Maddy summaryS 3678 establishes a $2 million grant program for New Jersey public schools to promote limited student use of cell phones and social media during school hours and school events. The program requires the Department of Education to develop best practices covering age-appropriate policies, emergency exceptions, accommodations for students with disabilities, device storage options, and network restrictions. Participating schools must submit annual reports tracking how grant funds reduce distractions and impact academic performance, behavior, and well-being, with the Department later evaluating the program's effectiveness against non-participating schools. The bill directly affects public schools seeking grant funding to implement device-use policies, without mandating specific practices as a condition of receiving funds.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public colleges and universities to provide an alternative scholarship to student-athletes who lose their athletic scholarship due to an injury or illness that makes them medically ineligible to compete. Specifically, if a school rescinds or fails to renew an athletic scholarship because of an "incapacitating injury or illness" (defined as one directly related to athletics and confirmed by the school's medical staff), the institution must offer a replacement scholarship equal in value for the remainder of the student's undergraduate degree program or up to five years total (including the original scholarship period), whichever is shorter. It directly affects student-athletes at public New Jersey institutions who become unable to compete due to athletic-related injuries. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the weekly cap for Medicaid-funded personal care assistant (PCA) services from 40 to 91 hours for beneficiaries clinically eligible for nursing facility-level care. It directly affects New Jersey Medicaid recipients who require assistance with daily living tasks but wish to remain in their homes. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to approve up to 91 hours per week as medically necessary, based on a written care plan, and mandates updates to the assessment tool used to determine eligibility. It does not change existing requirements that PCA services must be performed by qualified individuals under a nurse's supervision.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Mobility and Transportation Innovation Pilot Program to fund public transportation projects statewide (previously limited to Mercer County), appropriating $20 million from the General Fund. It requires projects to include accessibility features like wheelchair-accessible vehicles and accessible mobile apps, enable access without smartphones/credit cards, and demonstrate success with similar projects. The program prioritizes projects improving mobility for low-income communities, people with disabilities, and disadvantaged areas while reducing emissions. Local governments and transit agencies across New Jersey can apply for grants to support innovative transit services meeting these criteria.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Transportation Commissioner and Highway Safety Director to update public awareness campaigns annually, including specific information about motorists' duty to slow down or change lanes when approaching pedestrians, bicycles, or personal conveyances (as defined in existing law C.39:4-92.4). It mandates that these campaigns explain the importance of complying with this rule, the risks of not following it, and the associated penalties. The campaigns must also include at least one annual use of variable message signs to inform drivers. The bill amends existing laws to integrate these requirements into routine safety communications.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act" to protect immigrants interacting with state and local government agencies. It prohibits public agencies, including law enforcement, schools, hospitals, and shelters, from collecting immigration status information unless strictly necessary for service eligibility. The bill bans state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities with detainers, notification requests, or transfers, and requires adoption of policies ensuring sensitive locations remain accessible to all residents regardless of immigration status. It mandates training for law enforcement officials and public awareness campaigns about these protections, with annual reporting requirements for agencies interacting with federal immigration authorities.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3694 prohibits businesses from owning, controlling, installing, managing, selling, or offering cryptocurrency ATMs within the state. It defines cryptocurrency as decentralized digital currency and specifies that crypto ATMs are internet-connected kiosks allowing users to buy, sell, or exchange digital currency using debit cards, credit cards, or cash. The bill amends existing consumer fraud law to make these activities unlawful, with penalties including fines up to $20,000 per violation and potential court-ordered restitution. This directly affects businesses operating or planning to operate crypto ATMs in New Jersey, aiming to address rising fraud losses - reported at over $110 million in 2023 - particularly impacting seniors with median losses of $10,000.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3698) allows surviving spouses of retired police or firefighters (PFRS members) who died due to work-related injuries or complications to keep state-paid health insurance (SHBP) and continue receiving pension benefits even after remarriage. It requires surviving spouses to provide documented proof that the injury causing the member's disability was a significant factor in their death. Eligible spouses can also apply to reinstate pensions terminated due to remarriage before this law took effect. The state covers all health insurance premiums for the spouse and dependent children and pays any increased retirement system costs from continued pension payments.
Maddy summaryS 3191 allows New Jersey's Transportation Research Bureau to award transportation research contracts to private universities and certain non-profit organizations, expanding beyond current law that restricted contracts to public institutions. The bureau must now determine if such contracts serve the public interest, and the bureau manager must actively build relationships with these private entities. All contracts must also include provisions addressing transportation and mobility needs for residents with disabilities, while excluding municipal planning organizations from eligibility. This change streamlines the contracting process without altering existing public bidding requirements.
Maddy summaryS 3588 waives the 15-day waiting period for medical aid in dying when a patient is not expected to survive 15 days, based on reasonable medical certainty. This affects terminally ill patients in New Jersey who are nearing the end of life, allowing them to access medication without the standard 15-day delay. The bill retains a 48-hour waiting period between the written request and prescription issuance. Physicians must document the medical basis for the waiver, but other requirements like two oral requests and informed consent remain unchanged.