Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2352, the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey," establishes state-level protections to prevent voting discrimination against racial, color, and language-minority groups (referred to as "protected classes"). The bill prohibits counties and local governments from implementing election policies that disproportionately burden these voters or dilute their political influence, requiring such policies to be narrowly tailored to a compelling justification. It defines key terms like "racially polarized voting" and sets specific evidence standards for proving violations, such as prioritizing historical election data over partisan explanations. The law directly affects all New Jersey counties, cities, school districts, and other political subdivisions responsible for election administration.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission to provide direct input to the state's Secretary of Higher Education on student concerns. The commission will consist of 14 student members representing all higher education sectors in New Jersey, including state colleges, public research universities, county colleges, independent colleges, and proprietary institutions. It will advise the Secretary on system-wide student issues like affordability, mental health, and campus safety, and must annually report findings and recommendations to the legislative Higher Education Committees. The commission operates without pay but covers reasonable expenses, with members appointed for one-year terms renewable by the Secretary.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S 2926 requires mortgage lenders to notify the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) within one business day when sending a foreclosure notice to a homeowner. This enables HMFA to proactively offer free foreclosure counseling services to affected homeowners, regardless of whether they plan to use the Foreclosure Mediation Program. The bill expands access to existing counseling resources by mandating outreach after lenders issue foreclosure notices, building on the current Foreclosure Mediation Assistance Program. It directly affects homeowners facing mortgage default who receive foreclosure notices, ensuring they can access counseling support without needing to participate in mediation first.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2933) requires New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to allow students applying for state grants or scholarships to submit monthly expense and resource statements when standard income verification (like tax returns or government benefit records) isn't possible. It specifically affects students - especially dependent students whose parents/guardians can't provide verifiable income - who previously faced automatic disqualification for unverifiable income. The key mechanism mandates HESAA to accept these statements and, if a student reports zero income/assets, impute a minimal standard of living for in-kind support (e.g., food, housing provided by others) on their statement. This policy change replaces the current rule that denied aid to such students without alternative verification.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits colleges, career schools, and third-party recruiters from misleading service members or veterans about federal tuition benefits like the GI Bill. It bans false claims regarding enrollment costs, benefit applicability toward tuition, or the terms of student loans. The bill also requires the state to launch a public awareness campaign - run by the Higher Education Office and Military Affairs Department - to help veterans and service members understand how to verify eligibility for benefits, confirm if institutions accept those benefits, and access additional financial aid. This campaign aims to provide clear, practical guidance on navigating federal education benefits without advocating for specific institutions or programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new first-degree crime called "home invasion" for entering or remaining in a residence with the intent to commit certain crimes (like robbery, assault, or sexual offenses) when others are present, and the offender uses force, threatens harm, or is armed with a weapon or explosive. It mandates a prison sentence of 10 to 30 years for home invasion, with 85% of the sentence served without parole due to inclusion under the No Early Release Act. The bill also upgrades burglary of a residence to a second-degree crime when a resident or other person is present (even if the burglar didn’t know they were there), increasing penalties from a third-degree to a second-degree offense. Burglary under these conditions now carries a prison term of 5 to 10 years and a fine up to $150,000, compared to the previous third-degree penalty.
Maddy summaryThis bill improves New Jersey's Better Education Savings Trust (NJBEST) program to help families save for college. It raises the income limit for tax deductions on contributions from $200,000 to $300,000 with a higher deduction cap of $15,000. The bill also expands grants: increasing the initial deposit match from $750 to $1,000 for account holders earning $150,000 or less, and adding a $500 grant for those transferring funds from out-of-state 529 accounts. Additionally, it creates a NJBEST Advisory Council to review the program's effectiveness in making college more affordable.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in critical-need applied science fields where regional workforce shortages exist. County colleges must submit detailed proposals to the New Jersey Presidents' Council, including evidence of labor shortages, program details, costs, and accreditation plans. The Council reviews proposals within 45 days, forwards recommendations to the Higher Education Secretary, and requires accreditation before programs can launch. Colleges may offer no more than three such programs, and must submit a seven-year impact report to evaluate student enrollment, completion rates, and program viability.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2928) would allow New Jersey inmates enrolled in college or associate degree programs to earn time credits that reduce their parole eligibility date. Specifically, it amends state law to explicitly include college and associate degree educational programs under "productive occupations" eligible for time remission. Inmates would receive one day off their sentence for every five days spent in these approved programs, consistent with current rules for other educational and vocational training. The change applies to all eligible inmates in correctional facilities who participate in such programs, expanding existing provisions that already cover some educational programming.
Maddy summarySJR 98 designates the second full week in May each year as "Food Allergy Awareness Week" in New Jersey. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public activities, such as distributing orange ribbons, to promote awareness. It directly affects New Jersey residents, particularly those managing food allergies, which impact millions of Americans including 6 million children. This procedural measure supports education about food allergies - where strict avoidance is the only prevention method - as stated in the resolution's background.