Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in New Jersey to be accessible to drivers with disabilities within 18 months of the law's effective date. It mandates specific physical features, including 11-foot-wide charging spaces with 5-foot access aisles, clear floor space meeting ADA standards, and accessible communication features like touchscreens or audio interfaces. The law applies to all new EV charging installations and gives the Department of Transportation authority to require existing stations to comply where feasible. The bill directly affects EV charging station operators and ensures disabled drivers - using wheelchairs, canes, or mobility devices - can independently use charging stations.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board from 14 to 17 members and creates a new "Problematic Sexual Behavior Program" to address youth-related sexual behaviors. It establishes an annual progress review program for child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams to maintain funding eligibility, requiring compliance with National Children's Alliance standards. The program specifically defines "problematic sexual behavior" to include developmentally inappropriate actions by youth under 18, such as sexting or exposure to explicit content. The expanded board will include specialized professionals like psychologists, pediatricians, and care coordinators to oversee these initiatives. The bill directly affects child advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams, and youth with problematic sexual behaviors in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2788) creates a new type of protective order for witnesses or crime victims who were threatened or intimidated to prevent them from reporting a crime to police. It directly affects individuals targeted by someone attempting to obstruct their reporting (violating N.J.S.2C:29-3), including those not eligible for standard domestic violence protective orders. Key mechanisms include allowing immediate emergency court orders (even on weekends/holidays), waiving residency requirements for applications, and requiring police notification of orders. The court can issue orders based on a preponderance of evidence, focusing on past intimidation and future safety risks, without requiring criminal charges to have been filed.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's Work First New Jersey Child Care subsidy program funding by $28 million in the FY2026 budget, raising the appropriation from $565.8 million to $593.8 million. It directly affects lower-income families who rely on state child care subsidies to cover expenses, reversing a recent pause in new applications and increased family copayments. The key provision requires the state to resume accepting new applications and return to pre-August 1, 2025 copayment rates (2-6% of income), restoring the program to its prior operational status. This addresses a projected $25-$30 million shortfall that had forced the Department of Human Services to limit enrollment and raise costs for families.

Maddy summaryS 554 would amend New Jersey's public records law to prevent government agencies from releasing personal identifying information of violent crime victims and witnesses. The bill specifically prohibits disclosure of details like home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, email addresses, and social media handles in public records. This change directly affects victims and witnesses by keeping their sensitive information confidential, reducing risks of retaliation or harassment. The law applies to all state and local government records under the existing open records framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's assault statute to classify attacks on elected public officials and their immediate family members as aggravated assault. It directly affects elected officials (like mayors, council members, and state legislators) and their spouses, domestic partners, parents, siblings, children, and stepchildren. The key change adds a new definition to the assault law, automatically upgrading simple assaults against these protected individuals to aggravated assault, which carries harsher penalties. The bill excludes attacks on officials within mental health facilities or while they are patients/residents. This is a criminal law reform, not a new program, focusing on legal definitions rather than procedural details.

Maddy summaryS 3004 establishes the "Disability Mortality and Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee" within New Jersey's Department of Human Services to address cases involving adults (18+) with intellectual or developmental disabilities who have experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation, or died. The committee, composed of 13 diverse members including medical professionals, family members, providers, and advocates, will review select cases over two years to evaluate government system responses, identify prevention gaps, and recommend improvements to reporting and accountability processes. It will analyze factors contributing to incidents, assess investigative standards, and submit confidential findings to the Departments of Human Services and Children and Families. The bill was introduced in 2026 but withdrawn after being approved as part of P.L.2025, c.282.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2802, affects inmates in New Jersey state prisons who lose commutation credits (time credits toward early release) for minor disciplinary issues. It prohibits forfeiture of these credits for Category E disciplinary infractions (minor offenses) and creates a clear process to restore forfeited credits over two years: 50% restored after the first year without serious misconduct, and up to 100% after two consecutive years. Exceptions include credits lost due to frivolous lawsuits, failure in sex offender treatment, or specific sentencing scenarios. The Commissioner of Corrections and facility staff will review and approve restoration requests according to these new rules, applying to all state correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryS 642, the "New Jersey Clean Energy Act of 2024," requires all electricity sold to New Jersey consumers to come from 100% clean sources by 2035, directly affecting electric power suppliers and utilities. It establishes a "clean electricity certificate" (CEAC) program administered by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to track and verify zero-emission generation from sources like nuclear, solar, wind, and hydroelectric facilities. The bill mandates that electricity providers meet this standard by purchasing CEACs representing clean energy from qualifying facilities, excluding fossil fuel-based generation. This policy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution while supporting New Jersey's existing clean energy infrastructure goals.

Maddy summaryS 2722 requires New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance to assess how well banks, credit unions, and savings institutions serve low- and moderate-income consumers and communities. The bill mandates that the Department evaluate these institutions' lending, investments, and financial services - including affordable housing, small business loans, and accessible branch networks - as part of routine examinations. This assessment will rate institutions on their community reinvestment performance, focusing on underserved neighborhoods and areas with economic hardship. The goal is to ensure financial institutions meet community needs while operating safely, without requiring new funding or altering existing banking regulations.