Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on "service in the Armed Forces of the United States or liability for service" (covering active duty, veterans, and National Guard/reserve members) in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It directly affects military service members, veterans, and their families by adding these categories to the list of protected characteristics under the law. The key mechanism is updating existing definitions and prohibitions in the statute to include military service status as a protected class, ensuring equal treatment in employment, housing, and public spaces. This change aligns with New Jersey's existing anti-discrimination framework without creating new enforcement mechanisms.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $15 million supplemental appropriation from the General Fund to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation through the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. It directly funds the expansion of the Vietnam Era Museum, adding 11,850 square feet of facilities. The funding supports accreditation, artifact preservation, and improved educational programming for the foundation, which serves over 10,000 New Jersey students annually. The bill authorizes this specific allocation to complete the museum’s expansion project.
Maddy summarySCR 26 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand New Jersey's homestead property tax rebate program. It would allow honorably discharged veterans who served during wartime or emergencies, as defined by the Legislature, and their unmarried surviving spouses (including spouses of veterans who died while on active duty) to receive the same larger tax rebate currently available to senior citizens (65+) and disabled residents. This change would make approximately 330,000 veterans or their surviving spouses eligible for the enhanced rebate, which averages $410 annually, in addition to their existing $50 property tax deduction. The bill is currently pending before the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee after being introduced on January 13, 2026.
Maddy summaryS 1125 (New Jersey) expands the 9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund to cover costs counties and municipalities incur for maintaining 9-1-1 services, including training, operations, and equipment. It explicitly adds "costs incurred by counties and municipalities for the provision and maintenance of 9-1-1 emergency services" as an eligible use of trust funds. The bill requires funds to be prioritized for distribution to county, regionalized, or large centralized 9-1-1 centers before other local providers. This change directly supports local governments managing emergency call systems by providing dedicated funding for their operational needs.
Maddy summarySJR 14 designates October of each year as "Spina Bifida Awareness Month" in New Jersey. This ceremonial resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but aims to raise public awareness about spina bifida, a neural tube birth defect affecting the spine. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging state officials and citizens to observe the month with awareness activities. The resolution directly affects New Jersey residents living with spina bifida, including the estimated 152 individuals identified in recent state health data. The bill's purpose is solely to promote annual recognition of the condition, not to change policy or treatment.
Maddy summaryS 2599 requires companies, research facilities, and institutions using cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing, research, or educational purposes in New Jersey to assess each animal for adoption suitability after testing ends and offer it to rescue organizations or private individuals if suitable. These entities must register with the state health department, report animal details (like type, number, and adoption status), and document efforts to place animals for adoption. Noncompliance results in civil penalties of up to $50,000 for repeated violations, with a third offense potentially leading to a court-ordered ban on animal testing. The bill establishes clear reporting procedures and enforcement mechanisms to ensure animals used in testing have adoption opportunities.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover substance use disorder treatment services provided by community-based organizations (CBOs), directly expanding access for Medicaid recipients. It establishes new standards for opioid treatment programs, including allowing "medication units" (geographically separate clinics or mobile units) to administer medication-assisted treatment like methadone or buprenorphine. The bill also prohibits treatment programs from denying care based on a patient's refusal of counseling or missing doses, and sets limits on mandatory drug screenings. These changes aim to make treatment more accessible while maintaining clinical standards for opioid use disorder care.
Maddy summaryS 1108 creates a grant program within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to fund homeless veterans' shelters in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties. The bill requires these three southern counties to submit applications proposing specific locations and property they will provide for the state to develop and operate shelters. Grants will be awarded based on criteria set by the Adjutant General, using funds appropriated by the legislature. This directly addresses geographic barriers homeless veterans face in accessing shelter services, particularly during extreme weather, by establishing new facilities in underserved southern counties.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey tax credit for first-time homebuyers purchasing eligible homes during specific periods. It provides a credit equal to 5% of the home price (up to $15,000) for homes used as a principal residence for 36 consecutive months. The program has a total funding cap of $100 million, allocated across four terms with separate limits for new homes and previously occupied homes. The credit is applied over three tax years, and applicants must pre-qualify through the state director's office before purchase.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires construction industry employers in New Jersey to visibly post and provide written notices to all employees about key workplace rights, including unemployment benefits, minimum wage, overtime, and protections against retaliation. The notices must cover rights under the existing Construction Industry Independent Contractor Act (P.L.2007, c.114) and include contact information for filing complaints with the Labor Department. Employers must provide the notices in English, Spanish, and other languages determined by the commissioner based on workforce demographics. Failure to comply results in civil penalties of up to $1,500 for first violations and $5,000 for repeat violations within five years.