Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryAJR 52 designates the third full week in May each year as "Roxie's Wish: Drowning Prevention Week for Children" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging communities, schools, and officials to promote drowning prevention awareness through local activities. It focuses on raising public awareness about proven safety strategies, such as close adult supervision, pool barriers, swimming lessons, and life jackets for non-swimmers. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents, particularly parents and caregivers of young children, by highlighting preventable drowning risks. This is a procedural resolution with no new regulations, solely aimed at increasing community awareness.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits most food service businesses (like restaurants, food trucks, and cafeterias) from automatically giving customers single-use utensils or condiments (like ketchup packets). Instead, businesses must provide these items only if a customer specifically requests them. Larger dine-in establishments (with 50+ seats) must offer reusable utensils for on-site use and require customers to return them after meals. Exemptions include schools (for 5 years), healthcare facilities during outbreaks, and food courts (for 2 years). Violations incur fines starting at $2,500 for repeat offenses.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 449) requires all colleges and universities to place automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in unlocked locations within athletic facilities and student centers, accessible during normal operating hours. It also mandates that institutions maintain a supply of naloxone nasal spray near each AED for opioid overdose emergencies, with designated staff trained to use both devices. Institutions must ensure at least two staff members are CPR- and AED-trained during facility hours and regularly test/maintain equipment, while also designating a campus medical professional to oversee naloxone use. The bill provides liability protection for institutions and staff acting in good faith when implementing these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey swimming pools to offer deep water swimming tests to children 12 and younger upon request by the child or their guardian. To pass the test, a child must swim 50 meters (two laps) and tread water for 30 seconds, demonstrating ability to enter water deeper than chest level. Until passing this test, unaccompanied children under 12 must be within arm’s length of an adult while swimming, with swim team members exempt. Pool inspections and the Department of Health's checklist must confirm this testing requirement is available.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new eligibility category for subsidized child care services, allowing qualifying child care workers to receive assistance regardless of their household income. It specifically covers educators or staff employed at least 30 hours weekly by licensed child care centers or registered family child care providers who have children aged zero to five and are not already eligible for the state's child care program. The state Human Services Commissioner must establish a verification process for employment hours and secure federal waivers to maintain funding under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. The bill also requires a report to the legislature within three years detailing how many workers qualified and received benefits, and whether the program improved recruitment and retention at child care facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to conduct a regional impact study before approving large warehouse developments. It mandates that municipalities assess effects on traffic, environment, and community resources in the host municipality and neighboring areas. After approval, municipalities must reassess all property values to ensure fair tax revenue distribution across the community. The law directly affects developers seeking permits for large warehouses and local governments managing land use planning.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide all standard vehicle and licensing services - such as driver's license renewals, registration, title transfers, and ID cards - in person at every MVC agency location. It prohibits the MVC from mandating online completion for these services and ensures walk-in customers can access them without appointments. The bill also mandates a permanent online scheduling system for commercial driver's license tests, making these tests available at all MVC locations. This directly affects all New Jersey residents needing routine MVC services, particularly those without reliable internet access or preference for in-person transactions.

Maddy summaryThis proposed New Jersey bill (A 1931) prohibits auto insurance companies from using a person's educational level, occupation, or credit score to set insurance rates or determine policyholders' risk tiers. It also bans insurers from asking applicants about these factors during the application process. The law would require insurers to file all underwriting rules with the state commissioner and apply them uniformly statewide. If passed, this would directly affect all auto insurance applicants and policyholders in New Jersey who might have previously faced higher rates based on these factors. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1684) amends New Jersey's brewery licensing laws but does not actually address wine shipping as its title suggests. The provided text only describes changes to *brewery* license classifications (for malt alcoholic beverages), including new tiers for breweries producing up to 300,000 barrels annually. It adds no provisions for wineries or direct wine shipping to consumers, contradicting the bill's title. The bill appears to be mislabeled or incomplete based on the text provided, as the amendments focus solely on brewery operations, not wine. No concrete policy changes for wineries or direct wine shipping are described in the text.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill provides a 10% tax credit for businesses that invest in manufacturing equipment, renovate or expand facilities, or hire and train new employees within designated Smart Growth Areas. It directly affects manufacturers operating in specific growth zones, such as urban enterprise zones or transit villages, by reducing their corporation business tax liability. The credit covers 10% of costs for new equipment, facility improvements, or hiring/training (with employees retained for 365 days), but cannot exceed 50% of the tax owed. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to seven years. The bill prohibits using this credit alongside other existing tax credits for the same expenses.