Asm. Luanne Peterpaul

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $250,000 grant program administered by New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to support nonprofit organizations collecting excess seafood from commercial fishermen. Eligible nonprofits must donate this seafood to food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens serving food-insecure residents. The program requires grantees to report annually on seafood donations, volunteer participation, and distribution locations. The Department of Agriculture must develop application guidelines, evaluate grant applications, and manage the program within the allocated funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1 million pilot program through New Jersey's Office of Planning Advocacy to reimburse municipalities for specific costs related to warehouse development planning. It directly affects local governments that update zoning ordinances or conduct mitigation studies for warehouse projects, requiring them to adopt warehouse-specific zoning consistent with state guidelines. Municipalities can apply for reimbursement for expenses like reexamining master plans or studying impacts of pending warehouse sites, with priority given to those needing financial assistance most. The program expires after the Office submits a report on its effectiveness, detailing how the funds were used and whether it should become permanent.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and state developmental/psychiatric facilities in New Jersey. It requires specific ratios (such as 1 nurse for every 4 medical/surgical patients, 1 nurse for every 2 critical care patients, and 1 unlicensed personnel for every 7 daytime patients) while mandating hospitals to implement an acuity-based staffing system to ensure adequate staffing levels. Hospitals found in violation may face civil penalties that increase with repeat offenses, with penalty revenue funding a dedicated "Patient Protection and Staffing Fund" to support nursing recruitment, retention, education, and inspector staffing. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Human Services to review staffing standards in developmental centers and psychiatric hospitals to align with these new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures children in New Jersey's NJ FamilyCare program (ages 21 and under) who transition from the child health program (EPSDT) to the long-term care program (MLTSS) automatically retain their previous weekly private duty nursing hours. It requires managed care organizations to continue nursing coverage during appeals of reduced services and extends the appeal filing window from 10 to 30 days. The bill also directs the state to review past transitions to identify beneficiaries eligible for increased nursing hours and removes the current 16-hour weekly cap on these services under MLTSS. These changes aim to prevent coverage gaps during program transitions and strengthen appeal rights for families relying on personal nursing care.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt sales of books at school book fairs from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects elementary and secondary schools holding book fairs, as well as vendors selling books at these events. The exemption applies only to book fairs held at schools where books are sold exclusively to students and their parents or guardians. The bill defines "school book fair" to ensure the exemption covers only school-organized events meeting these specific criteria. The tax exemption would take effect four months after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Medicare supplement insurers to accept all applicants year-round without denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on health status, medical history, or pre-existing conditions. It mandates continuous open enrollment, meaning applicants can enroll in a Medicare supplement policy at any time without waiting periods or health-related restrictions. The law applies to all Medicare beneficiaries in New Jersey, including those enrolled due to disability, and prohibits insurers from discriminating in pricing or issuance. These changes aim to make Medigap coverage more accessible and fair for seniors and people with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies, corporations, manufacturers, and contract testing facilities in New Jersey that use cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing or research to assess these animals for adoption suitability after testing ends. If suitable, the animals must be offered to animal rescue organizations or private individuals for adoption. The bill establishes procedures for documenting assessments and dispositions, requiring facilities to register with the Department of Health and report details about animal use, suitability, and adoption outcomes. Noncompliance could result in civil penalties of $10,000 for a first offense, $50,000 for a second, and potential injunctions against conducting further animal testing for a third offense.

Maddy summaryACR 110 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing New Jersey municipalities to offer up to a 15% property tax exemption on the assessed value of a volunteer first responder’s primary residence. The exemption would apply to active members of volunteer fire departments, first aid, or rescue squads serving that municipality, provided their home is located within the municipality and serves as their primary residence. If approved by voters, the amendment would require the state legislature to pass enabling legislation, but municipalities would decide whether to implement the exemption and the exact percentage (up to 15%) via local ordinance. This change directly affects volunteer first responders and local governments, not the state government or all homeowners.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public agencies receiving state funds for public work to publicly post on their websites a monthly breakdown of how much of those funds was used for contracts with minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses versus other businesses. If an agency lacks a website, it must submit the data to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which will post and update it monthly. The Department of Labor must also annually summarize this information in a report to the Governor and Legislature. The requirement applies to all state and local government entities, including departments, boards, and public institutions, but excludes contracts for goods or products.

Maddy summaryAJR 113 designates November of each year as "Transgender Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with activities that raise awareness of transgender issues and recognize the community's contributions. It does not create new laws or requirements but formally acknowledges challenges transgender individuals face, including discrimination and violence, while highlighting their societal contributions. The measure follows existing New Jersey designations for Transgender Awareness Week (November 14-20) and Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20).