Sen. Bob Singer

Maddy summaryS 672 establishes New Jersey's official definition of anti-Semitism by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) 2016 definition, including its "contemporary examples." It clarifies that criticism of Israel similar to criticism of other countries does not constitute anti-Semitism. The bill requires state agencies and institutions to use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding violations of anti-discrimination policies or laws. It explicitly states the definition does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing state, federal, or local anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryS 678, the "New Jersey No Patient Left Alone Act," requires specific facilities - including community residences for the developmentally disabled, hospices, long-term care facilities, and veterans' homes - to establish written visitation policies within 30 days. These policies must guarantee residents receive at least two hours of daily in-person visits from family, friends, caregivers, or spiritual advisors, with unlimited visitation for terminally ill patients. Facilities cannot ask visitors about vaccination status, must allow consensual physical contact, and must post policies online within 24 hours. The law applies immediately upon enactment and directly affects residents of these facilities across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryS 657 establishes New Jersey's Children's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (CVAERS) within the Department of Health. It requires health care providers (including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who administer vaccines) to report any side effects experienced by children under 19 within eight weeks of vaccination, regardless of whether the provider believes the vaccine caused the reaction. Reports must include child and provider details, the vaccine administered, and specific symptoms, with all personal information kept confidential. The system will collect data to support vaccine safety research and automatically share non-mandatory reports with the federal VAERS system. This bill directly affects health care providers who vaccinate children and aims to improve vaccine safety monitoring.

Maddy summaryThis bill broadens the definition of riot to include assemblies of three or more people engaging in violent disorderly conduct causing injury, property damage, or imminent danger. It creates new offenses of "mob intimidation" (using force/threats to compel someone) and "cyber-intimidation by publication" (sharing personal information to incite violence), and enhances penalties for crimes committed during riots. The bill establishes a duty for municipalities to allow law enforcement to respond appropriately during riots and requires pretrial detention for those arrested for these offenses. Penalties range from up to 18 months imprisonment for basic riot offenses to up to 10 years for aggravated riot.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's SCR 35 is a state resolution requesting Congress to call an Article V Convention of States to propose constitutional amendments. It specifically seeks amendments requiring a balanced federal budget, imposing term limits on members of Congress and Supreme Court Justices, and changing how electoral votes are allocated (using the Congressional District Method, like Maine and Nebraska). If adopted, these changes would directly affect federal budget processes, congressional elections, Supreme Court appointments, and presidential election outcomes. The resolution is a formal state-level application to initiate this constitutional convention process, not a law itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 650) requires a mandatory minimum 3-year prison sentence for drivers who leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident causing serious bodily injury, with no parole eligibility during that term. It applies directly to individuals convicted of this third-degree offense under New Jersey law. Key provisions include eliminating the presumption against imprisonment for this crime, requiring consecutive sentences if related assault charges are also filed, and removing the defense that a driver was unaware of the injury or accident violation. The law takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1885) simplifies New Jersey's definition of "veteran" for benefits eligibility by removing specific historical conflict date and location requirements. It eliminates the need for veterans to have served during exact periods like "World War II, between September 1, 1939 and September 2, 1945" or "Vietnam conflict, on or after December 31, 1960," instead requiring only 90 days of active military service (excluding basic training) with an honorable discharge. This change directly affects veterans whose service dates or locations no longer match current definitions but still meet the general service duration criteria. The bill focuses on streamlining access to benefits, maintaining exceptions for those with service-connected injuries regardless of service duration.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows veterinarians in New Jersey to transfer healthy animals to new homes or shelters instead of euthanizing them, but only under specific conditions. It applies when the owner requests euthanasia for behavioral reasons (not health issues), the vet confirms the animal isn’t a public safety risk and can be rehabilitated, and the owner is informed beforehand. If these conditions are met, the owner permanently gives up all rights to the animal, and the vet is protected from liability for the transfer. The bill modifies existing animal welfare law to provide this alternative to euthanasia for suitable cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary Medicaid coverage pathway for New Jersey residents needing home and community-based services or the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). It allows the Department of Human Services to grant "presumptive eligibility" to individuals likely to qualify for Medicaid and home care services while they await full eligibility determination. During this temporary coverage period (starting when they request services), providers receive payment for services rendered regardless of final eligibility status. Applicants must submit a full Medicaid application within one month of receiving presumptive eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 656) requires doctors to include an infant's vaccination history from the past six months in sudden infant death reports. It mandates that these reports, using a federal form, be submitted to the Child Fatality Review Board within 10 days. The board will then specifically study whether infant deaths or near-fatalities might be linked to vaccination, analyzing patterns and rates. The goal is to identify potential vaccination-related incidents and inform future public health actions, while maintaining routine vaccine safety.