Maddy summaryS 2855 requires New Jersey's Attorney General to develop a uniform basic training curriculum for police officers, to be implemented at all approved police training schools across the state. The bill mandates annual review and updates to this curriculum by the Attorney General, in consultation with the Police Training Commission. It directly affects police training schools (including regional, county, municipal, and association-run programs) and new officers entering law enforcement. Key provisions include standardizing entry-level training content, requiring schools to follow the curriculum, and giving the Commission authority to oversee implementation and school approvals. The bill does not change existing training standards but creates a statewide uniform requirement for foundational police training.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 524 requires public schools with 5% or more students qualifying for federal free/reduced-price meals to offer a school breakfast program, lowering the current threshold from 20%. This applies to all schools meeting the 5% eligibility rate, including those serving pre-K through 6th grade (requiring implementation by September 1, 2023) and other grades (by September 1, 2024). School districts must submit implementation plans to the Department of Agriculture by specific deadlines, with waivers available for schools lacking resources to comply. The bill aligns breakfast program requirements with existing lunch program rules, aiming to expand access to school breakfasts for more students.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program to include victims of domestic abuse who file as "married filing separately." It removes the requirement for these taxpayers to file jointly with an abusive spouse to qualify for the credit, which they previously lost by filing separately. To claim the credit, victims must meet three conditions: living apart from their spouse when filing, being unable to file jointly due to domestic abuse, and indicating this on their tax return. The change aligns New Jersey's EITC rules with federal requirements for domestic abuse victims, ensuring they can access the credit without forcing them to remain in unsafe situations.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 253) amends New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act to broaden the definition of "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" by explicitly adding "gender identity and expression" and "mental, physical or sensory disability" to the list of protected characteristics. It directly affects all New Jersey public schools, requiring them to address bullying incidents motivated by these characteristics under the expanded definition. The change ensures schools must now consider these factors when investigating and reporting bullying, aligning with existing requirements to disaggregate data by race, gender, sexual orientation, and other categories. This policy update standardizes how schools identify and respond to bullying across all protected groups.
Maddy summaryThis bill sets a minimum $300 payment rate per basic life support emergency ambulance transport under New Jersey's Medicaid program, increasing from the current $58 rate. It also establishes a minimum $8.94 per loaded mile reimbursement for ground ambulance mileage, with annual adjustments tied to the Medicare rate. The changes apply to all Medicaid-covered emergency transports starting July 1, 2024, affecting ambulance providers serving Medicaid patients. The law requires the state to update Medicaid rules and seek federal approval for these reimbursement changes.
Maddy summaryS 1973 exempts local utilities - including sewerage authorities, municipal utilities, and other local government entities providing electricity, gas, sewer, or water services - from certain reporting requirements under New Jersey law. Specifically, it removes "local utility" from the list of entities required to submit detailed pandemic-impact reports to the Board of Public Utilities. The bill amends existing law to exclude these local entities from submitting quarterly reports on customer disconnections, arrears, assistance programs, and financial impacts related to the coronavirus pandemic. This change directly affects local utility providers not regulated by the Board of Public Utilities, reducing their administrative reporting burden.
Maddy summaryS 1636 requires every New Jersey county to provide at least one drive-up ballot drop box (designed with accessible features like turning radius and curb cuts) available 24/7. County election boards must establish a minimum of 10 ballot drop boxes total, including locations at county government buildings, municipalities over 5,000 residents, and college campuses with over 5,000 students. The bill mandates ADA-compliant sites with security cameras, prohibits political displays within 100 feet, and requires all locations to be accessible. This directly affects county election boards’ operations and expands voter access to secure ballot drop options.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2878) amends New Jersey sentencing law to add a new mitigating factor for defendants convicted of crimes who were victims of substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse that contributed to their offense. It directly affects individuals convicted of non-murder offenses (excluding certain sex offenses) who can demonstrate their abuse was a contributing factor to their crime. The key provision requires courts to consider this abuse history during sentencing, regardless of whether the defendant raised it as a defense. The bill was introduced in 2026 but withdrawn after being approved as part of P.L.2025, c.328.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 595 bans sellers from charging credit card surcharges (extra fees for using credit cards) and requires clear notices about minimum credit card transaction amounts and cash/debit discounts. It applies to all retailers and restaurants in the state, mandating visible signs at entrances, checkout points, or online checkout pages to disclose these terms. Gas stations (motor fuel dealers) are exempt from the notice requirements for cash discounts but remain subject to the surcharge ban. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill replaces the terms "alien" and "illegal alien" with "noncitizen" and "undocumented noncitizen" throughout New Jersey state statutes and prohibits executive branch agencies from using the outdated terms. It directly affects all state laws and agency communications that currently reference these terms, including inheritance, estate, and lottery prize assignment provisions. The key mechanism is a straightforward language update to modernize terminology in existing statutes without creating new policies or requirements. The bill focuses solely on terminology, not on changing rights or responsibilities for noncitizens.