Environmental Protection commissioner to approve nuclear facility permits even without a permanent federal high-level radioactive waste repository. The legislation removes a statutory barrier that currently prevents permit approval for new nuclear facilities pending federal waste storage solutions, arguing that on-site dry cask storage is proven to be secure and effective. Key provisions require the commissioner to ensure that proposed nuclear facilities use safe radioactive waste storage methods that conform to Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards and effectively protect public health and the environment. The bill aims to facilitate the construction and operation of advanced nuclear reactors to provide reliable, zero-emission baseload energy for New Jersey's growing electricity demand.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows county vocational schools to operate the State House Annex cafe under the existing Business Enterprise New Jersey program, which is currently managed by the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The legislation overrides previous restrictions that limited cafe operation to visually impaired persons, instead permitting vocational schools to run the facility. The Department of Human Services will create necessary rules to implement this change, with the law taking effect three months after passage unless administrative action is needed sooner.
Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that amateur sports officials, such as referees and umpires, are classified as independent contractors rather than employees under New Jersey State employment laws. The legislation explicitly exempts these officials from various state protections and obligations, including unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, wage and hour laws, and income tax withholding requirements. By establishing this classification, the bill ensures that individuals who enforce rules, manage games, and ensure participant safety in amateur athletic events are not subject to standard employee status for any and all purposes covered by state statutes. The change applies immediately and retroactively to any pending audits or legal proceedings regarding the classification of amateur sports officials.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill expands protected bereavement leave under the Family Leave Act to cover specific personal losses: death of a child (including stillbirth), miscarriage (including chemical pregnancy), termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, and failed fertility treatments. It directly affects employees who experience these events, granting them up to 21 days of job-protected leave for situations not covered by other leave types, or 7 days if other leave applies. The bill amends existing laws (P.L.1989, c.261 and P.L.1948, c.110) to define "bereavement" broadly, including losses related to adoption plans, gestational carriers, and fertility treatments. It ensures eligible employees can take time off without losing their jobs or benefits during these difficult circumstances.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey public school attendance rules by formally recognizing several types of excused absences, including military service activities, college or vocational school visits, and labor-related open houses. Under the new provisions, students in grades 11 and 12 may take up to three excused absences per school year for these activities without those days counting against their attendance records. The legislation also clarifies that excused absences should not appear on transcripts or employment forms and requires students to provide documentation when requested by school officials. This change applies to students participating in military testing, evaluations, or enlistment activities, as well as those visiting educational institutions or attending job-related events.