Sen. Britnee Timberlake

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on interacting with law enforcement in Social Studies curricula starting with the 2018-2019 school year. It mandates teaching students about law enforcement roles in public safety, individual responsibilities to comply with directives, and legal rights during police interactions. The curriculum must be developed by an advisory committee including police unions, civil rights groups, and education organizations, with separate content for elementary (K-4) and secondary (grades 5-12) students. The bill directly affects all K-12 public school districts and students across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1091 requires landlords to notify tenants within five business days if work on adjacent properties (such as construction, demolition, or rehabilitation) may cause damage or hazardous conditions to the rental property. This applies to landlords renting commercial or residential units (excluding single-family homes, small owner-occupied properties, or seasonal rentals under 125 days). Notices must be delivered via mail, conspicuous posting, or electronic means, and landlords who fail to comply face penalties of up to $200 per violation. The law aims to ensure tenants are informed about potential safety risks from nearby development projects.

Maddy summarySJR 36 designates April of each year as "Autism Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance and activities to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorders. It aligns with National Autism Awareness Month and references New Jersey's status as having the highest autism prevalence rate in the nation. This is a symbolic resolution with no new funding or regulations, solely focused on annual recognition.

Maddy summarySCR 12 proposes adding a new constitutional prohibition against slavery and involuntary servitude in New Jersey, including as punishment for a crime. This amendment would directly affect incarcerated individuals by prohibiting the state from forcing them to work as a penalty for criminal convictions, though it would not eliminate voluntary prison labor programs. The bill explicitly states that current prison labor - where inmates receive minimal pay - would no longer be permissible as involuntary servitude under the constitution. The change would require a statewide vote following standard constitutional amendment procedures. This amendment addresses a gap in New Jersey's 1776 and 1844 constitutions, which previously contained no language on slavery or involuntary servitude.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $1 billion in supplemental state funding specifically for after-school recreation programs in urban areas. It requires that funds be allocated only to municipalities belonging to the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA) and administered by the Commissioner of Education through a formal application process. The funds must be used for repairing or building playgrounds and pools, reopening closed parks, and supporting equipment for youth sports, mentorship programs, and after-school/summer educational activities - including required computer science and home economics education. The bill aims to improve recreational infrastructure and programming for youth in eligible urban communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows parents or legal custodians separated from their children due to immigration enforcement (such as arrest, detention, or removal) to appoint a standby guardian to care for their child. It creates a streamlined court process where parents can designate a standby guardian through written consent, without needing medical proof for terminal illness or immigration documentation. The appointment takes effect upon a "triggering event" like the parent's death, incapacity, or administrative separation, ensuring the child's care continues without terminating parental rights. The law specifically defines "administrative separation" to cover federal immigration actions that disrupt parental care, directly affecting immigrant families facing deportation or detention.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1746) proposes to increase New Jersey homeowners' protection from debt collection by expanding homestead exemptions. It allows owners to shield their primary residence (including land) from creditors, with the exemption amount set as the greater of: (1) the prior year's county median single-family home price (capped at $600,000), or (2) $300,000. The exemption doubles for homeowners aged 60+ or those with qualifying disabilities, and automatically adjusts every three years based on regional inflation. It also extends protection to cash proceeds from a home sale for 18 months and excludes fraud-related debts from the exemption. The bill directly affects homeowners facing debt collection in New Jersey, particularly seniors and disabled residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 292) removes a past conviction for a serious criminal offense as a barrier to serving on a jury in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals with prior convictions under New Jersey, state, or federal law who were previously disqualified from jury service. The bill amends state law by deleting the disqualifying clause in N.J.S.2B:20-1, making these individuals eligible for jury duty. The change applies immediately upon enactment, updating jury selection lists to include qualified citizens with past convictions.

Maddy summaryS 1193 (New Jersey) allows eligible voters who missed the 21-day registration deadline to register and vote on election day or during early voting. It permits registration at assigned polling places on election day or at early voting sites by providing ID or address verification (e.g., utility bill, photo ID) and completing a provisional ballot affirmation. This directly affects voters who did not register before the deadline but appear at their polling location or early voting site during the early voting period. The bill amends Section 19:31-6 of New Jersey law to establish this process, ensuring provisional ballots are counted if requirements are met. It does not change the standard 21-day registration deadline for regular voting.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey hospitals providing inpatient maternity services and licensed birthing centers to offer new mothers at least one in-person or remote (via live voice) lactation consultation before discharge. The counseling must include breastfeeding education, support for meeting feeding goals, a personalized care plan, guidance on assistive devices like nipple shields, and information on breastfeeding health benefits. It prohibits reassigning lactation staff to non-lactation duties during their shift and clarifies that IBCLC-certified professionals don't need additional nursing licensure for this role. The law directly affects hospitals/birthing centers and new mothers receiving maternity care in New Jersey.