Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryThis bill requires doctors and nurses to give women aged 40 or older an informational pamphlet about menopause stages (perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause) during their annual physical exams, starting 180 days after the law takes effect. The New Jersey Department of Health must create and post this pamphlet online within 90 days of the law's effective date. The bill directly affects women receiving annual physicals and healthcare providers who perform those exams, mandating a specific educational resource be provided during routine visits. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, with implementation beginning 180 days later.

Maddy summaryS 2936 prohibits New Jersey municipalities, school districts, and state agencies from purchasing, installing, or using artificial turf for any new or existing athletic fields. The bill cites health and environmental concerns, noting artificial turf contains harmful chemicals (including carcinogens and "forever chemicals" like PFAS), microplastics, and can reach dangerously high temperatures. Existing artificial turf fields may remain in use but cannot be replaced with artificial turf. The law aims to shift investments toward natural grass fields, which the bill states are free of these hazards and can be maintained safely through organic practices.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes a default presumption that joint legal and physical custody - where children spend roughly equal time with both parents and parents share major decisions about health, education, and welfare - is in a child's best interest. Courts must assume this arrangement unless a parent provides clear, convincing evidence that it would harm the child, requiring documented findings if the presumption is rebutted. The bill directly affects all parents involved in child custody cases and judges making custody rulings in New Jersey. It modifies existing law to prioritize shared parenting as the standard, while still allowing courts to order alternative arrangements like sole custody if justified by the child's specific needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2873) restricts the disclosure and use of criminal records that have been legally expunged in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals with expunged records, background check companies, and government licensing boards. Key provisions include: making it illegal to knowingly share expunged records (with fines up to $5,000 per violation), requiring background check companies to delete expunged records within 30 days of a request, and mandating that licensing boards redact expunged convictions from their records while keeping the fact of disciplinary action visible. The bill strengthens enforcement of expungement by adding civil penalties and clear procedures for correcting records.

Maddy summaryS 2804 establishes a 5-year pilot program allowing New Jersey state entities and designated "pilot municipalities" to identify underused public assets (like properties or infrastructure) that could generate more revenue. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will help select these assets, contract with private firms to professionally manage them for higher returns, and share the increased revenue with participating entities. Funds must be used for specific community purposes: supporting minority-owned businesses, improving infrastructure, investing in education, or reducing property taxes. The program is temporary, ending after five years when management reverts to the original owner, and requires a final report to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryS 3149 establishes a new Office of Resilience within New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) to address the long-term impacts of childhood trauma. The bill directly affects children and families in New Jersey who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, or household instability, by creating state-level coordination to prevent and mitigate these effects. Key mechanisms include developing trauma-informed strategies for schools and health systems, launching public awareness campaigns about ACEs and positive childhood experiences (PCEs), and creating a virtual hub to connect community organizations with resources. The Office of Resilience will coordinate statewide efforts, publish research-based tools, and report annually to the Governor and Legislature on progress toward making New Jersey a trauma-informed state.

Maddy summaryS 2685 requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on menstrual health and hygiene for students in grades 4-12 as part of their health and physical education curriculum. The bill mandates teaching about proper use of menstrual products (including risks like Toxic Shock Syndrome), symptoms of menstrual disorders, effects of period poverty, and when to seek medical help. Schools must notify parents before starting this instruction, and the law takes effect for the first full school year after enactment. This directly affects all New Jersey public school districts and their students in the specified grade range.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "Farm Labor Equality Act" (S 1075), actually revises child labor laws in New Jersey, not farm labor standards. It raises the minimum age for agricultural work from 12 to 14 years after December 31, 2024, and limits minors under 18 to 10 hours per day in agriculture until 2025 (after which they follow standard minor labor rules). It requires minors aged 11-17 to register with the Department of Labor for work authorization, including proof of school status, and sets strict hour limits (e.g., max 40 hours/week for newspaper carriers). The bill directly affects minors under 18 working in agriculture or as newspaper carriers, and their employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed health care professionals to provide a Department of Health-prepared pamphlet on menopause stages to female patients aged 35-39 during annual physical examinations, starting 180 days after the law takes effect. It directly affects female patients in this age group receiving routine check-ups. The key provision mandates the Department of Health to create and publish an online pamphlet detailing menopause information within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires physicians to complete one hour of ongoing training on communicating with and treating deaf or hard of hearing patients as part of their medical license renewal. It also mandates that hospital emergency departments develop specific training protocols for staff interacting with deaf or hard of hearing patients. The Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing will create a dedicated training unit to develop and administer these programs. The law applies directly to licensed physicians and emergency department staff in New Jersey hospitals.