Maddy summaryS 904 establishes a 25-member "Commission on People with Disabilities" in New Jersey to address the needs of residents with disabilities. The commission includes 13 voting members (with requirements for disability representation) appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker, plus 12 non-voting ex-officio members from state agencies. Its core duties are to recommend policies and legislation, serve as a communication hub between government and disability communities, coordinate with state agencies on service delivery, and prevent employment discrimination against people with disabilities. The commission must submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, and referred to the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1035 increases tax credits for businesses conducting research in the state. It raises the credit rate for qualified research expenses from 10% to 15% for corporations primarily operating in targeted industries like clean energy, life sciences, and advanced transportation. The bill also increases the basic research payments credit to 15% and makes the total credit refundable (allowing taxpayers to receive cash payments for unused credits). These changes apply only to research conducted within New Jersey and affect eligible corporations filing business tax returns.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by raising the state's matching percentage of the federal credit from current rates up to 45% for tax years starting in 2026. It directly affects low-income New Jersey residents, particularly single adults without children who were previously ineligible due to age requirements but meet federal EITC criteria. Key provisions include expanding eligibility to residents aged 18+ without qualifying children and allowing those filing separately due to domestic abuse to claim the credit. The changes apply to tax years beginning in 2022 and later, with benefit calculations tied to the federal credit amount for each filing status.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 321 would allow 16-year-olds to register to vote if they are U.S. citizens and meet the state's residency requirements. This directly affects 16-17-year-old New Jersey residents who qualify as legal voters under existing rules. The bill changes the registration age from 17 to 16, permitting registration while requiring voters to wait until their 18th birthday to cast a ballot. Registrants under 18 would be marked as "temporarily ineligible" in the voter system until they turn 18.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 578) requires New Jersey public school districts to update their anti-bullying policies with specific new elements. It mandates schools to investigate bullying incidents within 30 school days (up from 10), provide parents in writing with detailed investigation results - including evidence findings and disciplinary actions - within 5 school days after the school board meeting, and explain student rights during investigations. The policy must include clear reporting procedures (allowing anonymous reports but not using them for discipline alone), define bullying broadly, and outline response options like counseling or referrals to the Bullying Prevention Fund. These changes directly affect all public school students, parents/guardians, school staff, and administrators in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires boards of trustees at New Jersey's state colleges/universities and county colleges to include two employee members. These members must be appointed by the Governor from a list recommended by labor organizations representing college staff, serve two-year terms (with initial one-year terms), and have full voting rights except on employment matters affecting staff. The legislation amends existing statutes to mandate this employee representation on all such boards, ensuring labor perspectives are directly included in governance. It directly affects college employees who become board members and the decision-making processes of these educational institutions.
Maddy summaryThis bill adds two student representatives to Rutgers University's board of governors. The student members must be full-time, in good academic standing, 18+ U.S. citizens, and elected by Rutgers students. For the first election, one student serves a one-year voting term while the other serves as an alternate for year one (then voting in year two); subsequent elections follow this alternate-to-voting two-year pattern. The board must hold a public hearing within 90 days to decide if students elect reps directly or through student government, and student reps cannot vote on personnel, property, or litigation matters.
Maddy summaryS 329 establishes a three-year "Food Innovation District Pilot Program" in New Jersey to support small and mid-sized farms and food businesses. The program allows municipalities to apply for designation of specific areas as food innovation districts - geographic zones concentrating food businesses, processing facilities, and community activities - through a structured application process. Key requirements include demonstrating access to transportation, mixed-use zoning, and existing food business clusters, with the Department of Agriculture providing technical assistance and measuring success through metrics like business growth and job creation. The program aims to strengthen local food systems, increase access to regional food, and encourage sustainable packaging alternatives, with a final report due before the pilot ends.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey would join the Counseling Compact, allowing licensed professional counselors from other member states to provide services to New Jersey residents without needing a separate New Jersey license. The bill enables counselors to practice across state lines under the rules of the client's location (e.g., a counselor licensed in Pennsylvania could serve a New Jersey client via telehealth), while preserving each state's authority to regulate practice and protect public safety. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, sharing of disciplinary information between states, and support for telehealth services. This directly affects licensed counselors seeking to practice across state lines and clients in New Jersey who gain easier access to out-of-state counseling services.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to encourage health care facilities and licensed pediatricians, family practice physicians, and other health care professionals to implement the national "Reach Out and Read" program. The program promotes early literacy by having health care providers discuss age-appropriate reading with parents during well-child visits for children aged 6 months to 5 years. The DOH must provide printed and online resources about the program and post a link to its website for facilities to apply as program sites. The goal is to support children's language development, strengthen parent-child bonds, and integrate literacy guidance into routine pediatric care, based on evidence showing benefits for early childhood development.