Maddy summaryThis bill establishes that the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police will hold the uniformed rank of Colonel and is authorized to wear the corresponding uniform. It also allows the Governor to appoint a retired State Police officer as Superintendent without requiring them to rejoin the State Police Retirement System, provided they retired in good standing and the appointment does not affect their existing retirement benefits. To maintain this rank, the Superintendent must complete or renew basic police officer certification and obtain a current law enforcement license. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that the Superintendent will serve as the State Director of Emergency Management and receive a salary of $210,000.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's motor vehicle dealer laws to clarify definitions of various vehicle types and business terms. It specifically updates the legal description of "nonconventional type motor vehicles" to include items like construction machinery and golf carts, while excluding mobile homes and farm equipment under certain weight limits. The legislation also refines how inventory held for sale is identified and defines key terms such as "authorized signatory" and "certificate of ownership." These changes aim to ensure that buildings previously used by motor vehicle dealers continue to meet place of business standards by aligning regulatory language with current industry practices.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution from New Jersey condemns the decision to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include Donald J. Trump. The bill directly addresses the Kennedy Center board, which voted in December 2025 to add Trump's name after he became a chair of the board. It highlights that the center's name was originally established by federal law as a living memorial to President Kennedy and notes that Congress did not approve any legislation to change it. The resolution urges an immediate reversal of the name change and requests that copies of the document be sent to federal officials and the Kennedy Center board.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts in New Jersey to use leftover state funding for nonpublic school nursing services to pay for security services, and vice versa. Currently, districts must return any unused money from these specific programs to the state after the school year ends. The legislation changes this rule by permitting districts to apply unspent funds from one program toward the costs of the other if they have excess money in one category. This adjustment gives districts more flexibility in managing their budgets for both nursing and security needs without requiring an immediate refund of unexpended aid.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to classify student illnesses as excused absences, provided parents or guardians submit supporting documentation when the student returns. To ensure consistency, the State Commissioner of Education will work with the Commissioner of Health to create specific guidelines defining what constitutes a valid illness and what types of proof schools may request. The law applies to all school districts in the state and takes effect at the start of the first full school year following its enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs 50% of revenue from fees and taxes on real property transfers exceeding $1 million (applied to sellers of residential, commercial, and certain other high-value properties) to the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Instead of depositing these funds into the General Fund as current law requires, the bill mandates they support affordable housing programs. The change takes effect July 1 following enactment, with the Trust Fund managing these dedicated resources for housing initiatives.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends existing New Jersey laws regarding classroom placement for twins and higher-order multiples to include public preschool programs. It allows parents to request that their multiples be placed in the same or separate classrooms, with the school principal making the final decision based on available space and educational needs. Additionally, the bill requires that when preschool seats are awarded through a lottery or open enrollment system, these siblings must be treated as a single unit to ensure they attend the same program. If one child requires special education services, the placement must align with that child's individualized education plan, and parents may be responsible for any extra transportation costs resulting from the requested arrangement.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows for-profit movie theaters in New Jersey to obtain a special license to sell alcoholic beverages on their premises. Under the new rules, theaters can serve alcohol during scheduled showings and for two hours before a first-run movie begins. The license is tied specifically to the theater and cannot be transferred, with an annual application fee of $210,000 that is reduced to $150,000 if the venue sources at least 10% of its drinks from local small-scale producers. Additionally, this new license does not count toward the state's existing limit on how many such licenses a municipality can issue based on its population.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits payment card networks from charging interchange fees on sales tax and gratuity amounts included in credit and debit card transactions. The law requires merchants to send tax and tip data separately during the payment process so that fees are only applied to the actual purchase price. If a merchant fails to separate these amounts initially, they can submit the data within 180 days to receive a refund for any fees incorrectly charged on the tax or gratuity. Violations of this rule could result in a $1,000 penalty per transaction and an order to refund the affected fees to the merchant.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2579) extends New Jersey's in-state tuition eligibility to spouses and dependents of active-duty military service members when the service member is transferred to another state. It ensures that if a military spouse or dependent was already enrolled in a New Jersey public college or university before the transfer, they can continue to qualify for in-state tuition rates - provided they maintain continuous enrollment at the same institution. The law directly affects military-connected students who face relocation due to service, preventing them from losing affordable tuition status during temporary relocations. It builds on existing protections for military dependents who attended New Jersey high school for three years.