Sen. Holly Schepisi

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 11 of every year as "September 11 Remembrance Day" in New Jersey. It requires all state flags to fly at half-staff on this day and mandates a one-minute silence in all public schools at 10 a.m. Local governments and organizations are encouraged to hold ceremonies honoring victims and first responders. The law directly affects New Jersey public schools, state government operations, and community groups through these observance requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Police to operate a 24-hour, toll-free phone and text hotline for anonymous reports about school safety threats. It directly affects students, parents, school staff, and the public who can report incidents like violence, bullying, suicide threats, or criminal activity in schools without revealing their identity. The State Police must share verified reports with local law enforcement and school officials to enable prompt action, while keeping reporters anonymous unless they voluntarily choose to disclose their identity. The bill also mandates that all public and nonpublic schools in New Jersey distribute hotline information to students and families. This creates a new, confidential channel for reporting school safety concerns across the state.

Maddy summaryS 3011 directs New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to create a multimedia advertising campaign promoting health care careers as engaging and rewarding, with a focus on attracting candidates to high-demand fields and underrepresented racial groups. The campaign must highlight available scholarships, student loan programs, and financial support through digital, TV, radio, and print media. The bill appropriates $1 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover the campaign costs, effective immediately.

Maddy summarySCR 43 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to New Jersey's Constitution that grants every resident a fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, a safe climate, and ecologically healthy habitats. It requires the state to act as trustee of public natural resources - such as air, water, public lands, and wildlife - and mandates that these resources be conserved and maintained for all people, both present and future. The amendment specifies that these rights are self-executing, meaning they can be directly enforced in court without requiring new legislation. If approved by voters, this would become a permanent part of New Jersey's Constitution.

Maddy summaryS 2900 prohibits the disclosure of body worn camera recordings without the prior written consent of each person directly featured in the recording (such as suspects, victims, or detainees), unless the disclosure serves a legitimate public health, safety, or compelling public interest purpose. It applies to individuals who obtained such recordings under New Jersey’s open public records law and are not subjects of the recording. Violating this prohibition is a disorderly persons offense and may result in civil liability, including $1,000 per violation, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The bill defines "subject" to exclude people who only appear incidentally in the recording, ensuring the rule targets those directly involved in the recorded event.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prioritize energy security, diversity, and affordability when updating the state's Energy Master Plan. It mandates the BPU to conduct detailed cost and impact analyses for all energy generation projects and the Master Plan itself, including breakdowns of financial effects on ratepayers, state/local governments, and infrastructure costs. The plan must limit intermittent energy sources (like wind/solar) to no more than 50% of the state's energy portfolio and prioritize in-state energy generation to reduce subsidies for out-of-state sources. These changes directly affect the BPU, ratepayers (through potential cost impacts), and energy developers (requiring pre-approval analyses), while ensuring public transparency via online analysis publications and annual committee testimony.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows qualified organizations (like charities or businesses) to legally run two types of games under New Jersey's raffle law: "boxes" (similar to Super Bowl squares) and "brackets" (like March Madness picks). Participants select boxes or outcomes in a grid, with winners receiving no more than 50% of the prize pool - keeping the rest for the organizer. The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission will set rules for frequency, prizes, and conduct. It directly affects entities currently hosting these games, enabling them to operate legally without violating existing raffle restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1252, the "Michael Fisher Law") requires municipal recreation departments and nonprofit youth sports organizations (like Little Leagues, soccer leagues, and police athletic leagues) to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) available on-site at all youth athletic events and practices held on public fields. It allows compliance if a certified first responder (such as a trained coach or athletic trainer) with an AED is present. The law also provides legal immunity to organizations and their staff for acquiring or using AEDs. The requirement applies to events on municipal, county, school, or publicly-owned fields and takes effect six months after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 1210 requires owners of venues hosting large public gatherings (1,000+ people) and youth athletic events to keep an automatic external defibrillator (AED) on-site and accessible at all times. It mandates that these venues store the AED in a central, unlocked location near seating, train staff in CPR and AED use, and ensure at least one certified person is present during events to respond to cardiac emergencies. The bill also requires venues to create a cardiac response protocol, notify emergency services of the AED’s location, and mark it with visible signage. Non-compliance results in civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, with immunity from liability for proper AED use.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The program must include a public campaign covering symptoms, warning signs, and treatment options; educational materials for health providers; and training for police, fire, emergency medical staff, and judicial personnel to recognize symptoms and respond appropriately. DHS will develop and post accessible information about Alzheimer's on its website in English and Spanish, in consultation with the Alzheimer's Association. The law aims to improve public understanding of Alzheimer's, support early detection, and help professionals better assist affected individuals and families.