Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools serving as polling places to create security plans ensuring voters cannot access or interact with students during elections. The plan must include a locked, separate voting area if school is in session, provided the school can implement it. It also clarifies that police officers may be present at senior residential centers or schools used as polling places only if requested by the center/school, must wear plain clothes, and cannot interfere with voters. Schools must notify election officials seven days before an election if requesting police presence, and all such requests trigger a chain of notifications to county and state election offices. The security plan requirement takes effect for the first election after the bill's enactment.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in every New Jersey state department or agency. It requires each department or agency head (or the Governor for independent bodies) to appoint a full-time Chief DEI Officer to lead the office, develop tailored training, and analyze workplace data. The offices must centralize DEI expertise, identify improvements to agency processes, and report on progress toward creating more inclusive workplaces. The bill explicitly prohibits using DEI data for immigration enforcement and mandates that all activities align with state and federal law. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to update existing school food waste guidelines to specifically include recommendations for utilizing food nearing best-by and expiration dates. The updated guidelines will provide K-12 schools and colleges with practical strategies - such as improved food labeling awareness, better purchasing/scheduling practices, and storage methods - to ensure older food items are consumed before newer stock. This addresses pre-consumer waste, which currently accounts for 4-10% of school food purchases, by preventing edible food from being discarded prematurely. The guidelines remain voluntary and will be posted on relevant state agency websites.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a "sheltered market program" in New Jersey that designates certain state contracts for certified minority, women's, disabled veterans', LGBTQ+-owned, veteran-owned, small, economically disadvantaged, and socially disadvantaged businesses. It requires state agencies to publish eligible contracts online, conduct outreach to these certified businesses, and report annually on contract awards and program performance. The program mandates that prime contractors make good-faith efforts to subcontract with qualified businesses and limits contracts to three years. It directly affects state agencies awarding contracts and certified businesses seeking state work, with oversight by the Department of the Treasury's Chief Diversity Officer.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a voluntary central registry for New Jersey residents aged 65 or older. It allows the Division of Aging Services to collect basic contact information (name, address, phone, email) to compile statistics on senior populations and provide emergency wellness checks during crises. The registry also shares links to services like NJ SAVE and Area Agencies on Aging, with strict confidentiality protections preventing public disclosure of personal data. Seniors can request removal after a 21-day waiting period, and the state will conduct a public awareness campaign in English and Spanish targeting those 64+ years old.
Maddy summaryS 2185 establishes the New Jersey Innovation Authority, a new state agency within the Department of the Treasury focused on modernizing government technology. The Authority will be governed by a 13-member board (including four state officials and nine public members appointed by the Governor with tech expertise) and will develop digital solutions to improve public services. It can hire staff without civil service restrictions and must undergo a 10-day Governor review period before implementing decisions. This bill directly affects state agencies seeking to streamline services and benefits the public through more efficient digital government interactions.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Department of Early Childhood within New Jersey's Executive Branch to consolidate early childhood services. It transfers specific responsibilities from the Department of Education (covering preschool-through-kindergarten programs like teacher licensing and Title I services) and the Department of Human Services (covering pregnancy-to-age-eight services like child care programs and the First Steps Initiative) to this new department. The bill defines the Commissioner as the head of the department, appointed by the Governor, and outlines the department's authority to manage these transferred programs, develop regulations, and coordinate services. This creates a single state agency responsible for early childhood education and care, directly affecting children aged birth through eight and the agencies currently managing these services.
Maddy summaryThis bill standardizes retirement benefits for New Jersey public employees by removing tiered membership in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). It transfers all current non-retired PERS members to "Tier 1" (the benefits tier for those enrolled before July 2007), ensuring they receive identical retirement and health benefits as pre-2007 members. It also automatically transfers service credit from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to PERS for DCRP participants, though their contributions remain in DCRP, and gives them 6 months to opt out. Additionally, it requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) into PERS within 60 days. Changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill’s effective date.
Maddy summarySCR 27 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee all New Jersey residents a fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, including clean air, pure water, safe climate, and healthy habitats. It designates the State as the trustee of all natural resources (waters, air, lands, wildlife, and climate) for both current and future generations, requiring the state to conserve and maintain these resources for public benefit. The amendment would be self-executing, meaning courts could enforce it directly without new laws, and it explicitly states these rights are in addition to existing environmental protections. This change would apply to all New Jersey residents and require the state government to uphold these environmental rights through its actions and policies.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 34) expresses the New Jersey Legislature's support for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives in higher education institutions and private businesses. It acknowledges New Jersey's diverse population - over 45% people of color, large immigrant communities, and multilingual residents - and cites evidence that DEIA programs improve student success in colleges and business performance. The resolution encourages colleges to adopt inclusive curricula and support services, and urges businesses to prioritize DEIA in hiring and workplace culture. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal force but aims to reinforce New Jersey’s commitment to inclusion without creating new requirements or funding.