Maddy summaryS 4375 extends the pause on collecting new student growth objective data for teachers and administrator goals data through the 2024-2025 school year and beyond. It requires school districts to use existing data from previous years for educator evaluations during this pause, while new or non-tenured educators must still set goals and collect data for that year. The bill directly affects teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice principals in New Jersey public schools, and school districts responsible for implementing evaluations. The pause will continue until the next expiration and readoption of N.J.A.C.6A:10, the state's education regulation governing annual staff evaluations, allowing time for potential revisions recommended by the Educator Evaluation Review Task Force.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 3429 expands New Jersey's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students with children. It directly affects students enrolled in higher education programs who meet existing income, asset, and residency requirements. The bill amends eligibility rules to add these students to the program's qualifying categories, without changing other existing criteria. The legislation also requires the Department of Human Services to seek federal funding for these expanded services and update related regulations.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations act to correct the recipient name for a $500,000 grant designated for the Meals on Wheels Program. It specifically directs these funds to the "Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey" instead of the current reference to "Jewish Federation of New Jersey," which is not the organization's official name. The change ensures the grant is properly distributed to the intended provider serving seniors. The bill makes a technical correction to existing funding language without altering the program's scope or funding amount.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires governing boards of New Jersey's public colleges and universities to notify the state's Secretary of Higher Education within 14 days before moving forward with any proposed merger or consolidation. The required notice must include the reason for the merger, estimated costs and financial impacts, and how it would affect students and employees. It applies to both full institutional mergers and consolidations of schools within a single institution. The bill does not block mergers but ensures the state is informed about planned changes to higher education structures.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 114) urges Congress to pass the "Find It Early Act" (H.R. 3086), a federal bill introduced by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. The resolution highlights that women with dense breast tissue - approximately half of women over 40 - face challenges detecting breast cancer early with standard mammograms, and additional screenings like ultrasounds or MRIs are often not fully covered by insurance. It emphasizes that requiring insurance coverage for these supplemental screenings would improve affordability and access for women at higher risk, potentially increasing early detection rates (where 5-year survival is 99%). The resolution does not create new law but formally requests Congress enact this existing bill.
Maddy summaryS 4401 establishes the ARRIVE Together Program to provide mental health crisis response alternatives to traditional police involvement. The bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies (including state police, county departments, and municipal forces) to partner with contracted mental health providers who can respond to calls involving individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises. Key provisions include mandating 24/7/7 mental health services, designating crisis response coordinators in police agencies and county prosecutors' offices, and protecting personal identifying information related to crisis responses as confidential. The program codifies a 2022 pilot initiative, aiming to reduce violence by connecting people in crisis with appropriate care instead of law enforcement escalation.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners to create and maintain written minutes for all their meetings and public hearings. It mandates that the Commissioners submit certified copies of these minutes to the Governor within 15 days of the meeting. The Governor may veto specific actions referenced in the minutes within that 15-day period, which would nullify those actions; otherwise, the actions take effect after the review period ends. This applies directly to the Commissioners' operational procedures and gives the Governor a limited review authority over their meeting records.
Maddy summarySenate Bill S 4500 requires New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), New Jersey Transit (NJT), and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to provide 15 days' notice to the Governor and Legislature before holding public hearings on proposed fare, toll, or charge increases. It also mandates 70 days' notice before NJTA implements any toll, fare, or charge increase. The bill similarly requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to provide 15 days' notice to the Governor and Legislature before considering or making final decisions on public utility rate increase filings. These provisions aim to increase transparency in transportation pricing decisions by giving state officials more time to review proposed changes.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover treatment for lipedema, a chronic condition involving abnormal fat accumulation. It mandates coverage for specific treatments including compression garments, manual lymphatic drainage, medical nutrition therapy, mental health care, and lipectomy when deemed medically necessary by a surgeon. Insurers must accept a physician's diagnosis and surgeon documentation (including photos if applicable) as sufficient for coverage, cannot deny coverage solely based on photos, and must cover the full number of lipectomies recommended by a surgeon. Prior authorization for lipectomy must remain valid for one year, and coverage must align with the current standard of care for lipedema treatment.
Maddy summarySJR 165 designates August 10 of each year as Ecuador Day to honor Ecuador's independence from Spain (commemorating the 1809 declaration in Quito) and recognize New Jersey's partnership with Ecuador through trade, cultural exchanges, and the state's large Ecuadorian immigrant community (237,532 residents, or 3% of New Jersey's population). The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance through community events and activities. This symbolic measure does not create new laws or require state funding, focusing solely on recognition of historical ties and the Ecuadorian community.