Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryS 5010 establishes the Garden State Guarantee Program to provide financial aid grants covering the remaining cost of tuition and fees at New Jersey's public four-year colleges after other grants are applied, for students in their third and fourth years of study (60-128 cumulative credits). Eligible students must be New Jersey residents, enrolled full-time (12+ credits), with family income under $100,000, and must have applied for all other available grants via FAFSA. The bill also increases the income-based eligibility threshold for the Community College Opportunity Grant Program, which supports community college students. These changes aim to reduce out-of-pocket costs for middle-income students at public institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permanent fund to support public colleges and universities in New Jersey that are federally designated as minority-serving institutions (MSIs). The fund, financed by state appropriations and eligible federal or private funds, provides resources for initiatives aimed at increasing minority student enrollment, retention, and graduation rates, expanding access to higher education, and addressing equity gaps. The state's Office of the Secretary of Higher Education will administer the fund and distribute money to qualifying institutions based on a methodology they develop. Recipients must report how they use the funds to the Secretary.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey retail food establishments (like restaurants and cafes) to clearly display a "High caffeine" warning or approved symbol next to any beverage containing 150 milligrams or more of caffeine per serving on all menus - including digital, printed, and drive-through displays. It applies to all such beverages offered as standard or temporary menu items. Violations result in fines of $200-$500 for the first offense and $500-$1,000 for repeat offenses, enforced by state or local health authorities. The law also prohibits local governments from creating their own caffeine disclosure rules, making this a statewide requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time tenants using federal housing choice vouchers (Section 8) have to find new housing after their landlord sells the property. Currently, tenants have 60 days to relocate, but this bill sets a new standard of at least 180 calendar days as the initial period. The change applies to all housing agencies in New Jersey administering the federal voucher program, replacing the previous 60-day standard with a longer, fixed timeframe. Tenants directly affected are those receiving federal housing vouchers who must move due to a property sale, giving them more time to secure new housing.

Maddy summaryS 5012 establishes the New Jersey Center for Black Excellence in Health at Rutgers University. The center will directly serve Black communities and people of color by facilitating health programs, researching culturally appropriate care models, building community partnerships to address health disparities, and recommending systemic changes to the state's public health system. Key mechanisms include forming a 12-member steering committee (co-chaired by Rutgers and the Health Commissioner) with representatives from state health agencies, hospitals, business groups, and advocacy organizations. The center may seek grant funding and Rutgers may hire staff to advance these goals, with the bill taking effect immediately.

Maddy summarySJR 97 designates the last week of April each year as "Reentry Week" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about the challenges formerly incarcerated individuals face when returning to their communities. The resolution specifically highlights barriers such as finding housing, employment, healthcare, and family reunification, encouraging state agencies and community organizations to support reentry efforts. It permits the Governor to issue an annual proclamation promoting observance of the week but does not create new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to review and update the statewide use of force policy for law enforcement officers at least every two years. It mandates the Attorney General to consider four core principles during reviews: prioritizing de-escalation before force, using only reasonable/necessary force (with deadly force as a last resort), respecting human life, and requiring officers to intervene, provide aid, and report force incidents. The updated policy must be sent to all county/municipal police departments, prosecutors, and the State Police. This directly affects every law enforcement agency in New Jersey by establishing a regular, structured process for evaluating and improving use-of-force standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2802) requires New Jersey's Silver Alert System to use identical broadcast procedures as the Amber Alert System for media outlets. Specifically, participating radio and TV stations must play a distinctive tone followed by "This is a Missing Person Silver Alert" and include the missing person's description and contact information. Alerts must be broadcast as frequently as possible for the first three hours, then at intervals determined by law enforcement and media. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies coordinating alerts, media outlets, and missing persons with cognitive impairments (the target of Silver Alerts). It mandates procedural alignment with Amber Alerts without changing the criteria for issuing Silver Alerts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1763 allows advanced practice nurses (alongside physicians and physician assistants) to provide medical documentation supporting home instruction for students with health conditions requiring extended absence from school. The bill requires parents to submit a written note from one of these healthcare providers stating the student needs to stay home for over 10 consecutive days or 171 cumulative school days due to a health condition. This change directly affects students needing home instruction, their families, and school districts handling such requests. It modifies existing requirements by expanding the qualified healthcare professionals who can verify the medical need, without altering other eligibility rules for home instruction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to study racial disparities in ovarian cancer. The study must examine differences in rates, symptoms, risk factors, and outcomes among women of specific racial and ethnic groups, including Asian, African-American, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander communities. The DOH must complete the study and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of the bill's enactment. The bill expires once this report is submitted.