Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4312) changes how New Jersey allocates state funds to school districts for providing auxiliary and remedial services (like speech correction and academic support) to students attending nonpublic schools. It requires districts to calculate aid based on fixed rates per service type: $990.73 for initial evaluations, $297.06 for annual reviews, and $786.70 for speech correction, plus $752.41 for supplementary instruction. Districts receive 10% of the estimated annual cost on September 1st and monthly thereafter, must refund unspent funds by December 1st, and can request additional aid if needed. The bill directly affects school districts, nonpublic schools, and their students by standardizing funding calculations and payment schedules.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to create an automated online platform (the "State Smart Solar Permitting Platform") to speed up approval of residential solar energy system installations. It directly affects homeowners, solar installers, and local governments by replacing slow manual permitting with instant digital reviews. The platform must automatically check code compliance, issue permits within minutes, allow 24/7 applications, and support electronic signatures - handling 75% of standard residential systems. Local agencies must adopt the platform or an equivalent alternative within 18 months, with penalties for non-compliance to fund low-income energy assistance.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3022 requires funeral directors to notify the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) when they have unclaimed veteran cremains after one year of diligent efforts to find relatives. The bill mandates that DMVA create and maintain a central online registry of these unclaimed cremains to help qualified veterans' organizations locate them. Qualified veterans' organizations, defined as 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt groups, can then take possession of the cremains and dispose of them through proper means like scattering at sea or interment in a veterans' cemetery. This addresses the issue of veteran cremains being unclaimed for years, sometimes decades, while reducing the burden on funeral directors who previously had to store them indefinitely.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3239) creates a limited exemption to New Jersey’s ban on importing woodchucks (groundhogs) for counties or municipalities that need to replace their official groundhog after it dies, specifically to continue Groundhog Day celebrations. It requires that replacement woodchucks first be sourced from within New Jersey or from states without certain rabies variants, with the Division of Fish and Wildlife providing guidelines and oversight. The Division must establish procedures for local relocation requests, authorize out-of-state imports only when necessary, and set requirements for the animal’s housing and handling. The exemption applies solely to this ceremonial purpose, not general importation.
Maddy summaryS 261, the "Compassion for Community Cats Law," requires animal shelters and rescue organizations in New Jersey to spay or neuter cats before adoption (with exceptions for kittens under two months or health reasons). It creates a new fund in the Department of Health, financed by penalties from shelter violations and other sources, to provide grants to municipalities for community cat programs. These programs must humanely trap, sterilize, vaccinate, ear-tip, and return outdoor cats to their original locations. The law directly affects animal shelters, municipalities running cat programs, and community cats (stray or feral cats with no known owner).
Maddy summaryThis bill requires transportation network company drivers (like those for Uber or Lyft) in New Jersey to complete a state-approved anti-human trafficking training course within 90 days of joining or being reapproved. The training, which can be taken online, covers human trafficking definitions, drivers' role in recognizing and reporting it, and how to report suspected cases. Drivers must certify completion to their company, and companies must track this in driver records while protecting the data from public disclosure under open records laws. The law applies to all drivers of these companies, both new applicants and existing drivers.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4000 requires drivers to change lanes or reduce speed below the posted limit when approaching any stationary vehicle displaying flashing lights, hazard signals, or warning devices (like road flares). This applies to all drivers near stationary vehicles - such as emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or disabled cars - regardless of whether the vehicle is actively displaying lights. The bill also mandates a public awareness campaign to educate drivers about these rules, the risks of not following them, and the penalties: fines of $100-$500 per violation, plus two penalty points for three or more offenses within 12 months. The law directly affects all drivers operating vehicles on New Jersey roads who encounter stationary vehicles.
Maddy summarySJR 151 designates July 30 of each year as "Brian Sicknick Day" in New Jersey to honor Officer Brian Sicknick, a U.S. Capitol Police officer who died protecting the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation recognizing this day, commemorating Sicknick's life and service as a New Jersey native who served over 12 years with the Capitol Police. It has no policy impact or direct effect on residents, as it is purely a symbolic observance. The bill honors Sicknick's background, including his birth in New Brunswick, service in the New Jersey Air National Guard, and role patrolling the Capitol grounds.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2511 prohibits pet shops from selling cats, dogs, or rabbits, repealing the previous "Pet Purchase Protection Act." Pet shops may still sell other animals, pet supplies, or collaborate with shelters to showcase adoptable animals without exchanging payment. Violating this prohibition would result in a $500 fine per violation. The bill also prohibits shelters, rescues, and pet shops from obtaining animals from breeders or brokers in exchange for payment, and defines "unfit for purchase" for animals sold by breeders or brokers.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies eligibility rules for New Jersey's state small business set-aside program, which helps direct state contracts to qualifying small businesses. It changes how gross revenue is calculated for eligibility: businesses must now use a five-year average (instead of three years) of revenue, with specific formulas for newer businesses or those with short fiscal years. The bill also clarifies that employee count requirements apply only to businesses without an applicable federal revenue standard. These changes directly affect businesses seeking state contracts under the set-aside program.