Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing Senior Citizens and Disabled Residents Transportation Assistance Program to provide transportation services specifically for disabled veterans needing to attend medical appointments for service-connected conditions. It directs the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to work with counties to identify veterans' transportation needs and provides funding by redirecting 4% of casino revenue fund allocations (previously used for senior/disabled transport) to cover these new services. The program helps counties pay for expanded transit options, including door-to-door service or subsidized rides, for veterans certified with service-connected disabilities by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This directly affects disabled veterans in New Jersey who require transportation to VA-approved medical appointments but are not covered by existing travel reimbursement programs.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's driver testing and education rules to better accommodate individuals with disabilities. It allows applicants to use rear visibility systems, such as backup cameras and parking sensors, during road tests to assist with maneuvering. Additionally, the legislation waives the written knowledge exam for out-of-state drivers who are 18 or older and require them to take a video explaining their rights when stopped by police before sitting for any permit test. These changes aim to provide more accessible options for obtaining a driver's license while maintaining safety standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the base pay for election officials in New Jersey from $300 to $300 per election, while also raising specific task-based fees for handling signature registers from a maximum of $25 to $50 per person. It mandates that poll workers receive hourly pay equal to the state minimum wage if they must stay late to accommodate voters still in line when polls are scheduled to close. Additionally, the legislation allows counties to offer optional extra compensation to their election boards and requires the state to reimburse counties for these new costs. These changes directly affect district board members and other poll workers across the state who serve during primary, general, and special elections.
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, titled the Social Media Fairness and Transparency Act, would require social media companies operating in New Jersey to follow specific rules about how they moderate user content and manage platform algorithms. It defines key terms like "censor," "post suppression," and "selective suspension" to clarify what actions the law covers, while also setting minimum thresholds for which companies must comply based on revenue or user numbers. The legislation creates a legal cause of action that allows individuals to sue social media companies if they violate these content moderation requirements. Additionally, the bill explicitly excludes paid content prioritization from its restrictions and provides specific definitions for what constitutes a social media platform under New Jersey law.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates October 3 of each year as "Companion Animal Cruelty Awareness Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about animal abuse. The resolution requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging citizens, organizations, and state agencies to participate in awareness activities and initiatives. It aims to educate the public on the definition of animal cruelty, promote early reporting of incidents, and reaffirm the state's commitment to humane treatment of companion animals. The bill is a symbolic joint resolution that does not create new laws or funding but serves to highlight the issue of animal cruelty as a public safety concern.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows the New Jersey Commissioner of Community Affairs to waive mandatory training course requirements for qualified candidates seeking positions on housing authorities or redevelopment agencies, as well as for executive directors of those organizations. Under the proposed changes, individuals who would normally be required to complete specific coursework within a set timeframe can request an exemption based on their relevant experience, with the commissioner having the authority to approve or deny each request. The legislation amends existing state law to formalize this waiver process while maintaining the requirement that candidates demonstrate sufficient qualifications.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill updates protections for military personnel who are victims of sexual assault, child abuse, or neglect. It allows service members (including National Guard and Reserve members) to file for protective orders in any New Jersey court, regardless of where the incident occurred. The bill also removes fees for applicants, clarifies procedures for minors and victims with disabilities, and specifies that military protective orders can be used to initiate state court applications. It directly affects military victims and streamlines access to legal protections without requiring criminal charges first.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual cigarette and tobacco tax revenue allocated to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research from $1 million to $10 million and creates a dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund within the state treasury. The fund will be managed by the State Treasurer and used exclusively for grants and contracts supporting general cancer research and pediatric cancer research, with at least $5 million each year designated for each category. By establishing a revolving fund, the bill ensures that money and any earned interest remain available for future research projects rather than being transferred to the general budget each year.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs to partner with law firms to provide free federal appellate legal services to eligible disabled veterans seeking disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The program would be open to veterans with a net worth under $2 million and would require law firms to specialize in veteran benefits law, have at least ten years of experience in this area, and maintain physical offices across northern, central, and southern New Jersey. Eligible veterans could request representation through their next-of-kin, friends, or fellow veterans, and the state would require participating firms to submit periodic reports on their services.