Asm. Anthony Verrelli

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program requiring New Jersey state agencies to reserve at least 3% of their contracts for businesses owned and operated by people with disabilities. To qualify, a business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a person with a disability, certified by organizations like Disability:IN, and based in New Jersey. The Department of the Treasury will administer the program, including verifying business eligibility, maintaining a list of certified businesses, and handling disputes. State agencies must report annually on contracts awarded under this program to track progress toward the 3% goal.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey courts to provide certain defendants with referrals for mental health and substance abuse evaluations when ordering pretrial release. It directly affects defendants who are released before trial but not those already mandated to receive treatment. The key mechanism mandates that courts give these referrals upon release decisions, and the evaluation providers must notify the court if the defendant completes the assessment. The requirement does not apply when the court already orders the defendant to undergo such treatment and remain in a specified facility.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2830) allows New Jersey municipalities and the Attorney General to file common law public nuisance lawsuits against lead paint manufacturers for harm caused by lead paint in homes. It specifically exempts the Attorney General from needing to prove a defendant physically controls lead paint or property, or demonstrate "special injury," when seeking damages. The bill amends existing laws to align with a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that previously blocked such claims, permitting the Attorney General to pursue monetary damages (not just injunctions) for lead paint distribution. It also extends an existing exemption for environmental torts to lead paint cases brought by the Attorney General. The law applies to cases filed after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $3.5 million in state funding for the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) program, specifically targeting adult students enrolled in career and technical education programs. It directly affects adult residents of New Jersey (with household income between $0-$65,000) who are enrolled in approved postsecondary career programs (minimum four months) at county vocational schools, covering tuition and fees *after* other state, federal, and institutional aid is applied. Key provisions require applicants to be legal residents, in good academic standing, have submitted financial aid forms, and not owe prior grants or student loans. The funding supports programs preparing students for licenses, certifications, or industry exams (e.g., nursing, culinary), with grants covering remaining costs at in-county or out-of-county vocational schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2958) would require New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to request federal authorization allowing SNAP (food stamp) benefits to cover delivery fees for online grocery orders. Currently, SNAP funds cannot pay for delivery charges, even though New Jersey participates in a USDA pilot program enabling online grocery purchases through retailers like Amazon and 17 participating stores. The bill directly affects SNAP recipients who use online grocery delivery services, as it seeks to expand their benefit usage to include delivery fees. The request would be made to the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, which administers the federal SNAP program.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two grant programs to support workforce development in New Jersey's cannabis industry. The Cannabis Certified Worker Grant Program provides funding to organizations (including colleges, non-profits, and cannabis businesses) to develop training programs for workers in the cannabis industry. The Social Equity Certified Worker Hiring Grant Program provides funds to microbusinesses to hire workers who have completed the Cannabis Certified Worker program. The bill allocates $400,000 to each program from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund for fiscal year 2024. Grantees must report annually on program outcomes, including enrollment, completion rates, employment placement, and demographic information.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A2256 requires state and county correctional facilities to evaluate all new inmates for substance use disorders upon admission. If an inmate is identified as needing treatment, facilities must offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) - using FDA-approved medications like methadone or buprenorphine combined with counseling - on a voluntary basis. Inmates who agree to MAT must receive withdrawal management services, behavioral health counseling, and access to approved medications. The bill applies to all inmates in state and county facilities who require temporary or ongoing management of a substance use disorder, aligning correctional treatment with community standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2850) amends New Jersey's Bridge Year Pilot Program to exempt students with disabilities (classified under an Individualized Education Program or IEP) from the requirement to take college credits during their bridge year. Instead, these students may participate in school district-sponsored vocational programs or transition services if their IEP team and parent/guardian determine college credits would not achieve their educational goals. The bill also adjusts age eligibility, allowing students who turn 21 during the bridge year due to IEP services (previously limited to those turning 20) to participate. These changes ensure the program aligns with IEP requirements while maintaining the program's core structure for students in the 2021 and 2022 graduating classes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes guidelines for how landlords assess creditworthiness when renting affordable housing. It prohibits using credit scores to deny housing to applicants with federal or state tenant-based housing subsidies (like Section 8 vouchers), except when an individualized assessment shows repeated failure to pay rent while receiving a subsidy. For other affordable housing applicants, landlords must conduct individualized assessments considering income, employment, payment history, health factors, and budgeting efforts rather than relying solely on credit scores. Landlords must provide written denial notices explaining their decision in English and Spanish, and submit annual reports to the Attorney General with demographic data on denials. The bill aims to prevent credit-based discrimination against low and moderate-income households seeking housing they can afford.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2886) creates an emergency teaching certificate for school districts facing shortages of certified teachers in high-need fields like special education and bilingual education. It allows school administrators to apply for this certificate for candidates who are enrolled in teacher preparation programs, hold a bachelor’s degree, and have passed subject exams. The certificate is renewable annually up to two times (max 3 years total) and limits districts to employing no more than 10% of teaching staff under this emergency certification. The Department of Education must publish and annually review the list of eligible high-need fields.