Maddy summaryS 785, the "New Jersey No Patient Left Alone Act," requires community residences for the developmentally disabled, hospices, long-term care facilities, and veterans' homes to establish visitation policies within 30 days of the law taking effect. These policies must guarantee residents daily in-person visitation (at least two hours for most residents, unlimited for terminally ill patients) and prohibit facilities from asking visitors about vaccination status or requiring proof of immunization. The bill also mandates facilities to post policies online and ensures residents can receive visits from family, caregivers, friends, and spiritual advisors without restrictions during emergencies. This directly affects residents of these facilities by legally guaranteeing consistent visitation rights previously subject to facility discretion or emergency closures.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 2271, "CJ's Law," amends New Jersey's controlled substances law to criminalize the manufacture and distribution of substances containing kratom under specific circumstances. This bill directly affects kratom businesses, distributors, and retailers by making these activities illegal under state law. The key mechanism adds kratom to the definition of "controlled dangerous substances" in N.J.S. 2C:35-2, treating it like other illegal drugs, while explicitly excluding hemp and cannabis products regulated under separate state laws. The law does not change existing legal status for hemp or cannabis products under the New Jersey Hemp Farming Act or Cannabis Regulatory Act.
Maddy summaryS 2541 allocates $4.32 billion from New Jersey's Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to help all 565 municipalities and 21 counties retire existing local debt or fund capital projects (like water systems, parks, or public safety facilities) without issuing new bonds. It directs the Department of Treasury to distribute $3 billion to municipalities equally per resident and $1.32 billion to counties equally per resident, with all funds to be distributed within 30 days of enactment. The bill adds $2.35 billion to the fund from the General Fund to support this allocation. This directly affects every local government in New Jersey by providing immediate, equitable funding for debt reduction and infrastructure.
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 91 ("Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act"), provides a 50% reimbursement for the school portion of property taxes paid by eligible seniors. It directly affects New Jersey residents aged 65 or older who own or lease a primary residence (including single-family homes, condos, mobile homes in parks, or cooperative units) and meet income limits: $35,000 or less in the first year, $75,000 in the second year, and no limit thereafter. The reimbursement covers half of the school tax portion on qualifying homesteads, excluding interest or penalties. It does not apply to secondary residences or properties rented out. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
Maddy summaryS 140 requires New Jersey public officials or employees to be suspended without pay and health benefits if formally charged with a crime that involves or touches their position (e.g., corruption related to their job). The suspension lasts until the charges are resolved through conviction, exoneration, or dismissal. If cleared, individuals are entitled to back pay and reimbursement for health care costs during the suspension. This bill directly affects state employees facing such criminal charges, creating a mandatory suspension period with automatic financial restitution upon resolution.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's distracted driving law to clarify prohibited uses of wireless devices while driving (except for emergencies or hands-free use), increases fines for violations (especially texting), and creates the "Distracted Driver Enforcement and Education Fund." The fund is financed by 50% of fines collected from distracted driving violations, with the remaining 50% going to the county/municipality where the violation occurred. Money in the fund will be used by the state's Highway Traffic Safety Division to provide grants to local governments for enforcement support and public education campaigns about the dangers of distracted driving. The bill directly affects drivers who violate the law and local governments that can apply for grants to address distracted driving in their communities.
Maddy summaryThis bill prevents reductions in state school aid for specific school districts in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean counties (all fifth or sixth class counties) if their property tax base (equalized valuation) has decreased compared to the 2012-2013 school year. It guarantees that a district’s total state aid for the current year cannot be lower than what it received in the 2017-2018 school year under these conditions. The bill excludes preschool aid, special education costs aid, school choice aid, and debt service aid from the "total state aid" calculation. It directly supports school districts still recovering from Superstorm Sandy’s property value impacts, ensuring their funding remains stable despite lower local tax revenues.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 69) prohibits requiring or asking about COVID-19 vaccination status as a condition for accessing common services and activities. It directly affects all residents and visitors by making it unlawful for businesses, schools, employers, healthcare providers, and government entities to demand vaccine proof or discriminate against unvaccinated individuals. Key provisions ban such requirements for things like employment, education, healthcare access, business entry, public spaces, and professional licenses. Violators face $25,000 in civil damages plus attorney fees for affected individuals. The law takes immediate effect.
Maddy summaryS 138 allows eligible New Jersey taxpayers - including self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and employees - to deduct unreimbursed home office expenses (like computers, desks, and supplies) incurred during the pandemic. It applies specifically to home offices used as a "principal place of business" due to pandemic restrictions, meaning the home was the main work location when other options were unavailable or limited. The deduction covers costs for necessary equipment and supplies used exclusively for work, retroactively applying to taxable years during the Governor’s declared emergency (Executive Order No. 103 and extensions). This policy directly benefits workers who shifted to remote work during the pandemic but lacked employer reimbursement for home office costs.
Maddy summaryS 128 amends New Jersey's criminal mischief law to specifically upgrade the offense when someone intentionally interrupts or impairs the supply of power. Currently, causing such power disruption is a third-degree crime (3-5 years in prison, up to $15,000 fine), but this bill makes it a second-degree crime (5-10 years, up to $150,000 fine). The change directly affects individuals who deliberately disrupt power infrastructure, such as damaging electrical lines or systems. This policy update increases penalties for power-related disruptions without altering the definition of the crime.