Maddy summaryThis bill provides two tax benefits: it exempts retail sales of certain school supplies, art supplies, instructional materials, computers under $3,000, and school computer supplies under $1,000 from New Jersey's sales tax when purchased by individuals for non-business use year-round (replacing a temporary back-to-school holiday). It also creates a $500 annual deduction for eligible teachers' unreimbursed classroom expenses, including items like books, pencils, computers, and lab equipment. The tax exemption applies to sales after the fourth month following enactment, while the deduction applies to taxable years starting after the next January 1. These provisions directly affect students purchasing supplies, parents buying school items, and teachers covering classroom costs.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 2537 requires manufacturers and retailers of hemp-derived cannabinoid products (like Delta-8-THC edibles, vapes, and cosmetics) to register with New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission and comply with safety testing, labeling, and content disclosure rules. It directly affects businesses selling these products, which currently operate outside regulated cannabis/hemp frameworks despite containing psychoactive compounds that may exceed legal THC limits. Key provisions mandate product testing for safety and potency, clear labeling of cannabinoid content (including Delta-8-THC), and registration to track products not meeting existing hemp regulations. The bill aims to address safety concerns raised by independent tests showing some products contain dangerously high THC levels and untested isomers.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2878) amends New Jersey sentencing law to add a new mitigating factor for defendants convicted of crimes who were victims of substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse that contributed to their offense. It directly affects individuals convicted of non-murder offenses (excluding certain sex offenses) who can demonstrate their abuse was a contributing factor to their crime. The key provision requires courts to consider this abuse history during sentencing, regardless of whether the defendant raised it as a defense. The bill was introduced in 2026 but withdrawn after being approved as part of P.L.2025, c.328.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires doctors and nurses to give women aged 40 or older an informational pamphlet about menopause stages (perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause) during their annual physical exams, starting 180 days after the law takes effect. The New Jersey Department of Health must create and post this pamphlet online within 90 days of the law's effective date. The bill directly affects women receiving annual physicals and healthcare providers who perform those exams, mandating a specific educational resource be provided during routine visits. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, with implementation beginning 180 days later.
Maddy summaryS 3149 establishes a new Office of Resilience within New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) to address the long-term impacts of childhood trauma. The bill directly affects children and families in New Jersey who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, or household instability, by creating state-level coordination to prevent and mitigate these effects. Key mechanisms include developing trauma-informed strategies for schools and health systems, launching public awareness campaigns about ACEs and positive childhood experiences (PCEs), and creating a virtual hub to connect community organizations with resources. The Office of Resilience will coordinate statewide efforts, publish research-based tools, and report annually to the Governor and Legislature on progress toward making New Jersey a trauma-informed state.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to create guidelines ensuring colleges provide clear, standardized financial aid offers to students. The guidelines mandate that institutions disclose direct/indirect costs, total and net price of attendance, standardized terms for aid types, student rights to accept/decline offers, contact information for assistance, and ban the term "award" in offers. It directly affects all New Jersey colleges and universities (including proprietary institutions) that receive state funding, aiming to address transparency gaps identified in a 2022 GAO report where most schools failed to provide key cost information. The guidelines must align with federal requirements and existing state law on financial aid transparency.
Maddy summaryS 2698 establishes five new centers and programs at Rutgers University - Newark and appropriates $6.5 million annually for their operation. The centers include the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race (researching race and politics connections), CLiME (studying systemic inequality and racism in policy), CLSCR (building local business supply chains), RE-OPEN (supporting justice-impacted individuals re-entering communities), and NJSTEP (providing college courses to incarcerated people). Each center receives specific annual funding: $1 million for the first four and $2.5 million for NJSTEP. This bill directly affects Rutgers University - Newark, which will manage the programs, and the communities they serve, including students, justice-impacted individuals, and local businesses.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Interagency Council on Menopause within New Jersey's Department of Health to improve care during menopause transitions. It requires licensed health care professionals to provide evidence-based pamphlets about menopause (for patients 40+) or early menopause (for patients 35-39) during annual physical exams. The council, made up of 15 members including health officials and public representatives with relevant expertise, will develop educational resources, support research, and make policy recommendations. The Department of Health must publish these pamphlets within 90 days, and the council must report annually to the Governor and Legislature starting 18 months after the bill's effective date. The bill directly affects women receiving annual physicals and healthcare providers in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public colleges and universities in New Jersey to create campus food waste reduction programs. The programs must redirect unused food from dining halls, events, and facilities to local food security programs like soup kitchens and pantries, while following all food safety standards. Institutions must also submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing their contributions and post these reports online. The law aims to reduce food waste while supporting community food assistance efforts.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2233) proposes a temporary teaching license ("emergency endorsement") for educators in high-need fields like bilingual education when schools cannot find certified candidates. It allows school administrators to apply for this license if they demonstrate a shortage of qualified teachers, requiring candidates to already hold teaching credentials in another area and be enrolled in relevant coursework. The license can be renewed annually for up to two years (totaling three years max), but no more than 20% of a school’s teaching staff can hold such licenses. The Department of Education must publish and annually update a list of eligible high-need fields.