Maddy summaryS 239 eliminates standardized test scores as a measure of student growth in evaluating teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals. The bill amends New Jersey law to explicitly prohibit using standardized assessments for this purpose in evaluation rubrics, replacing them with multiple measures of student learning and professional practice. School districts must adopt new evaluation systems by December 2012, using criteria like multiple objective measures (excluding standardized tests), professional standards, and observation protocols. This directly affects all K-12 school staff in New Jersey whose evaluations rely on student growth metrics. The change modifies existing teacher evaluation rules under the TEACHNJ Act to remove standardized tests as a factor in determining educator effectiveness.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill established licensing requirements for scrap tire haulers (collectors/transporters) and permits for scrap tire storage/disposal facilities in New Jersey. It required haulers to obtain state licenses, maintain electronic tracking of tire movements, and provide $150,000 in financial assurance. The law also mandated that all scrap tires be transported only by licensed haulers to permitted facilities, with real-time digital tracking of shipments. Note: The bill was withdrawn after being enacted as P.L.2025, c.389, meaning its provisions are now part of state law.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides $3 million in extra funding from the state General Fund to give one-time bonuses to specific frontline state workers. It directly affects employees represented by Local 195 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers who worked essential roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be distributed by state agencies to eligible employees as a bonus award, based on consultation between the budget director and the union president. The legislation specifies that only workers who provided emergency frontline service during the pandemic qualify for these bonuses.
Maddy summaryS 268 directs New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a three-year pilot program providing summer reading instruction to second graders not reading at grade level in selected school districts. The program requires participating districts to apply with details about their schools and past summer enrollment, and the commissioner will choose two districts per region (north, central, south) to ensure urban, suburban, and rural representation. The bill appropriates $1 million from the state general fund to cover the program’s implementation and mandates a final report evaluating its effectiveness and feasibility for statewide adoption. This directly affects students in participating districts and school districts applying for the pilot.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the number of motor vehicle penalty points required to trigger surcharges from six to ten. New Jersey drivers who accumulate 10 or more points in a 36-month period will now face fees, raising the threshold from the previous six-point level. The base surcharge remains $150 for 10 points, with $25 added for each additional point. This change directly affects drivers with multiple traffic violations by delaying when they incur these extra fees.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes an existing exception in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, the law permits smoking in areas of casinos with at least 150 slot machines or 10 table games, and in simulcasting facilities with dedicated seating for 50+ patrons. The bill deletes this exception from the statute, meaning smoking would be prohibited in all indoor public areas of these facilities under the general smoke-free law. It directly affects casinos and simulcasting venues that currently operate under the smoking exemption.
Maddy summaryThis bill transfers responsibility for inspecting on-farm dairy processing operations from the Department of Health to the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture must collaborate with the Department of Health and local health boards to conduct these inspections. This change directly affects dairy farmers who process milk on their farms, shifting oversight from health-focused to agricultural authorities. The bill requires no new funding or operational changes beyond the departmental transfer.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state employees critical to preserving the state's finances and revenue - specifically those working in licensed activities (like casinos or utilities that generate tax revenue) - to be designated as essential during emergencies or government shutdowns. It mandates that department heads must classify these staff as essential, requiring them to report to work and perform duties as directed by their agency. The law ensures continuous tax collection and safeguarding of financial assets during disruptions, preventing gaps in revenue that could delay government recovery after an emergency or budget impasse. It applies directly to licensed revenue-generating operations, not general state employees.
Maddy summaryThe "Healthy Smiles Act" (S 3011) increases NJ FamilyCare's fee-for-service reimbursement rates for pediatric dental services by 20% starting July 2025, and requires managed care organizations to pay providers at least the same rate for identical services. This directly affects dental providers treating NJ FamilyCare enrollees (20% of New Jersey's population, including low-income and minority children) and aims to improve access to dental care. The bill addresses longstanding low reimbursement rates - ranked in the bottom 10% nationally since 2007 - that have reduced provider participation and delayed care for children with high rates of untreated tooth decay. It mandates annual adjustments tied to regional inflation and imposes penalties on managed care plans that fail to comply.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state, county, private, and juvenile correctional facilities to provide free voice calls, video calls, and email services for incarcerated people. It eliminates all costs for both inmates and their families by banning per-minute charges (previously up to 11 cents), surcharges, commissions, or fees on these services. Facilities must maintain current access levels and transfer any remaining prepaid funds to inmates' commissary accounts. The bill appropriates funds from the General Fund to cover implementation costs and takes effect six months after enactment.