Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 380) requires businesses, schools, and other entities that mandate COVID-19 vaccination proof for access to services, employment, or venues to accept a voluntary verbal confirmation of prior COVID-19 infection or protective immune response as an equivalent alternative. It ensures individuals who recovered from COVID-19 and developed natural immunity face the same employment terms and access rights as vaccinated people. The law applies to schools (including preschools and universities), workplaces, and public accommodations, but explicitly states it does not override federal requirements or create a vaccine passport system. Entities must treat this confirmation as valid as vaccination proof without requiring additional testing.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 410) shifts responsibility for paying high-cost special education services from school districts to the New Jersey State Department of Education. It applies to students requiring "high needs placements" where the projected annual cost exceeds $55,000 (adjusted yearly), covering services like residential care or extended school year programs detailed in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). The state will directly contract with service providers and make 10 monthly payments starting in October, replacing the current system where districts pay upfront and seek partial reimbursement. This aims to ensure consistent funding for students with disabilities while reducing financial strain on school districts.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 424) prohibits colleges and universities from withholding student transcripts due to unpaid balances, directly affecting current and former students who owe money to their institution. It specifically bans institutions from refusing transcripts, charging extra fees for transcripts, or using transcript issuance as a debt collection tool - allowing only the actual cost of producing transcripts to be charged. Institutions failing to provide transcripts within 10 business days face daily penalties of $500 per day for noncompliance. The law applies to all public and private institutions of higher education licensed to grant degrees.
Maddy summarySJR 18 directs New Jersey's Attorney General to investigate whether organizations promoting the legalization of adult-minor relationships use the internet to encourage sex offenders to violate state law. The resolution specifically focuses on online recruitment by such groups and their potential role in facilitating crimes against minors. The Attorney General must complete this investigation and report findings to the Governor and Legislature within one year. This is a procedural resolution (not a law) that mandates a study into online activities of pedophile organizations, without creating new legal penalties. It affects the Attorney General's office and aims to assess internet-based risks to child safety under existing age-of-consent laws.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a "Children's Vaccination Bill of Rights" for children in New Jersey, directly affecting parents and healthcare providers by changing vaccine policy requirements. Key provisions require independent safety testing of vaccines, mandate detailed informed consent about ingredients and risks before vaccination, and grant parents final authority over vaccination decisions based on scientific evidence. The bill also requires the state to be liable for vaccine injuries, provide clear legal recourse information, and apply protections equally regardless of race, religion, or economic status. It explicitly prohibits vaccine mandates as a condition for public school enrollment under the state constitution.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 386) expands the New Jersey State Auditor’s authority to conduct performance review audits of business incentive programs administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA). It requires the State Auditor to audit all EDA programs providing financial assistance (like grants, loans, tax credits, or exemptions) to businesses at least once every two years, including those supporting film/digital media production. The bill mandates that all audit reports and results be published online for 14 days on the Legislature’s website and maintained on a dedicated State Auditor webpage. These audits will assess program effectiveness and compliance, with findings reported to the Legislature. The measure directly affects EDA’s business incentive programs and entities receiving their financial assistance.
Maddy summarySCR 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit most emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by New Jersey's Governor to a 14-day period during a state of emergency. After 14 days, such measures would automatically expire unless the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution extending them. The amendment does not apply to orders rescinding prior emergency actions, federal compliance measures, executive branch rules, National Guard actions, or orders issued under existing laws with longer timeframes. This change would shift authority from the Governor to require legislative approval for extended emergency powers, while maintaining current flexibility for specific exceptions.
Maddy summaryS 1329 requires New Jersey school districts to provide parents with a voucher covering 75% of the district's per-pupil spending (prorated for remaining school days) if they withdraw their child from public school due to objections about curriculum content they deem harmful. It specifically includes objections related to material conflicting with parental beliefs about sex, sexuality, gender identity, religion, or morality. The voucher must cover tuition and fees for enrollment in a nonpublic school. This applies to all public school students in New Jersey whose parents make such objections.
Maddy summaryS 382 prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on fertilization timing (not the standard due date), directly affecting pregnant people seeking later-term procedures and physicians performing them. The law requires doctors to determine the unborn child’s probable post-fertilization age before performing an abortion, banning the procedure at 20 weeks or more unless exceptions apply. These exceptions cover life-threatening medical conditions for the pregnant person, rape (with prior police reporting and 48-hour counseling), or incest involving minors. If an abortion is performed under an exception and the child is born alive, the law mandates that a second physician trained in neonatal care must be present to provide immediate medical assistance.
Maddy summaryS 962 (New Jersey) bars the state health commissioner and other government entities from requiring students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to attend public K-12 schools. The bill directly affects all students enrolled in New Jersey's public primary and secondary schools by removing a potential vaccination mandate for school attendance. Key provisions state that no state entity may make SARS-CoV-2 vaccination a condition of enrollment, effective immediately upon enactment. This policy change shifts school immunization requirements away from including the COVID-19 vaccine as a standard prerequisite.