Sen. Holly Schepisi

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey counties and municipalities to voluntarily contribute up to $70,000 annually to local nonprofit veterans' organizations. It requires these organizations to use funds for veteran services like housing assistance, mental health support, career transition programs, and transportation - directly benefiting veterans within the community. Local governments must receive annual financial reports detailing how the funds were spent on veteran resources. The bill amends existing law to specifically include veterans' organizations under funding provisions previously limited to emergency services groups.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1983 requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to create a multimedia advertising campaign promoting healthcare careers as engaging and rewarding, with specific focus on available scholarships and financial support. The campaign must target underrepresented racial groups and high-demand healthcare fields, using digital, TV, radio, and print media. The bill appropriates $1 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to implement this initiative, which directly affects healthcare job seekers and employers facing workforce shortages.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to ensure that the maximum hourly rate paid to self-directed employees (hired directly by eligible individuals or their representatives) matches the rate paid to contracted service providers for the same service, duration, and care level. It directly affects individuals receiving developmental disability services who choose self-directed care. The key mechanism sets the service provider rate (e.g., approximately $51/hour for high-acuity community support) as the new maximum cap for self-directed employees, replacing the current "reasonable and customary" range ($20-$25/hour). This aligns funding parity without changing the underlying service model.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits properties that received benefits under the "Grow New Jersey Assistance Act" (2011) or the "New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009" from qualifying for property tax exemptions or abatements under two specific laws: the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law" and the "Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law." It directly affects property owners who used state economic incentive programs to develop or improve their properties, preventing them from receiving additional tax breaks. The bill states that these properties have already benefited from public funding, so municipalities should not provide further tax advantages through the targeted exemption laws. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summarySCR 23 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee New Jersey registered voters the right to vote in person at their local polling place on election day. It would require voters to submit a written request before receiving a mail-in ballot, preventing automatic mail-in ballot distribution to all registered voters. This amendment, if approved by voters, would establish these voting rights in the state constitution and bar future laws or executive orders from limiting in-person voting or sending mail ballots without a specific request. It directly affects all registered voters in New Jersey who qualify to vote.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey legislative internship program allowing state legislators to hire students with up to $10,000 annually per member. It prioritizes New Jersey residents or students attending New Jersey colleges, excluding law and doctoral students, and requires interns to complete at least one work period in a legislator's district office. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend per work period, paid bi-weekly or monthly as determined by the legislator. The state appropriates $1.2 million from the General Fund to fund this program.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1992 requires certain employees and job candidates to undergo child abuse record checks. Specifically, it applies to public school staff (including contracted service providers), school bus drivers, and youth camp employees. These individuals must provide written consent and pay for the checks, conducted by the Department of Children and Families, which maintains the state's child abuse registry. If the registry shows a substantiated abuse allegation, the person is permanently disqualified from these roles, but they must first be given a chance to challenge the accuracy of the record. The bill mandates these checks for new hires and current employees (with a five-year implementation timeline for existing staff).

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey school teachers and staff from entering students' or families' personal health details - including medical history, genetic data, or vaccination records - into third-party apps managed by political groups engaged in campaigning, fundraising, or electioneering. It defines "individually identifiable health information" broadly to include any health-related data that could reveal a person's identity. The law would take effect immediately for the next school year, applying to all public school staff. It does not restrict data use within school systems but specifically targets political third-party platforms.

Maddy summaryThis bill, now law as P.L.2025, c.296, establishes a regulated system for psilocybin use in New Jersey to treat behavioral health conditions. It authorizes licensed psilocybin service centers to provide supervised sessions for adults 21+ with conditions like depression or anxiety, requiring trained facilitators and mandatory follow-up therapy sessions. The law creates licensing requirements for service centers, manufacturers, and facilitators, and mandates a state advisory board to oversee implementation. It directly affects New Jersey residents aged 21+ with behavioral health needs seeking this treatment option, while prohibiting access for minors and preventing illegal diversion.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits paid to eligible retired members of New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It requires the PFRS board of trustees to restore these COLAs to their previous statutory level without requiring additional contributions from retirees, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't increase employer costs or jeopardize the system's long-term financial health. The policy directly affects retired police officers and firefighters who receive benefits under the PFRS. The change reverses a prior reduction to these automatic inflation adjustments for this specific retirement system.