Sen. Britnee Timberlake

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act," creating a Migrant and Refugee Resource Coordination Program within the Department of Human Services. The program connects migrants (individuals relocating to NJ from other countries) and refugees (those granted federal refugee status) with public assistance resources, including housing, healthcare, education, job training, and legal services. The Department must collaborate with local governments and community organizations, implement multilingual outreach, and submit annual reports detailing program effectiveness and recommendations. The law takes immediate effect and focuses on facilitating access to existing state services, not creating new benefits.

Maddy summaryS 2838 establishes the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to research and develop recommendations addressing generational harms caused by New Jersey's historical role in slavery and ongoing systemic racial discrimination. The task force will examine specific issues like racial wealth gaps (where Black families have a median net worth of $5,900 vs. $309,000 for white families), housing discrimination, mass incarceration, and voting disparities affecting Black residents. It will produce a report with policy proposals for state-based reparations, focusing on systemic inequities documented in the bill, such as Black children being 30 times more likely to be incarcerated than white children. The bill directly affects Black communities in New Jersey facing persistent racial disparities in housing, education, and criminal justice.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows most defendants on suspended sentences, probation, or parole to shorten their supervision period by 30 days for every full month they comply with all conditions (like attending counseling or avoiding drugs). It excludes individuals convicted of serious sex offenses against minors (such as aggravated sexual assault, child endangerment, or child prostitution) from this benefit. Courts must review compliance every six months, and the Administrative Director of the Courts must track recidivism rates to evaluate the program's impact. The changes apply to New Jersey's sentencing laws under Titles 2C and 30.

Maddy summaryS 2771, the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act, prohibits state and local government agencies from holding individuals for federal immigration authorities based on immigration detainers. It requires agencies like schools, hospitals, and law enforcement to provide services without fear of immigration enforcement, ensuring all residents access public services regardless of immigration status. The bill specifically bans cooperation with "immigration detainers" (requests from federal authorities to detain people) unless supported by a judicial warrant. This directly affects immigrant communities by reducing barriers to healthcare, education, and public safety services, while directing state resources toward local priorities instead of federal immigration enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's school bus stop laws to authorize the use of school bus monitoring systems for enforcement. It directly affects drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses (including those transporting children or individuals with developmental disabilities) and school districts/municipalities that install such systems. Key provisions establish that violations captured by these systems result in a $250 civil penalty (instead of criminal penalties), with collected funds directed to municipal and school safety programs. The bill also clarifies that registered vehicle owners are presumed responsible for violations recorded by the systems.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2919 allows eligible voters who missed the standard 21-day registration deadline to register and vote on election day or during early voting. It permits voters to register in person at their assigned polling place on election day or at an early voting site in their county, provided they show ID or utility bill proof and complete a registration affirmation. The bill amends existing law to ensure provisional ballots cast under these conditions are counted if valid, without requiring prior registration. This change directly affects voters who register late but meets the in-person verification requirements at voting locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 426) would require New Jersey to provide Medicare health care coverage to all state residents - regardless of age, health, or disability status - expanding the federal program beyond its current eligibility rules. It mandates the state to seek federal waivers from CMS to replace existing health programs (like Medicaid) with universal Medicare coverage, with costs adjusted based on existing Medicare/Medicaid payments. The bill also prohibits private insurers from offering duplicate coverage for services already provided through Medicare. This would apply to anyone domiciled in New Jersey for 30 days prior to applying, starting immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies New Jersey's existing Attorney General directive to prevent state and local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement. It prohibits police from stopping, questioning, or arresting people based solely on immigration status, asking about immigration status (except in specific criminal investigations), or sharing personal information like license numbers or addresses with federal immigration authorities. The law explicitly states that police must focus on enforcing New Jersey's criminal laws, not federal immigration law, to maintain community trust and public safety. It directly affects all New Jersey state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officers.

Maddy summaryS 5037, the "Privacy Protection Act," prohibits New Jersey government entities (including state and local agencies) and health care facilities from collecting or sharing specific personal information - such as immigration status, citizenship details, Social Security numbers, and tax IDs - except when necessary for public services like benefits or programs. It requires that any collected information be retained only as long as needed for the service, and bans the sale or sharing of automated license plate recognition data (e.g., vehicle tracking) except under legal orders like court warrants or for election-related purposes. The bill also clarifies that information gathered under this law is not subject to public disclosure under New Jersey’s open records law, with limited exceptions for administering benefits or complying with legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Safe Communities Act (S 5036) requires New Jersey’s Attorney General to develop model policies ensuring safety and accessibility at key public locations like schools, hospitals, shelters, and social service offices. These policies must be created within 180 days and adopted by state agencies (e.g., Education, Health, Human Services), which then mandate that institutions comply and post the policies visibly. The bill aims to prevent residents from avoiding essential services due to fear, by setting clear standards for these locations to remain welcoming and secure for all.