Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain New Jersey municipalities to adopt a property tax system that charges lower tax rates on building improvements than on the land itself. It primarily affects municipalities designated as needing infrastructure investment, which can implement the system immediately, while other municipalities must apply to the Division of Taxation for approval. The law requires that municipalities with significant open space, farmland, or environmentally sensitive land cannot adopt this system, and it permits local governments to gradually phase in or phase out the different tax rates over time.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Division on Violence Prevention and Intervention within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to coordinate violence prevention resources across all counties. The division will be led by a director appointed by the Attorney General who can secure federal and private funding, while each county must appoint a coordinator to map existing services, develop prevention programs, and connect community volunteers and mentors. Key responsibilities include identifying community spaces for prevention activities, fostering collaboration among agencies addressing homicide, suicide, and youth violence, and supporting reentry programs for ex-offenders. The legislation also authorizes annual state funding for the director and county coordinators to implement these initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies existing regulations that allow public school students in New Jersey to record certain absences as excused, including religious observances, Veterans Day participation, and civic events. It specifically expands these provisions to permit up to three excused absences per school year for grades 11 and 12 students attending military service activities, vocational or trade school visits, or labor-related open houses. The legislation ensures that these excused absences do not negatively impact a student's attendance record or eligibility for perfect attendance awards, while requiring students to provide documentation to verify their eligibility. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment but remains inactive until the start of the first full school year following that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to investigate how online video game platforms and marketplaces are being used for human trafficking and the commercial sex abuse of minors. The investigation must be ongoing, gather information from various sources, review consumer complaints, identify vulnerable platforms, and document exploitation methods. Companies operating in or accessible to New Jersey residents must cooperate with the investigation by responding to requests for information and protecting whistleblowers. The Attorney General will submit reports to the Governor and Legislature every 18 months and annually thereafter, while also developing prevention and enforcement recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Children's Health Promotion Fund in New Jersey to support healthy eating and lifestyle programs for low-income children. The fund will collect money from existing state taxes and distribute it to the Department of Health for programs that improve access to healthy foods, educate families on nutrition and physical activity, and raise public awareness about healthy living. The bill also amends existing tax laws to clarify what services are subject to sales tax, including tanning, massage, tattooing, and various retail and service transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to create and distribute a satisfaction survey to clients who use support coordination services. The survey will rate each support coordination agency on a five-star scale, with results updated and published quarterly on the division's website. Support coordination agencies assist individuals with developmental disabilities in accessing medical, social, educational, and other services. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment, allowing the division to prepare for implementation in advance.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits colleges and universities from paying commissions, bonuses, or tuition-sharing fees to online program management companies for recruiting students, with the sole exception of recruiting students from foreign countries. It requires institutions to submit all contracts with these third-party companies to the Secretary of Higher Education within 20 days of signing and mandates that governing boards review and approve such agreements before they take effect. The law also restricts what these contracts can include, banning provisions that allow companies to influence curriculum design, set admission standards, hire faculty, or use the institution's name and logos in ways that mislead students into thinking the company is part of the school.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May of each year as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey to honor and recognize the contributions of individuals aged 65 and older. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. While the bill includes background information on the aging population and their societal roles, its primary effect is symbolic recognition rather than creating new laws or funding. The measure takes effect immediately upon passage and does not alter existing policies or programs for older New Jersey residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new minimum standards for New Jersey nursing homes, requiring the Department of Health to assess facilities based on resident physical and mental well-being, operational metrics, and safety indicators. It creates a tiered enforcement system where nursing homes receiving low federal ratings or failing to meet state standards face escalating consequences, starting with warnings and potentially progressing to restrictions on admitting new residents, payment reductions, or revocation of Medicaid participation. The law also mandates annual reviews of these standards and enforcement measures to ensure they remain effective in evaluating and improving nursing home care quality.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution declares racism a public health crisis in New Jersey, recognizing it as a systemic issue that negatively impacts the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of residents. The resolution is based on evidence linking racism to health disparities, including higher rates of chronic disease, maternal mortality, and stress-related conditions among Black and brown communities. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal statement to raise awareness and direct copies to state health and legal officials for further consideration.