Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how New Jersey public schools must record and report student attendance by establishing specific rules for excused and unexcused absences. It requires schools to count students as present if they participate in at least half a day of instruction, whether in-person, at an off-site location, or virtually. The legislation expands excused absences to include menstrual disorders, mental or behavioral health issues, court appearances, and family deaths, while also recognizing State-excused absences for religious observances, Veterans Day, election activities, college visits, and transportation closures. Students with excused absences can make up missed work, and these absences will not appear on transcripts or employment forms, though documentation may be required for approval.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Health Equity Access and Leadership Fund in New Jersey to support health care organizations serving underserved communities. It establishes a dedicated account within the existing Health Care Subsidy Fund that will receive an initial $25 million appropriation plus ongoing allocations of at least 0.1 percent of projected Health Care Subsidy Fund revenues. The fund will distribute money through a competitive grant process to community-based organizations and service providers that offer essential health care services to underserved or underinsured populations affected by funding losses. The bill also requires the Health Care Subsidy Fund administrator to maintain separate accounts for different subsidy components and establish rules to ensure fund integrity.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires volunteer firefighters in New Jersey to receive state-funded cancer screenings at least once every three years, covering specific types of cancer including colon, lung, and prostate. The program reimburses up to $1,250 per three-year period for exams not covered by personal health insurance, with no co-pays or deductibles required. Funding comes from a dedicated state revolving fund that also receives additional revenue from a 0.1% tax on fire insurance premiums paid by out-of-state insurers. The tax revenue is split between the New Jersey Firemen's Home and the new firefighter screening fund, with the remainder returned to the State Firemen's Association.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates November 2026 as Veterans Month in New Jersey to honor the state's approximately 350,000 military veterans. The resolution allows the Governor to issue a proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. This measure does not create new funding or policy changes but serves as a symbolic designation to recognize the contributions of those who served in the Armed Forces.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's existing anti-discrimination laws to explicitly prohibit workplace discrimination based on menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause. It directly affects employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations by expanding the legal protections available to individuals who may face bias related to these biological conditions. The key mechanism involves updating the definitions within the state's civil rights statute to ensure these specific health-related factors are recognized as protected categories under current employment discrimination rules. The legislation applies to private and public employers, including state agencies and public schools, while maintaining existing exemptions for certain private religious institutions.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts in New Jersey to offer one-time virtual or remote instruction to students attending public schools that are designated as polling places for a special election on April 16, 2026. The measure permits districts to count the day of remote instruction toward the state's 180-day school attendance requirement, provided the virtual learning program follows existing approval standards and students have access to necessary technology. School superintendents will have the authority to implement this instruction after consulting with the board of education and notifying all stakeholders. The provision applies only to this specific election and does not require districts to combine in-person and remote instruction on that day.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Code Blue Shelter Matching Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA). It provides matching grants to community-based nonprofits (with 501(c)(3) status) that offer shelter during Code Blue alerts - extreme cold weather emergencies - by matching funds they received from counties or municipalities within the past year. To qualify, nonprofits must submit detailed applications about their finances, the source grant amount, and how funds will be used, with DCA awarding grants in order of receipt and capping total matching funds per county/municipality at $50,000 annually. The program requires a three-year effectiveness report to the Governor and Legislature on how well it addresses shelter needs for homeless and at-risk individuals.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey high school students pursuing a state-endorsed diploma to complete a one-semester financial literacy course. It directly affects high school students by mandating curriculum covering budgeting, savings, credit, debt, taxes, college financial planning, banking, and consumer skills. The course must be taught by teachers with appropriate endorsements and cannot be satisfied by existing economics or business courses. The requirement applies to students entering 12th grade in the 2027-2028 school year.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides a 50% exemption from New Jersey's sales and use tax for qualifying retail businesses operating in municipalities affected by ongoing public highway projects. It directly affects small businesses with a fixed location (such as shops or charter boat services) located in areas where highway construction, repair, or maintenance is underway. Businesses must apply to the Division of Taxation for approval, and the exemption applies only during the "relief period" - the time between a project's start and completion. The exemption automatically ends when the highway project concludes, as notified by the Commissioner of Transportation to the Tax Division.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey health insurance carriers from reducing reimbursement rates for network providers during the term of existing contracts. It directly affects insurance companies and healthcare providers who have signed contracts with these insurers. The key provision prevents carriers from unilaterally lowering payments to providers for the duration of their agreements. The law takes effect on the first day of the third month following enactment and applies to all new or renewed contracts after that date.