Maddy summaryS 3491 establishes legal protections for patients and healthcare providers accessing or providing reproductive health care (including abortion) and gender-affirming health care services in New Jersey. The bill defines "legally protected health care activity" as services lawful in New Jersey, regardless of where the patient resides, and creates criminal penalties for interfering with access to these services (such as obstructing facilities, intimidating patients, or recording individuals without consent). It also prohibits New Jersey from extraditing people for providing or seeking these services, protects patient privacy regarding these services, and specifies that fertilized eggs, embryos, or fetuses cannot have independent legal rights under New Jersey law. The bill applies to all individuals seeking or providing these services within New Jersey, including those traveling from states with restrictions on reproductive or gender-affirming care.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's official definition of anti-Semitism by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition, including its "contemporary examples," for use by state institutions. It requires state entities to consider this definition when reviewing or investigating potential anti-Semitic discrimination or bias crimes. The bill appropriates $100,000 to fund a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office, promoting the state's bias crimes reporting hotline and resources for identifying and reporting anti-Semitic incidents. The campaign aims to increase public understanding and reporting of bias crimes, particularly affecting Jewish communities and other vulnerable groups in New Jersey. The bill explicitly states it does not diminish First Amendment rights or conflict with existing anti-discrimination laws.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a separate criminal offense specifically for burglary of a residence, distinct from general burglary under current law. It defines "residential dwelling" broadly to include any structure primarily used as a home (like houses, apartments, or temporary shelters) or places for overnight stays. The law makes entering such a residence with intent to commit a crime a third-degree offense, unless aggravating factors apply (such as threatening violence, carrying weapons, or entering while someone is present), which would elevate it to a second-degree crime. Penalties remain unchanged: third-degree burglary carries 3-5 years in prison, while second-degree carries 5-10 years. The primary purpose is to improve tracking of residential burglaries for law enforcement and data analysis.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3430) would require courts to impose an extended prison term for individuals convicted of receiving stolen property who have two or more prior separate convictions for the same offense (N.J.S.2C:20-7) or substantially equivalent crimes. It applies only if the current offense occurred within 10 years of the defendant’s last release from prison or the most recent prior conviction. The prosecutor must request the extended sentence, and the defendant gets a hearing to contest the evidence. This directly affects repeat offenders of receiving stolen property, increasing potential prison time for those with prior convictions.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3395) requires criminal history record checks for workers conducting construction or public works in school buildings, including general contractors, subcontractors, and third-party contractor employees. It mandates that school districts update their visitor policies to register these workers upon entering school buildings. Contractors must submit lists of workers who've undergone required checks and certify that all have passed the same background checks as school employees. The bill increases fines for non-compliance from $500 to $1,000 for first offenses and $5,000 for subsequent offenses, with third offenses leading to a three-year contract ban with state agencies. It applies the same background check standards used for public school employees to construction workers in school settings.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes a $10,000 annual salary threshold for retired public school teachers returning to teaching positions at New Jersey's public colleges and universities. Currently, these retirees avoid having their retirement benefits canceled only if their new salary exceeds $10,000 per year. The bill eliminates this specific dollar amount, meaning the exemption applies automatically regardless of salary. It directly affects retired educators who return to teaching roles at public higher education institutions. The change simplifies the rule by removing an outdated reference, aligning with legislative intent.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 109) is a ceremonial honor for the 40th anniversary of New Jersey's Jersey Fresh program, established in 1984. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the program's role in promoting locally grown produce through its quality label and marketing campaigns. The resolution acknowledges how Jersey Fresh supports New Jersey farms, guarantees produce meets U.S. No. 1 Fresh for Processing standards, and has become a national model for agricultural branding. It affects no specific individuals or entities, as it is a symbolic gesture by the legislature.
Maddy summaryThe "Transparency in Government Act" (S 3355) requires New Jersey to create a free, searchable public website showing detailed state financial data. State agencies must provide annual spending (including salaries, contracts, and aid to local governments), revenue (like taxes and grants), and bond debt information starting from fiscal year 2000. Data must be updated within 45 days after each fiscal year ends and cannot be removed, though private or confidential information remains excluded. The public, including residents and researchers, can access this information to track state finances, while the State Treasurer and an advisory committee oversee the website's development and updates.
Maddy summaryThis bill bars state prosecutors, the Attorney General, First Assistant Attorney General, and members of the State Commission of Investigation from campaigning for other elected offices while serving in their current roles. It requires these officials to wait three years after leaving their positions before running for elected office, extending the existing one-year ban for Commission members to match other covered positions. The bill does not apply to municipal prosecutors. It prohibits these officials from signing campaign materials or holding party positions during service and after their term ends.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2015) requires public institutions of higher education to pay prevailing wages for construction and maintenance work on projects intended for use by the institution at the time of construction. It clarifies that this applies to work done under contracts with entities associated with public bodies (such as university foundations) and to projects receiving financial assistance from public bodies. The bill ensures workers on these projects receive the prevailing wage rate determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, with limited exceptions for housing-related projects. This directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and workers involved in construction for public colleges and universities across New Jersey.