Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school staff (including those in after-school programs) to complete epilepsy and seizure disorder care training every five years. It directly affects school boards, administrators, and all school personnel who interact with students. The key provision mandates that training must be provided through a Department of Health-approved course from a nonprofit epilepsy support organization. This ensures staff can recognize seizures, provide appropriate care, and know when to seek help, as outlined in individualized health plans developed with parent input and physician guidance. The law applies to all schools in the state and takes effect at the start of the first full school year after enactment.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2051 requires law enforcement officers to conduct a risk assessment for domestic violence victims who agree to participate. Officers must use the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) tool, gathering details on recent incidents, injuries, and weapon use. If the assessment indicates elevated risk of serious harm, officers must inform the victim and, with consent, connect them to crisis services or charge the suspect. The bill directly affects domestic violence victims (through consent-based assessments) and law enforcement officers (through mandated training and procedures).
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to restart the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (REEM) program using remaining uncommitted funds. It directly affects homeowners still recovering from Superstorm Sandy who have unmet rebuilding needs, as defined under existing law (P.L.2015, c.102). The key mechanism allows the DCA to accept new grant applications to provide financial assistance for recovery and rebuilding, leveraging funds that were previously allocated but not yet distributed. The bill mandates this action only if sufficient uncommitted funds remain, ensuring no new appropriations are required. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1.5 million grant program administered by New Jersey's Division of Local Government Services to help local governments (municipalities, counties, and other units) improve efficiency. Local governments can apply for grants up to $150,000 (counties) or $100,000 (municipalities) to hire certified consultants for operational reviews aimed at identifying cost savings, shared services, and service improvements. Recipients must contribute 25% of the grant amount and submit annual reports detailing fund use, achieved efficiencies, and cost savings. The program requires the state to publicly share results and best practices through online reports.
Maddy summaryThe Climate Superfund Act would require fossil fuel companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels between 1995 and the bill's effective date to pay compensatory damages for climate change impacts they caused. Companies responsible for over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during this period would pay based on their proportional share of emissions. The Department of Environmental Protection would collect these payments into a special fund and distribute them as grants for climate adaptation projects like flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would have six months to pay in full or choose nine annual installments, with potential for administrative appeals if they disagree with the assessment.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3528 creates the Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council within the Department of Health to address human trafficking risks linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The council, composed of nine survivor-led members with trafficking expertise, must hold at least eight meetings yearly and submit a detailed report to the Governor and Legislature within 240 days of enactment. Key provisions include evaluating existing anti-trafficking laws, recommending new programs or hotlines, developing public awareness campaigns (including signage), and coordinating with law enforcement. The bill appropriates $1 million for the council's operations and requires the Attorney General to issue trafficking response guidelines for law enforcement. This directly affects state agencies, survivors serving on the council, and the public through enhanced trafficking prevention measures during the World Cup event.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1067) requires the state's Department of Human Services to conduct a landscape analysis of mental health services accessible to deaf and hard of hearing residents. It mandates that mental health services be provided in a client's primary communication method (like sign language or speech), delivered by professionals certified in that method and trained in culturally appropriate care for the deaf community. The bill also requires the creation of a resource guide listing providers meeting these standards and defines key terms like "culturally affirmative mental health services." It directly affects deaf and hard of hearing individuals seeking mental health care across New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called "political violence" in New Jersey, defined as committing serious offenses (like assault, kidnapping, or homicide) specifically to interfere with or retaliate against someone because of their political affiliation or expression. It increases penalties for these acts - raising the crime level by one degree - and requires separate sentencing for both the underlying offense and the political violence charge. The bill also establishes an independent "Political Violence Review Board" to collect data on such cases, analyze potential disparities in how investigations are handled based on race, gender, age, or political identity, and ensure law enforcement follows new training requirements. It directly affects individuals committing politically motivated violence, law enforcement agencies, and the judicial system handling related cases.
Maddy summaryS 261, the "Compassion for Community Cats Law," requires animal shelters and rescue organizations in New Jersey to spay or neuter cats before adoption (with exceptions for kittens under two months or health reasons). It creates a new fund in the Department of Health, financed by penalties from shelter violations and other sources, to provide grants to municipalities for community cat programs. These programs must humanely trap, sterilize, vaccinate, ear-tip, and return outdoor cats to their original locations. The law directly affects animal shelters, municipalities running cat programs, and community cats (stray or feral cats with no known owner).
Maddy summaryS 3759 amends New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on "source of lawful income" in housing and employment. The bill defines "source of lawful income" to include housing assistance vouchers (like Section 8), disability benefits, veterans' benefits, child support, and other legal income sources. It clarifies that this prohibition applies specifically to income used for rental or mortgage payments, making existing protections more consistent throughout the law. The bill also increases the retirement benefit threshold from $27,000 to $44,000 and makes certain language gender-neutral.