Maddy summaryS 1787 requires New Jersey's Attorney General to review and update the statewide use-of-force policy every even-numbered year (or sooner if needed), ensuring it prioritizes de-escalation, limits force to what's necessary and proportional, and treats deadly force as a last resort. It mandates public reporting of all law enforcement use-of-force incidents through a publicly accessible online database and establishes specific protocols for handling barricaded persons - especially those in mental health crises - requiring crisis intervention training for officers. The bill also requires the Police Training Commission to include barricaded-person response training in all officer basic courses. Note: This bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, after being approved as part of P.L.2025, c.243.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the New Jersey Department of Children and Families' (DCF) FY2026 budget by $16.7 million to raise the monthly reimbursement rate for care management organizations (CMOs) serving youth with complex health needs. The rate will jump from $1,032 to $1,200 per client in 2026, with annual $100 increases until reaching $1,500 per client. CMOs - county-based agencies that coordinate care for youth with behavioral health, substance use, or developmental disabilities - will directly benefit from this funding change. The policy ensures CMOs receive higher payments for services provided through the NJ FamilyCare program.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 643) allows grocery stores and third-party delivery services to provide single-use paper bags (with at least 40% recycled content), cardboard boxes, or reusable bags for grocery orders delivered, picked up, or curbside ordered - temporarily expanding options previously restricted. It applies to grocery stores (2,500+ sq. ft. establishments selling food for off-site consumption) and delivery services, effective for three years after the bill’s enactment. After three years, these businesses must stop using single-use paper bags and cardboard boxes for such orders. Food banks and pantries also receive an extended timeline (until 60 months after a prior law’s effective date) to use certain bags, avoiding a full ban on single-use plastic bags during this period.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a comprehensive State Water Infrastructure Investment Plan every five years, detailing funding needs and strategies for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. It mandates the DEP to consult with stakeholders, include public input through comment periods and meetings, and address priorities like environmental justice and climate resilience. The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank must publish additional project information and receives $200,000 to support these requirements. The plan directly affects all municipalities and water utilities across New Jersey by establishing a statewide strategy for infrastructure investment and funding coordination.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes property tax exemptions for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to the date the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officially determines their total disability. It directly affects veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities (like paralysis, blindness, or amputations) who previously paid property taxes during the gap between their disability determination and when they applied for the exemption. The key provision requires the state to reimburse municipalities for property taxes paid by veterans during this retroactive period. This changes the existing law to ensure veterans receive tax relief for all eligible periods, not just from the application date forward.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires AI companies operating in New Jersey to annually test their AI products for safety risks and submit detailed reports to the state's Office of Information Technology. Specifically, companies must test for cybersecurity threats, bias in data, and accuracy issues, then report the results - including a list of tested products, test descriptions, third-party testers used, and findings. The Office of Information Technology will establish minimum testing standards and review all submitted reports. This directly affects private AI companies and public agencies selling, developing, or deploying AI technology within the state.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 2355 expands eligibility for Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) payments to victims of motor vehicle crashes resulting in death or requiring ambulance removal from the scene. It adds these crashes to the list of qualifying incidents under the existing "Criminal Injuries Compensation Act," allowing victims to access compensation for medical bills, counseling, lost wages, and funeral costs. The bill also establishes a "Traffic Crash Victim’s Bill of Rights," granting victims free access to crash reports and evidence, notification of court proceedings, employer leave for related hearings, protection from intimidation by the other driver, and clear information about their rights and compensation options. These changes apply directly to crash victims and their families, not to the drivers involved in the accidents. The bill is pending in the Senate Transportation Committee after its January 2026 introduction.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey optometrists' scope of practice to include administering vaccines for coronaviruses, influenza, and shingles (for patients 18+), prescribing certain medications (including controlled substances under specific conditions), and performing limited eye procedures like laser treatments and minor surgeries. It requires optometrists to follow CDC vaccine guidelines, report immunizations to the state system, and avoid invasive surgeries or general anesthesia. The changes clarify that optometrists must adhere to medical standards for pharmaceutical use and cannot perform procedures requiring full-thickness eye incisions or orbital surgery. This modernizes optometric care while maintaining safety boundaries for patient treatment.
Maddy summaryS 1829 establishes a three-year "Food is Medicine NJ Pilot Program" within New Jersey's Department of Human Services, appropriating $5 million to provide nutrition services to Medicaid recipients. The program directly serves up to 3,000 high-risk Medicaid participants with complex chronic conditions (like diabetes, heart failure, or obesity) through medically tailored meals, and an additional 7,000 at-risk Medicaid recipients via produce prescriptions and nutrition education. It requires a third-party evaluator to measure impacts on emergency room visits, hospitalizations, medication adherence, and Medicaid cost savings, with reports to the Legislature due within 18 months and at the program's conclusion. The bill aims to address diet-related chronic diseases - identified as leading causes of death and healthcare spending in New Jersey - by integrating nutrition interventions into the healthcare system.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for developers building or renovating affordable housing in New Jersey. It directly affects project sponsors (developers) who construct or substantially renovate qualifying homes sold at affordable prices to eligible homeowners earning 140% or less of the state's median household income. The credit equals the difference between reasonable development costs and the affordable sale price, capped at 35% of development costs or 80% of the state's median new home price. To qualify, projects must be in designated census tracts and certified by the New Jersey Housing Agency, with homes sold as primary residences.