Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $20 million in supplemental funding to support STEM teachers in New Jersey public schools through two programs. It provides eligible new STEM teachers (those completing educator preparation programs or advanced STEM degrees in 2021-2022) with either: 1) Upfront loan redemption covering 25% of eligible student debt (up to $20,000), or 2) Upfront tuition reimbursement covering 25% of eligible tuition costs (up to $20,000). Recipients must sign a contract committing to four years of teaching in a New Jersey public school STEM classroom and maintain teaching certification. Failure to complete the service period requires repayment as a loan. The funding modifies existing programs under P.L.2019, c.401 for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2334 requires sports wagering licensees to pay an annual $250,000 fee in addition to existing license costs. Of this fee, $140,000 is allocated directly to the Council on Compulsive Gambling, and $110,000 funds other state gambling addiction treatment programs. The bill updates existing law by establishing this new mandatory fee (replacing the prior $100,000 annual fee structure) to specifically support evidence-based prevention and treatment services. This affects all businesses holding sports wagering licenses in New Jersey, directing funds toward addressing gambling addiction through designated state programs.
Maddy summaryS 1754 increases annual payments from New Jersey's Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund to municipalities over two years. It directly affects all municipalities receiving these state funds, requiring them to reduce their property tax levies by the full amount of the increased aid. The bill mandates that any additional aid distributed under this fund must be subtracted from the municipality's annual property tax levy, preventing local governments from using the extra funds to raise taxes. This policy change ensures that state aid directly lowers the property tax burden on residents and businesses in affected municipalities.
Maddy summaryS 2838 establishes the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to research and develop recommendations addressing generational harms caused by New Jersey's historical role in slavery and ongoing systemic racial discrimination. The task force will examine specific issues like racial wealth gaps (where Black families have a median net worth of $5,900 vs. $309,000 for white families), housing discrimination, mass incarceration, and voting disparities affecting Black residents. It will produce a report with policy proposals for state-based reparations, focusing on systemic inequities documented in the bill, such as Black children being 30 times more likely to be incarcerated than white children. The bill directly affects Black communities in New Jersey facing persistent racial disparities in housing, education, and criminal justice.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to create a public online database tracking all affordable housing court settlements since 2015. It directly affects municipalities that have entered into these settlements to meet their regional affordable housing obligations under the Fair Housing Act. The database will include specific details like the number of affordable units (broken into categories like rehabilitation and gap need), rental vs. ownership ratios, affordable vs. market-rate unit counts, and payments made to groups like the Fair Share Housing Center. All data will be accessible to the public on the DCA website, enhancing transparency around how municipalities fulfill their housing obligations.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Capital City Commission to study and recommend improvements for Trenton, New Jersey. The 13-member commission includes city and county officials, state representatives, and public members with expertise in urban development. It must focus on key areas like waterfront access (including potential Route 29 rerouting), business recruitment, leveraging state assets, and promoting Trenton as a desirable place to live and work. The commission will report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, Legislature, Mercer County, and Trenton City Council within two years of organizing.
Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retirement benefits in New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems. It directly affects current and future retirees, including state employees and teachers, by requiring their benefits to increase each year to match inflation without needing separate legislative action. The key mechanism establishes a permanent automatic adjustment process tied to inflation data, eliminating the need for annual budget amendments. This change ensures retirees' purchasing power remains aligned with rising living costs over time.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires commercial pesticide applicators in New Jersey to mark pesticide application areas with uniform silver flags. The flags must be silver, same size/type, display information in English and Spanish, and remain visible for at least 72 hours after application. It also prohibits using silver flags for other purposes (like dog fences or utility markers) to prevent confusion. The Department of Environmental Protection will create implementing rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1200) would have required public water suppliers to immediately notify municipalities, school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and colleges when drinking water violations occur that trigger federal Tier 2 Public Notices. The notification would detail specific contaminants, test results, locations, and suggested remedies. The bill was introduced in January 2026 but was withdrawn the same day because it was already enacted as part of P.L.2025, c.341. It does not currently require action, as the requirement is already in effect through prior legislation.
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 247, would eliminate New Jersey's statewide high school graduation proficiency test requirement. It directly affects all New Jersey public high school students, removing the mandate to pass a state-administered test in reading, writing, and math for graduation. The bill deletes references to the "High School Proficiency Test" from existing education laws and shifts responsibility to local school districts to establish their own graduation standards. Instead of a statewide test, districts would set their own criteria for student proficiency, with the State Board of Education no longer requiring the test as part of graduation standards. The bill is pending before the Senate Education Committee.