Sen. Holly Schepisi

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2412, removes restrictions preventing police officers from being near polling places under specific circumstances. It allows police officers to travel to, remain at, or return from a police station located within 100 feet of a polling place for official duties. It also permits Class Three special law enforcement officers (defined for school security) to be assigned to polling places at public schools to maintain order during elections. These changes apply to all polling places in New Jersey, directly affecting law enforcement officers, polling locations, and election security protocols. The bill does not alter voting procedures or ballot handling.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Anti-Semitism Task Force" within the Department of State to research anti-Semitism and develop recommendations for addressing it. The permanent task force will consist of 18 members, including legislative leaders, representatives from Jewish organizations (like Hadassah and the Anti-Defamation League), law enforcement, and public appointees. It directly affects Jewish communities in New Jersey, where 200 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in 2018 (ranking the state third nationally), by focusing on research and policy solutions for hate crimes against Jewish people and institutions. The task force will operate under the state government to address rising anti-Semitism, as documented by FBI data showing Jewish-targeted attacks made up 58-60% of religious hate crimes in recent years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover social adult day care services for seniors aged 60 or older who meet the same clinical, income, and asset requirements as participants in the state's Medicaid long-term care program (MLTSS). It expands current coverage, which only applies to MLTSS enrollees, to all eligible seniors regardless of MLTSS enrollment. Social adult day care is defined as a community-based program providing non-medical support (like meals and supervision) during the day when caregivers are unavailable. The state must seek federal approval for implementation through Medicaid waivers before the coverage becomes active.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires immediate forfeiture of any public office, position, or employment (elected or appointed) in New Jersey state or local government upon conviction for certain crimes, including dishonesty offenses or third-degree crimes or higher. It automatically disqualifies individuals convicted of crimes "involving or touching" their public role from holding future public office, with disqualification orders entered by courts at sentencing. The bill establishes a central registry maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts to track all disqualified individuals. It directly affects current and future public officials convicted of specified offenses, creating a permanent bar to public service.

Maddy summaryS 1975 provides New Jersey school districts with additional transportation funding for the 2023-2024 school year, totaling $31.6 million. It allocates money based on student type: $40 per regular education student (including preschoolers in free full-day programs) and $275 per special education student requiring specialized transportation. This supplemental aid is added to existing state school aid, directly supporting districts with transportation costs. The bill specifies the calculation method and funding amount but does not change eligibility rules for transportation services.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's requirements for condominium and cooperative associations managing residential buildings three stories or taller. It expands the timeframe for associations to conduct required capital reserve studies (from five years to one year for existing associations) and mandates these studies be updated every five years. The studies must assess funds for maintaining structural integrity, including costs for repairs, inspections, and a 30-year funding plan. Associations managing buildings with less than $25,000 in common area assets are exempt from these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners and operators of large public venues - such as stadiums, arenas, theaters, and facilities hosting youth athletic events (with a capacity of 1,000+ people) - to maintain an automatic external defibrillator (AED) on-site at all times. Key provisions include storing the AED in a central, accessible location, training staff in CPR and AED use, developing a cardiac emergency response plan, and marking the AED location with signs. Venues must also notify emergency services about the AED's location and ensure a trained person is available during events. Failure to comply results in civil penalties starting at $250 for the first violation.

Maddy summaryS 2760 extends New Jersey's existing affordable housing preference for veterans to certain South Korean veterans who served as allies with U.S. forces in the Vietnam conflict. It amends state law to include South Korean veterans meeting specific criteria: they must be New Jersey residents/citizens, have served in Vietnam as U.S. allies, and hold a service-connected disability certification from South Korea. This adds them to the existing priority system for affordable housing, placing them behind homeless veterans (1st priority) and disabled veterans (2nd priority), but ahead of family caregivers (3rd priority). All applicants, including these veterans, must still meet the housing project's income requirements. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryS 1950 amends New Jersey's affordable housing law to allow municipalities to earn additional credit toward their fair share obligation for low and moderate income housing when they convert abandoned properties into affordable housing units. Municipalities would receive a one-to-one credit for each converted unit, meaning each unit counts as one toward their required housing allocation. This directly affects local governments by providing a new incentive to repurpose vacant or abandoned properties instead of requiring new construction. The policy change simplifies compliance with housing requirements while encouraging the reuse of underutilized properties for affordable housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a disorderly persons offense (punishable by up to 6 months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both) for someone to possess a hypodermic needle or syringe during a lawful police stop or search without declaring it to the officer before physical contact occurs. It directly affects individuals carrying such items who are stopped by law enforcement. The key requirement is that the person must verbally declare the possession to the officer prior to any physical interaction.