Sen. Vin Gopal

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed and certified social workers in New Jersey to earn up to four hours of required continuing education credit by volunteering as poll workers on election days. Social workers can receive two credits for each election they serve (either a primary or general election), but cannot exceed four credits per license renewal period. To claim the credits, they must provide proof of service, such as a certified letter from their local election office. The bill does not require social workers to volunteer - it simply offers this as an optional way to meet standard continuing education requirements.

Maddy summaryS 2987 requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Health (DOH) to create annual guidelines for school districts and colleges on implementing anti-vaping awareness campaigns. The guidelines must include research-backed materials about vaping dangers (such as lung effects, mental health impacts, and comparisons to smoking), age-appropriate behavior change strategies, and tools to help students resist peer pressure. Schools and colleges would use these guidelines to develop campus-wide campaigns targeting middle school, high school, and college students. The DOE and DOH must post the guidelines online and update them yearly based on stakeholder input.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2990) removes the current 72-hour waiting period for issuing marriage and civil union licenses in New Jersey. It requires licensing officers to issue licenses immediately upon application filing, rather than after a mandatory 72-hour delay. The change directly affects couples applying for marriage or civil union licenses statewide, eliminating the need to wait or seek emergency court waivers. The bill amends New Jersey Statute 37:1-4 and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2991) requires all New Jersey public school districts to incorporate age-appropriate bullying awareness and prevention education into Comprehensive Health and Physical Education for students from preschool through 12th grade. It mandates teaching definitions of bullying, types (including physical, verbal, social, and cyberbullying), the lasting impact of online actions, how to seek help, and consequences for perpetrators. The curriculum must also develop sensitivity to how bullying is worsened by intolerance based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, or other characteristics. The New Jersey Commissioner of Education must provide schools with sample learning activities and resources to implement this requirement, effective for the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2989 requires the Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Health (DOH) to apply for federal waivers covering menstrual hygiene products (including tampons, pads, and cups) under NJ FamilyCare, SNAP, and WIC programs. If the federal government denies these waivers, DHS must establish a state-funded program using $2 million from the General Fund to provide these products to eligible low-income residents enrolled in those assistance programs. The bill defines "eligible recipients" as individuals qualifying for NJ FamilyCare, SNAP, or WIC, and mandates that households certify minor menstruators in their household for benefit eligibility. It also requires DHS and DOH to create an educational campaign about the new benefits and post information online.

Maddy summaryS 2986 expands New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) by including directors, assistant directors, deputy directors, assistant attorneys general, and deputy attorneys general from the Divisions of Law and Alcoholic Beverage Control within the Department of Law and Public Safety (DLPS) as members of the Prosecutors Part of PERS. Currently, only employees of the Division of Criminal Justice in the DLPS were covered under this retirement system. These DLPS employees will now receive the same retirement benefits as county prosecutors, with existing service credit transferred without additional cost. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets minimum payment rates for ambulance services under New Jersey's Medicaid program. It requires $300 per emergency ambulance transport and $8.94 per loaded mile for ground ambulance services, with annual adjustments tied to Medicare rates. These changes directly affect ambulance providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries. The rates take effect July 1, 2024, and require state rule updates for implementation.

Maddy summarySCR 43 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to New Jersey's Constitution that grants every resident a fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, a safe climate, and ecologically healthy habitats. It requires the state to act as trustee of public natural resources - such as air, water, public lands, and wildlife - and mandates that these resources be conserved and maintained for all people, both present and future. The amendment specifies that these rights are self-executing, meaning they can be directly enforced in court without requiring new legislation. If approved by voters, this would become a permanent part of New Jersey's Constitution.

Maddy summaryS 2914 allows public school districts to offer virtual or remote instruction to students on election days when their school is designated as a polling place. It directly affects schools serving as polling locations during any election (including primaries, general, and municipal elections), requiring districts to ensure all students have access to necessary technology (like computers or broadband) before implementing remote learning. The bill specifies that remote instruction days on election days count toward the state’s required 180-day school year, and schools cannot use this provision for non-polling-place days. It also clarifies that schools not used as polling places cannot adopt remote learning solely to meet the 180-day requirement.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's state pension and annuity funds must stop investing in the 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies, defined by carbon content in their oil, gas, and coal reserves. Funds must divest from these companies within one year (two years for coal companies), though they may temporarily pause divestment if fund values drop below 99.5% of their hypothetical value without divestment. Annual reports on progress and investments sold will be required, with transparency mandated to the Governor, Legislature, and Attorney General. The bill directly affects New Jersey's public employee retirement funds and their investment management.