Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4971) creates a "Small Business Interruption Grant Program" administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA). It provides grants to small businesses in low-income communities (defined as municipalities under 10,000 population with >7.5% poverty rate) that suffered economic loss due to prolonged state infrastructure or construction projects. Grants are based on actual or projected revenue loss from closures or reduced business, with $750,000 appropriated from the General Fund to fund the program. Businesses must independently own and operate (<100 employees), be located in a qualifying community, and demonstrate project-related revenue loss to qualify.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the responsibilities of New Jersey's Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board and establishes a Problematic Sexual Behavior Program to address cases involving youth under 18 exhibiting developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviors. The program creates specialized care coordinators in each region, a screening process through the State Central Registry, and evidence-based mental health services for affected youth and families. It appropriates $8.5 million from the General Fund, with $5 million for the Child Treatment Assistance Fund and $3.5 million funding specialized coordinators, training for mental health providers, and data collection. Child advocacy centers must adopt updated guidelines for annual progress reviews to maintain compliance with National Children's Alliance standards. The program aims to improve access to medical and mental health services for youth engaging in or impacted by problematic sexual behavior and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $0.40 monthly fee per mobile line on New Jersey residents using commercial mobile or IP-enabled voice services, excluding Lifeline program users. Telecom companies collect the fee from customers and remit it quarterly to a new "9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account" in the state treasury. Funds in this account will be used to support the 9-8-8 crisis system, including routing calls/texts, providing mobile crisis response teams and stabilization services, and funding public awareness campaigns. The fee applies to all standard mobile subscribers but does not affect federal Lifeline participants.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1151) requires all general and special hospitals to create and implement evidence-based protocols for early sepsis recognition and treatment. The protocols must cover both adult and pediatric patients, include screening processes, specific treatment guidelines with timeframes, infection source identification, and procedures for excluding inappropriate cases (like patients in palliative care). Hospitals must train relevant staff, submit protocols to the Department of Health for approval within 120 days of enactment, and annually report sepsis-related data for quality improvement and mortality rate tracking. The law aims to standardize care for sepsis - a leading cause of death in New Jersey - by ensuring hospitals follow current medical standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the FY2026 state budget for New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) by $16.7 million to raise the monthly reimbursement rate paid to care management organizations (CMOs). The rate will increase from $1,032 to $1,200 per client in FY2026, with annual $100 increases until reaching $1,500 per client. CMOs, which coordinate care for youth with complex behavioral health needs, substance use disorders, or developmental disabilities, directly benefit from this funding change. The adjustment is implemented through a specific line item in the state's annual appropriations act.

Maddy summaryS 4850 creates a new criminal offense called "victimization" for crimes committed against seniors (60+) or people with disabilities, with penalties one level higher than the original offense. It makes perpetrators strictly liable - meaning they cannot claim they didn’t know the victim was vulnerable, even if they reasonably believed otherwise. The bill defines "person with a disability" as someone with a pre-existing impairment preventing normal resistance (including Social Security recipients) and mandates separate sentences for both the underlying crime and the victimization charge. This applies to offenses listed in Chapters 11-18 of New Jersey’s criminal code, such as assault, burglary, or harassment.

Maddy summarySJR 169 is a symbolic resolution designating November 13 of each year as "Day of Civility" in New Jersey. It requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day through educational programs and activities promoting courteous conduct. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or obligations; it solely serves as a ceremonial observance. It aligns with "World Kindness Day" and references studies on public perceptions of incivility, but the measure itself has no enforceable provisions.

Maddy summaryThe SLUMLORD Act strengthens habitability protections for residential tenants in New Jersey by requiring landlords to designate a principal agent who is personally liable for severe habitability violations. The bill creates a new Habitability Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Program within the Department of Community Affairs, funded with $5 million, to provide tenant advocacy and initiate lawsuits on behalf of tenants for habitability violations. Tenants can now seek $1,000 for standard habitability violations and $2,000 for severe violations, plus attorney's fees, and the bill establishes a database to track habitability violations across the state. This legislation directly affects residential tenants, landlords, and the Department of Community Affairs, with key provisions including mandatory principal agent designation and codified tenant remedies.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey colleges and for-profit institutions from paying online program management companies (OPMs) incentive-based compensation (like tuition-sharing or bonuses tied to student enrollment), except for recruiting students abroad. It requires institutions to submit all OPM contracts to the state education secretary within 20 days, with governing boards reviewing them for prohibited terms (e.g., OPM control over curriculum or admissions). Institutions must also publish annual reports detailing OPM spending categories (marketing, instruction, student support), program costs, student demographics, and financial aid data on their websites. Violations trigger $10,000 penalties per breach or the maximum incentive amount owed, whichever is higher.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4784) requires New Jersey county prosecutors and assistant prosecutors handling sexual assault cases to complete in-person, biennial training on trauma-informed practices. The training curriculum must cover cultural competency (addressing race, gender, and socioeconomic factors), emotional intelligence for victim support, and victim-centered approaches prioritizing safety and autonomy to prevent re-traumatization. The Division of Criminal Justice must review the training annually (previously every five years) and the Attorney General must implement compliance audits and address noncompliance. The bill also adds a rape care advocate to the state’s sexual assault unit, which previously included only investigators and forensic nurses. This directly affects prosecutors, victim advocates, and survivors navigating the justice system.