Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryS 3874 establishes a multiple sclerosis (MS) public awareness campaign within New Jersey's Department of Health. The campaign will provide accessible information about MS causes, symptoms, treatments, and quality-of-life impacts through print and electronic materials in English and Spanish. The Department of Health must make this information available on its website and update it as new medical knowledge becomes available. This initiative directly informs New Jersey residents, with a focus on supporting individuals living with MS by offering resources for managing their condition.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 117) urges the U.S. President and Congress to create federal legislation providing proportional property tax relief for veterans with service-connected permanent disabilities. It proposes that federal relief would be calculated based on a veteran's disability rating from the VA, offering a tax benefit proportional to that rating. The resolution specifies that this relief would apply only to primary residences and be limited to veterans with annual incomes under $200,000. It notes that while New Jersey already offers full property tax exemptions for veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities, this federal solution would extend similar proportional support nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state agencies from purchasing opioid antidotes (such as naloxone) from pharmaceutical companies that were involved in settlements related to the opioid epidemic. It requires that only manufacturers and distributors not party to such settlements can be considered for state procurement contracts. Companies that participated in these settlements (including affiliates) are barred from bidding on opioid antidote contracts, though existing agreements made before September 1, 2024, will continue until fulfilled. The policy aims to direct state purchasing toward entities not linked to causing the opioid crisis.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2652 revises laws to better protect children from sexual exploitation. It creates a civil right for victims (or their guardians/advocacy groups) to sue perpetrators for three times the profits gained from distributing child sexual abuse material, holding both individuals and corporate employees personally liable. The bill also expands sex offender registration requirements to include anyone working with children in schools or jobs for over 14 consecutive days, clarifies which offenses trigger registration (like creating or sharing exploitative material), and adds a limited exception for juvenile-created nude photos under strict conditions. These changes directly affect victims of child exploitation, perpetrators, and institutions that facilitate such abuse. The law passed unanimously in 2024 (P.L.2024, c.92).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare providers to help pregnant patients create personalized postpartum care plans during prenatal visits. It mandates that plans include specific elements like care team contacts, breastfeeding guidance, mental health support for postpartum depression, and management strategies for physical complications. Hospitals must also provide standardized discharge information covering warning signs of postpartum complications (such as severe bleeding, high blood pressure, and infection) before patients leave after childbirth, pregnancy loss, or stillbirth. The law directly affects pregnant people in New Jersey receiving maternity care, aiming to address preventable maternal health issues and reduce disparities in maternal mortality rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors and subcontractors working on public projects covered by New Jersey's prevailing wage law to hold a mandatory orientation meeting for each new employee on their first day of work. The meeting must explain the employee's wages and job classification under the prevailing wage law, and the employee must sign a form confirming they received the information. Contractors must retain these signed forms for at least five years and provide them to the Department of Labor upon request. The law aims to ensure new employees understand their wage rights from the start of their employment.

Maddy summaryS 3871 establishes an Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Program within New Jersey’s Department of Labor, connecting employers in the AI industry with apprentices for training in AI technology, data analytics, and automation. It also creates a tax credit allowing employers to claim up to $5,000 per qualified AI apprentice annually (based on half the apprentice’s wages, capped at $5,000). To qualify, apprentices must be unskilled or semi-skilled, employed for at least 20 weeks in a state-compliant program, and work in AI-related roles like software development or generative AI applications. The credit applies to both the state’s gross income tax and corporation business tax starting in 2026, supporting employer investment in workforce development.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public colleges and universities to provide students with disabilities access to assistive services during class, such as note-taking software or a scribe, for recording course material. It specifically limits recording use to personal study and excludes tests or graded assignments completed during class. The policy directly affects students with disabilities attending public higher education institutions in New Jersey. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection to New Jersey homeowners who received federal disaster assistance for damage from Hurricane Ida's remnants. It establishes a process for eligible homeowners to apply to the Department of Community Affairs for a "Certification of Eligibility for Forbearance," which would temporarily suspend mortgage principal and interest payments for one year. Homeowners must have occupied their primary residence as of August 31, 2021, and received federal disaster assistance related to Hurricane Ida damage. During the forbearance period, mortgage servicers cannot initiate foreclosure proceedings, though homeowners remain responsible for property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. The relief ends either one year after the forbearance begins or January 1, 2026, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryAJR 46 designates January of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey to recognize the state's significant Hindu community. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with activities honoring Hindu cultural contributions. It acknowledges New Jersey has the highest percentage of Hindus in the U.S. (about 3% of the population) and home to the world's largest Hindu temple in Robbinsville. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the community's heritage.