Sen. Vince Polistina

Maddy summaryS 1020 creates a new third-degree crime in New Jersey for "gang assault," defined as causing bodily injury to another person when aided by two or more other people actually present and with intent to cause harm. It directly affects individuals who commit violent assaults in groups of three or more, including those targeting third parties. The bill specifies that "bodily injury" includes physical pain, illness, or physical impairment, and sets penalties of 3-5 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. This law is modeled after a similar provision in New York state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program to study whether consolidating certain school districts into unified K-12 regional districts is feasible. It appropriates $150,000 to fund the program, requiring three school districts (one in each of New Jersey's northern, central, and southern regions) to conduct a year-long planning study on educational and financial impacts. To move to implementation, voters in each participating municipality must approve the regionalization, and the state will provide annual incentive aid to cover cost equalization during a five-year implementation phase. An independent evaluator will assess outcomes like student achievement, finances, and community satisfaction throughout the pilot.

Maddy summaryS 2050 establishes a $500 one-time grant program for New Jersey college students who complete unpaid short-term internships with state government entities. Administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, the grant covers textbook and course material costs for the student’s next semester. To qualify, students must have finished an unpaid state internship and be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program at a New Jersey institution, with proof of continued enrollment. The bill aims to help offset the average annual textbook cost of over $1,200 for students, as noted by the College Board.

Maddy summaryS 2541 allocates $4.32 billion from New Jersey's Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to help all 565 municipalities and 21 counties retire existing local debt or fund capital projects (like water systems, parks, or public safety facilities) without issuing new bonds. It directs the Department of Treasury to distribute $3 billion to municipalities equally per resident and $1.32 billion to counties equally per resident, with all funds to be distributed within 30 days of enactment. The bill adds $2.35 billion to the fund from the General Fund to support this allocation. This directly affects every local government in New Jersey by providing immediate, equitable funding for debt reduction and infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2040) creates new criminal penalties for operating drones (unmanned aircraft systems) to assist in committing other offenses. It makes it a crime to use a drone to further a petty disorderly persons offense (4th degree) or any other crime (graded one level higher than the underlying offense). Key provisions include penalties for drones interfering with first responders, operating near correctional facilities without permission, taking wildlife, or violating restraining orders. Upon conviction, the drone, controller, or associated digital device must be forfeited to law enforcement. The bill directly affects anyone using drones to commit or aid in crimes, with specific penalties based on the type of offense involved.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act to exclude full-time students and au pairs from the legal definition of "domestic worker." It removes these groups from the law's coverage, meaning they will no longer be protected under the bill's wage, scheduling, and working condition provisions. The bill also deletes a provision that held employers jointly liable for violations, meaning employers will no longer face shared financial responsibility for unpaid wages or other breaches. These changes directly affect domestic workers who are full-time students or au pairs by removing their legal protections under this law.

Maddy summaryS 2069 extends the funding period for the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority's (CRDA) Urban Revitalization Program from 20 to 40 years for eligible projects. It modifies two funds: the project fund (for construction materials and retail sales tax revenues) and the room fund (for luxury tax revenues), allowing annual grants to casino licensees and the CRDA for approved district projects over 40 years. The bill caps total grants at five times a project's approved cost, whichever comes first. This directly affects casino licensees and communities near casino locations in New Jersey, as it ensures continued financial support for urban revitalization efforts tied to casino operations. The bill is pending before the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.

Maddy summaryS 2030 establishes New Jersey's Elementary Home Reading Grant Program to improve reading proficiency among elementary students. The bill appropriates $500,000 from unspent federal pandemic funds to provide matching grants to school districts partnering with nonprofits. These programs must mail weekly reading books to students' homes, include multilingual parent engagement calls/texts, offer 6-9 books for students to keep, and track metrics like books read and parental involvement. The program targets underperforming students, prioritizes districts with high numbers of economically disadvantaged students, and requires annual reporting on outcomes to the Legislature.

Maddy summaryS 2114 would create special New Jersey license plates for active U.S. Coast Guard members, honorably separated former members, and their spouses or parents. The plates would display the Coast Guard seal and cost an additional $25 per vehicle beyond standard registration fees. This procedural bill authorizes the Motor Vehicle Commission to issue the plates and retain fees to cover program costs, with no substantive policy changes beyond the plate design and fee structure.

Maddy summaryS 1275 requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey (including hospital, medical, and health service corporation plans) to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing. Diagnostic exams evaluate abnormalities found in screenings or detected otherwise, while supplemental exams screen high-risk patients (e.g., those with dense breasts or family history) when no abnormality exists. The bill mandates coverage "to the same extent as for any other sickness" under insurance contracts, eliminating deductibles, copays, or coinsurance for these specific exams. This directly affects New Jersey residents with health insurance who require these medically necessary breast screenings.