Sen. Troy Singleton

Maddy summaryS 698 expands New Jersey's Community College Opportunity Grant Program to cover tuition and fees for career and technical education programs at county colleges and county vocational schools. It directly affects adult students enrolled in these programs (e.g., nursing, culinary, or workforce training) who meet income limits ($0-$65,000 annual adjusted gross income) and apply for federal/state aid via FAFSA. The bill requires students to be in good academic standing and not owe prior grants, with grants covering costs not covered by other financial aid. Funding will be administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority for students and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education for college support programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create and provide blue envelopes for people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The envelopes must hold driver's licenses, registration, and insurance cards, feature a distinctive color for police recognition, clearly state the holder's diagnosis, and include communication guidance for officers. To obtain an envelope, individuals or their caregivers must submit documentation verifying the autism diagnosis. The bill aims to improve interactions between autistic drivers and law enforcement during traffic stops. It takes effect 12 months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 1393, would allow registered medical cannabis patients in New Jersey to grow cannabis at home for their personal medical use. It specifically permits registered qualifying patients or their designated caregivers (who must be 18+, registered with the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, and not currently serving as a caregiver for more than one patient) to cultivate cannabis in their residence. The law explicitly excludes commercial entities, as home cultivation would not apply to permit holders like dispensaries or clinical registrants. This change would amend existing medical cannabis laws to add a personal cultivation option while maintaining registration requirements and background checks for caregivers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program" in New Jersey, targeting male students of color enrolled in the final year of educator preparation programs at participating colleges and male teachers of color in school districts, charter schools, or renaissance schools. It requires pairing each eligible student with a mentor teacher for their final academic year and the first two years of employment, if hired by the same district. The program appropriates $95,000 from the General Fund, including a $5,000 annual stipend for participating mentors, and mandates school districts to make a good-faith effort to hire students who receive favorable performance reviews. The Commissioner of Education must submit a report on the program's effectiveness and recommend potential expansion after the pilot concludes.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a temporary tax credit for New Jersey businesses that build or improve child care facilities for their employees' children. Businesses can claim a credit equal to 50% of up to $50,000 in qualifying expenses for real property used to operate a child care center primarily serving employees' children. To qualify, businesses must agree to use the facility for 60 consecutive months and submit documentation to the state tax authority. Failure to maintain the facility as required (without exceptions like disasters) triggers repayment of the credit plus interest.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 292) removes a past conviction for a serious criminal offense as a barrier to serving on a jury in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals with prior convictions under New Jersey, state, or federal law who were previously disqualified from jury service. The bill amends state law by deleting the disqualifying clause in N.J.S.2B:20-1, making these individuals eligible for jury duty. The change applies immediately upon enactment, updating jury selection lists to include qualified citizens with past convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans covering groups of 50+ people to include coverage for preimplantation genetic testing during in vitro fertilization (IVF) when used to prevent specific serious genetic conditions in offspring. It applies to cases where both partners carry a recessive disorder, one partner carries a disorder with a family history, or the condition would cause severe disability. Insurers must cover these services under the same terms as other pregnancy-related care, but exclude infertility resulting from voluntary sterilization. Religious employers can opt out of this coverage if it conflicts with their religious beliefs, with clear written notice required for subscribers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a proportional property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities (25% to 100% disability rating). It directly affects honorably discharged veterans with qualifying disabilities and their surviving spouses, allowing exemptions based on their disability percentage (capped at $15,000) or 100% if deemed unemployable. The law requires the state to reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax revenue lost due to these exemptions, with annual reporting by tax assessors and county boards. This amends existing law to expand veterans' property tax relief while ensuring local governments are financially compensated.

Maddy summaryS 1193 (New Jersey) allows eligible voters who missed the 21-day registration deadline to register and vote on election day or during early voting. It permits registration at assigned polling places on election day or at early voting sites by providing ID or address verification (e.g., utility bill, photo ID) and completing a provisional ballot affirmation. This directly affects voters who did not register before the deadline but appear at their polling location or early voting site during the early voting period. The bill amends Section 19:31-6 of New Jersey law to establish this process, ensuring provisional ballots are counted if requirements are met. It does not change the standard 21-day registration deadline for regular voting.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 58) provides property tax exemptions for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. It allows veterans with a 30% or higher disability rating (including specific conditions like blindness, amputations, or paralysis) to receive a tax exemption proportional to their disability percentage, up to 100%. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans or those who died in service also qualify for similar exemptions under defined conditions. Crucially, the bill requires the state to reimburse municipalities 102% of the lost tax revenue from these exemptions, ensuring local governments aren’t financially burdened. The policy directly affects honorably discharged veterans with qualifying disabilities and their surviving spouses.