Asm. Greg Myhre

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 946), now law as P.L.2025, c.177, requires mental health services to be provided in the communication method preferred by each deaf or hard of hearing individual - such as sign language or oral communication - based on their assessment. It mandates that mental health professionals be fluent in that method, trained in cultural needs, and able to collaborate with interpreters. The law also requires a state resource guide listing specialized mental health services and ensures individuals can help shape their own care plans. It directly affects all deaf or hard of hearing residents seeking mental health support in New Jersey, addressing long-standing barriers in access and care quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 901, "Max's Law") requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine in health education for students in grades 6-12. Key provisions mandate teaching specific topics like abuse prevention, poisoning symptoms, emergency response, and legal protections for seeking help, using resources from federal agencies like the CDC and DEA. The bill also requires the state education department to provide resources, maintain online materials for schools and parents, and submit annual reports on the curriculum's effectiveness. The bill was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.278.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates salt water taffy as New Jersey's official state candy. It formally recognizes the treat as a symbolic representation of the state's coastal heritage, with no direct policy impact on residents, businesses, or laws. The designation takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners or operators of venues holding 1,000+ people (like stadiums, arenas, and concert halls) to maintain at least one automatic external defibrillator (AED) on-site. It mandates that AEDs be accessible at all times, properly stored and maintained, with clear signage and staff trained in CPR and AED use. Venues must also develop emergency response protocols and notify emergency services about AED locations. The law aims to improve survival rates for cardiac events - where immediate defibrillation can increase survival by up to 90% - by ensuring rapid access to life-saving equipment at large public gatherings.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an annual $15,000 death benefit for families of New Jersey forest firefighters who die while performing volunteer duties in the line of duty. The benefit applies specifically to hourly-paid firefighters employed by the forest fire service, with payments going first to a surviving spouse, then to children, parents, or a designated beneficiary if no closer relatives exist. Payments must be requested within 30 days of the death (with possible waiver by the Environmental Protection Commissioner) and are funded from the State General Fund. The benefit continues until the initial beneficiary dies and cannot be transferred to others.

Maddy summaryAJR 101 designates June 1 of each year as "Robert 'Bob' Popovics Day" in New Jersey to honor his community contributions. The bill recognizes Bob Popovics - a Trenton-born Marine Corps veteran, Seaside Park resident, and founder of the fly-tying company Pop Fleyes - who operated Shady Rest restaurant in Bayville and was influential in New Jersey's fishing community. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation for this day, symbolically celebrating his legacy of service and local impact. This is a commemorative resolution with no policy changes or direct effects on specific groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Commissioner of Education to appoint a State monitor for school districts receiving 70% or more of their total revenue from state aid, based on the Department of Education's Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending. The monitor will oversee the district's business operations and personnel matters, with authority matching existing State monitors under the School District Fiscal Accountability Act. It applies to districts like Trenton, Newark, and Camden City, which reported over 70% state funding in the 2022-2023 school year (e.g., Trenton at 86.3%). The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $26,140,000 from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for dredging navigational waterways and related disposal projects. It directly funds 25 specific dredging projects (e.g., Double Creek, Ocean County; Shark River Back Channel) and $4 million for non-designated waterways used for recreational/residential boating (e.g., Hancy's Pond, Manahawkin Creek). The funds cover dredging, material disposal, and stabilization of sites, with unspent money to be reallocated to other navigational channels. This is a funding measure, not a new policy, addressing long-unfunded dredging needs critical for navigation and boating access.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 734) requires political committees and independent expenditure groups to file more detailed campaign finance reports, including contributor occupations and employer addresses for donations over $200. It extends the statute of limitations for campaign finance violations from 2 to 5 years and exempts reports filed with New Jersey's Election Law Enforcement Commission from certain document redaction rules. The bill directly affects political committees, campaign treasurers, and independent expenditure groups by mandating enhanced reporting deadlines (including 24-hour filings during the final week before elections) and quarterly filings for "continuing political committees." These changes aim to increase transparency in campaign financing while strengthening enforcement of campaign finance laws.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill excludes military reenlistment and voluntary extension bonuses from state gross income tax. It directly affects active-duty service members in the U.S. Armed Forces who receive these bonuses while residing in New Jersey. The key provision amends state tax law to specifically exempt these bonuses from taxable income, meaning eligible service members won't pay state income tax on them. The change applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date.