Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2643) amends charter school laws to clarify enrollment rules, student placements, and reporting requirements. It requires charter schools to admit all students without discrimination (except for grade-level or program-specific limits), prioritize local students with random selection for oversubscribed seats, and establish procedures for non-resident enrollment. The bill also mandates charter schools to appoint student placement liaisons who track student transitions, conduct exit interviews for non-graduating students, and report exit data (like reasons for leaving) in annual reports. The bill was withdrawn after becoming law as P.L.2025, c.276.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's state holiday "Juneteenth Day" from the third Friday in June to June 19 each year, aligning it with the federal Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday. It directly affects state government employees (who receive paid time off) and businesses (which must observe the holiday for public office closures and financial transactions). The change modifies two state laws: P.L.2008, c.89 (defining state employee holidays) and R.S.36:1-1 (defining public holidays for business purposes). The bill does not create new benefits or obligations but corrects the existing date to match the federal observance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all general hospitals in New Jersey to create at least one private bereavement room. The rooms must be available for family members who receive upsetting news about a loved one receiving treatment, including news of death. The Commissioner of Health will enforce this requirement, mandating hospitals to designate and maintain these spaces. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment. It directly affects hospitals and families receiving critical health updates during hospital stays.

Maddy summaryS 2346 extends health insurance coverage for adult children with disabilities beyond the typical age limit of 26. It requires health plans to continue coverage for individuals 26 or older who have an intellectual disability or physical handicap and are chiefly dependent on their parent for support. The law prohibits health plans from denying coverage based on factors like marriage, having a child, or not living with the parent. This applies to hospital, medical, and health service corporation contracts in New Jersey, ensuring continuous coverage for a specific group of disabled adults who rely on parental support.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 409 allows counties and municipalities to reduce water, sewer, and stormwater fees for low-income households. It requires local authorities to establish income-based eligibility (at or below federal poverty guidelines) and verify household composition, ownership, and income through documented applications. Authorities must ensure budget stability by setting aside sufficient revenue or obtaining approval to cover reduced fees without raising rates for others. The bill applies to both sewer and water systems, mandating clear advertising of the program in billing materials and setting annual application deadlines.

Maddy summaryS 2846 establishes a five-year pilot program in New Jersey's Department of Education to support low-income households through integrated services for both parents/caregivers and children. The program will operate in municipalities with poverty rates at least twice the statewide average, providing bundled services like early learning, adult education, job training, childcare, housing assistance, and health services - all coordinated at a single location. It requires a long-term plan for statewide expansion, partnerships with philanthropic organizations, and a workforce liaison to align services with employer needs. An interagency working group will oversee implementation and report on outcomes - including family economic stability, school readiness, and workforce success - within four years.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to voluntarily redirect a portion of their state income tax refund (or make a separate contribution) into a dedicated "School Aid Contribution Fund." The collected funds are required to supplement, not replace, the state's annual school aid budget, with all money deposited into the fund being annually appropriated to school districts through the existing school funding formula. Taxpayers can choose to contribute via their tax return, and the Legislature must use all collected funds to increase school aid without reducing the prior year's state funding level.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2798) gives New Jersey's Real Estate Appraiser Board authority to revoke, suspend, or fine licensed appraisers and appraisal management companies that knowingly discriminate in residential property appraisals based on race, creed, color, or national origin. It directly affects appraisers and appraisal firms who engage in such discriminatory practices. The Board may take these actions after an investigation confirms violations, must provide written notice and a hearing opportunity under state law, and the law takes effect immediately. This creates specific enforcement tools to address discriminatory appraisal practices in housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to offer businesses an optional electronic service for receiving legally required notices, such as violation warnings, underpayment alerts, and unemployment claims. State entities must notify affected businesses within 60 days of the bill's effective date about this option and provide instructions to opt in. The requirement applies to all executive branch departments, boards, commissions, and other state agencies defined as "State entities" under the bill. Businesses receiving these notices can choose to receive them electronically instead of by mail, with state entities implementing the service "to the maximum extent practicable."

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a requirement that public school employees (in school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects) must live in New Jersey. It applies for three years after the bill's effective date, allowing schools to hire out-of-state residents without requiring them to move to New Jersey. To qualify, the position must have been advertised to New Jersey residents for at least three months before hiring, and the employee cannot have been a New Jersey resident working in a school district within the past year. This change aims to help schools recruit staff with specialized skills who might otherwise be unavailable.