Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day" to raise awareness about the challenges faced by widows. It requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day through activities that highlight widows' experiences. The bill does not create new policies, funding, or legal changes - it serves solely as a symbolic recognition of widows' issues, citing statistics like 260 million widows globally and 1 million U.S. widows annually. It passed unanimously in the New Jersey Assembly and became law (P.L.2025, JR-10).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey City University (NJCU) and Kean University to protect unionized faculty and professional staff during a potential merger. It prohibits termination, layoff, or reassignment for three years after the merger and ensures internal hiring priority for vacant positions created by the merger. Existing union contracts, salaries, benefits, and job security terms must remain unchanged for three years, with Kean University barred from altering these without union consent. Violations allow unions to seek immediate court action or binding arbitration through New Jersey's Public Employment Relations Commission.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4641 requires the Department of Human Services to implement security measures to protect SNAP recipients' benefits from theft, including mandating strong PINs, two-factor authentication for balance checks, and educating recipients on fraud prevention. The bill upgrades criminal penalties for SNAP theft: stealing $150 or more becomes a third-degree crime (up to 5 years in prison), while theft under $150 becomes a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months). It also establishes a process for replacing stolen benefits after recipients submit a police report or evidence of fraud, using state funds if federal funds aren't available. The law directly affects SNAP recipients in New Jersey by enhancing security and creating a clear path to recover stolen benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to launch a 90-day pilot program in the state's 10 municipalities with the highest violent crime rates, as identified in the latest Uniform Crime Report. Participating local law enforcement agencies would receive ballistics scanning devices to analyze cartridge cases at crime scenes, instantly generating investigative reports to speed up firearm-related investigations. After the pilot, each agency must submit a usage report with recommendations on continuing the device, and the Attorney General must then advise the Governor and Legislature on whether to make the program permanent with annual funding. The bill directly affects law enforcement in these high-crime communities and focuses on improving firearm investigation efficiency through technology.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Civil Service Commission to create a free mentoring program for firefighter applicants living in municipalities with a median income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. The program provides guidance through the application, exam, and hiring process via workshops, study groups, and mentorship from current or former firefighters. Mentors (volunteers with no payment) are encouraged to match the mentee's racial or ethnic background, and participants may use the program up to three times within a decade. The Commission must annually review the program's effectiveness and remove mentees once they accept a job offer.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey municipalities with career fire departments (paid or part-paid) to organize and deploy firefighters according to the national NFPA 1710 standard (2020 edition), which focuses on firefighter safety and effective response protocols. It amends state law to mandate that municipal governing bodies or fire district boards ensure deployment for fire suppression, rescue, and related activities aligns with this standard, and directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to create implementing rules. The requirement applies specifically to career departments that respond to at least 50% of initial full-alarm assignments, directly affecting over 100 New Jersey fire departments. The policy change prevents local units from lowering safety standards due to budget or political pressures, ensuring consistent national safety benchmarks for firefighters.

Maddy summaryS 4392 amends New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program to require that all original music and musical scores for qualifying productions be produced and recorded domestically within the United States. This change applies to film and digital media content producers seeking tax credits under the program. To qualify for the tax credit, producers must now ensure all original music and musical scores are created within the U.S. or its territories, in addition to other existing requirements. The bill specifically adds this requirement to the eligibility criteria for tax credit qualification under Sections 1(a)(f) and 1(b)(e) of the amended law. This is a new condition for eligibility that must be met for producers to receive tax credit benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires scrap metal businesses in New Jersey to verify the identity of sellers and obtain written disclosure about whether scrap metal contains a propulsion battery (like those from electric vehicles) before purchasing it. If sellers state no battery is present, businesses must inspect the metal to confirm. Businesses must maintain detailed records of disclosures and inspections for five years and share them with law enforcement upon request. The law directly affects scrap metal businesses and individuals selling scrap metal containing propulsion batteries.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses receiving New Jersey economic development subsidies (valued at over $25,000) to forfeit part of their subsidy or pay costs if they violate state environmental laws. Specifically, if the Environmental Protection Commissioner determines a business caused an environmental incident, the business must either forfeit 20% of its annual subsidies or pay the full costs of remediation - including housing relocation, air filtration systems, and mental health services for affected residents. Payments collected will fund the new Environmental Incident Recovery Fund, which reimburses impacted residents for qualifying costs. The law applies to all future subsidy agreements and mandates businesses to comply within 30 days or risk losing all future subsidies.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the intentional addition of carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, flame-resistant chemicals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to synthetic hair products sold in New Jersey. It specifically targets products made from artificial fibers like polyester, nylon, or acrylic that mimic human hair. Businesses manufacturing, selling, or distributing these products must comply with the ban, which prohibits both the chemicals themselves and products emitting VOCs during normal use. Violations carry fines up to $20,000 per offense and may trigger cease-and-desist orders or additional penalties under New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act. The law takes effect 13 months after enactment.