Sen. Parker Space

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Food Security Advocate to create and operate a dedicated hotline for individuals and organizations seeking to donate large quantities of surplus food. The hotline will receive donation requests via phone, in-person, or electronic means, then connect donors directly with food banks and community resources to facilitate food delivery. It also mandates a public awareness campaign using TV, radio, internet, and social media to inform residents about the hotline's purpose and availability. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill automatically adjusts New Jersey's income tax thresholds and qualification limits for inflation starting in 2022. It affects taxpayers who qualify for specific deductions or exemptions, such as those using education savings accounts, paying student loans under state programs, or claiming tuition deductions at in-state colleges. The key mechanism requires the state tax director to annually update these thresholds using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), rounding to the nearest $5. This ensures the income limits for these tax benefits grow with the cost of living, without requiring new legislation each year.

Maddy summaryS 1725 removes a current legal limit that restricts the Division of Fish and Wildlife to issuing no more than 200 beaver trapping permits annually. This change directly affects landowners or property managers who need permits to control beavers damaging their property, as the division can now issue as many permits as needed for wildlife management. The key provision eliminates the specific 200-permit cap in the existing law, granting the division full discretion to issue permits based on resource management needs. The bill does not create new regulations or fees but allows the division to adjust permit issuance without numerical limits.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1115 requires the Attorney General to establish a voting fraud task force within the Division of Criminal Justice. The task force, made up of state, county, and municipal law enforcement officers selected by the AG, will investigate and prosecute voting fraud using a coordinated strategy. This bill directly affects the Attorney General's office and law enforcement agencies by creating a new structure for addressing voting fraud cases. It takes effect six months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1693) dedicates specific funding from New Jersey's existing Workforce Development Partnership Fund to promote apprenticeships. It allocates 5% of annual revenues to One Stop Career Centers for statewide apprenticeship promotion and 0.5% to the Apprenticeship Start-Up Grant Program. These funds support accredited apprenticeship programs (approved by the U.S. Department of Labor) and help workers - especially displaced or disadvantaged individuals - gain industry-valued credentials through training. The bill directly affects apprenticeship programs, career centers, and workers seeking job training opportunities.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 935 establishes a 20-member Forest Fire Preparedness Commission within the Department of Environmental Protection. The commission includes state officials (like the Environmental Protection Commissioner and State Firewarden), fire service representatives, and appointed members from firefighting organizations, environmental groups, and the public. Its key duties are to audit the state's wildfire response readiness, develop a coordination roadmap for emergency responders (firefighters, police, medical teams), and create standardized communication systems for wildfire incidents. The commission must submit a final report within two years, after which it will dissolve. This bill directly affects state and local emergency response systems and aims to improve coordinated wildfire prevention and response across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1695) allows corrections officers, firefighters, and police officers to administer epinephrine auto-injectors after completing an approved training program. It directly affects these public safety personnel by authorizing them to use the devices to treat severe allergic reactions, following certification from the Commissioner of Health. Key provisions require completion of a state-approved educational program for certification, permit health care professionals to prescribe devices via standing orders, and allow employers to maintain stock under commissioner-established protocols. The bill amends existing law (P.L.2015, c.215) to explicitly include these officers, clarifying their existing authority without creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Commission on Efficiency and Regulatory Review within New Jersey's Office of Administrative Law. The commission reviews state agency rules and executive orders to assess their economic impact on businesses, workers, and local governments, determining if costs outweigh benefits. It holds public hearings twice yearly and annually recommends rule amendments, rescissions, or repeals to the governor - though these recommendations are advisory only and do not change existing regulations. The commission includes 12 agency representatives, legislative leaders, and a public chairperson appointed by the governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2412, removes restrictions preventing police officers from being near polling places under specific circumstances. It allows police officers to travel to, remain at, or return from a police station located within 100 feet of a polling place for official duties. It also permits Class Three special law enforcement officers (defined for school security) to be assigned to polling places at public schools to maintain order during elections. These changes apply to all polling places in New Jersey, directly affecting law enforcement officers, polling locations, and election security protocols. The bill does not alter voting procedures or ballot handling.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to obtain written permission from a parent or legal guardian before administering certain student health surveys. It specifically applies to anonymous, voluntary surveys about substance use (alcohol, tobacco, drugs, vaping), sexual behavior, injury/violence behaviors, or physical activity/nutrition. Schools must provide a detailed permission form at least two weeks prior, explaining the survey's purpose, data access, and how to approve or deny participation. Collected data must be submitted to state education and health departments for public health initiatives (not commercial use), and districts violating the requirement face monetary penalties.