Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1585 establishes ranked-choice voting for statewide and federal elections, including races for Governor, State Senate, General Assembly, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House, as well as presidential primaries and general elections. Voters would rank candidates in order of preference on ballots (with a minimum of six rankings allowed), and ballots would be counted in rounds: candidates needing 50%+1 votes win immediately in single-winner races, while multi-winner Assembly races use a 33%+1 threshold with vote transfers. The bill requires ballot design accommodating rankings and mandates implementation after voting machines are certified for ranked-choice use, with Governor elections requiring a separate constitutional amendment approved by voters. This directly affects all voters participating in these elections across New Jersey.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 1741 requires vehicles transporting items like furniture, mattresses, or other materials that could become dislodged (e.g., if extending above the vehicle or placed on the roof) to be securely fastened with straps, ratchet devices, or similar safety equipment and covered with a tarp or similar cover. It prohibits operating such vehicles on New Jersey’s major highways (including roads with 50+ mph speed limits, NJTA routes, and SJTA routes) if the load is unsecured or could fall. Vehicle operators, including commercial flatbed drivers and passenger vehicles temporarily used for transport, face fines up to $750 for violations and up to $1,000 or 10 days in jail if items dislodge and fall. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission must create specific safety rules to implement these standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1011) would amend New Jersey's homestead property tax reimbursement program to exclude veteran disability compensation from income calculations used to determine eligibility. Currently, applicants must meet specific income limits to qualify for tax refunds, but this bill would prevent veterans' disability payments from counting toward those limits. It directly affects veterans who receive disability compensation and apply for the program, allowing them to qualify even if their disability income would otherwise push them above the threshold. The change modifies the eligibility rules without altering the existing income limits themselves.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides $25 million in supplemental funding to New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to support mental health and addiction service providers transitioning from cost-based reimbursement contracts to a fee-for-service system. It reimburses providers for the difference between their actual fee-for-service revenue during fiscal year 2022 and their previous cost-based contract value, if that difference is positive. Only providers who billed Medicaid for all eligible services are eligible. The funds come first from unspent mental health program money, with additional General Fund money authorized if needed. This aims to prevent financial instability for providers during the state's ongoing transition to the new reimbursement model.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 15-member School Safety and Security Task Force in New Jersey to study and recommend improvements for public school safety. The task force includes education officials, security experts, and public members with specialized knowledge, and will examine security practices like entrance screening, emergency response protocols, and accessibility for students with disabilities. It must issue final recommendations to the Governor, Legislature, and State Board of Education within six months of forming. The task force expires after submitting its report, with no direct policy changes enacted by the bill itself.
Maddy summaryS 1353 establishes the "Trenton Makes Commission" within New Jersey's Economic Development Authority to develop strategies for supporting and growing the state's manufacturing sector. The commission will study other states' approaches, identify cost-effective ways to attract new manufacturing businesses to New Jersey, and strengthen existing manufacturing companies. It will consist of 13 members appointed by the Governor, legislative leaders, business associations, and education representatives, with a mandate to report findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. This bill creates a research-focused body to inform future policy decisions about manufacturing incentives, without directly changing laws or funding.
Maddy summaryS 2263 creates a $750,000 grant program through New Jersey's Department of Education to help public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools maintain after-school activities that supplement students' academic learning (like debate clubs, theater, and music programs). Schools can apply for funds to cover costs for specific activities they offer, with priority given to those most impacted by pandemic-related revenue losses. The program requires schools to specify which activities will receive funding and allows the Education Commissioner to set application rules and criteria. This is a direct funding mechanism for non-academic school activities, not a policy change affecting broader education systems.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires new construction or substantial renovations (costing $40,000 or more) of public spaces - such as theaters, libraries, banks, medical waiting areas, and restaurants - to include an assistive listening system that transmits sound directly to hearing aids and cochlear implants with telecoil features. Owners must display visible signage indicating the system's availability and verify its functionality every two years via a self-certification form. Exceptions allow owners to skip installation if a local agency determines it would be impractical, following a formal request. The law applies to spaces regularly open to the public, aiming to improve accessibility for people with hearing loss.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific resource center (to be chosen by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority, in consultation with the Business Action Center and a higher education institution) to provide direct support to small and mid-sized manufacturing businesses. The center will offer concrete services including help with product development, production efficiency, supply chain connections, workforce training, quality programs, and market expansion. Businesses deemed eligible by the EDA will be referred to this center for assistance in modernizing operations and commercializing new products. The bill creates a structured referral system to connect manufacturers with these specialized resources, effective immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryS 1986 establishes a 7-member School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force to study New Jersey's current school funding system under the 2008 School Funding Reform Act. The task force, including the Commissioner of Education and six public members with education/finance expertise, will evaluate specific aspects like how school district budgets and local shares are calculated, weighting for at-risk students, special education funding methods, and geographic cost adjustments. It must hold public meetings across the state and issue a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. This bill creates a procedural mechanism for reviewing the existing funding formula, directly affecting how state school aid is distributed to districts.