Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to conduct a standardized danger assessment for individuals they reasonably believe are victims of domestic violence. The assessment, using a tool approved by the Attorney General, evaluates risk factors like recent violence, injuries, and weapon use to determine if a victim faces elevated risk of serious harm. If the assessment indicates high risk, officers must inform the victim and, with consent, connect them to crisis services or domestic violence support. The bill directly affects domestic violence victims, law enforcement officers, and service providers, focusing on immediate risk identification and assistance. It does not alter existing legal definitions or penalties but mandates specific protocols for officer response.

Maddy summaryThis bill caps residential rental application fees at $50 for most properties, prohibiting landlords or agents from charging more. Landlords violating this limit face a $1,500 penalty per offense, with $250 of each penalty returned to the tenant. The $50 cap automatically adjusts annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the New York-Northern New Jersey area if inflation exceeds zero, and the fee limit does not apply to single-family or two-family homes. The bill also requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to create an online system for tenants to report violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1703) declares New Jersey's intent to adopt permanent daylight saving time *if federal law permits states to do so*. It directly affects all New Jersey residents and businesses by proposing to eliminate the biannual time changes (currently observed from April to November). The bill amends state statutes to prepare for year-round daylight saving time, referencing studies on potential safety benefits like reduced traffic crashes and heart attack risks. However, it does not change current time laws - it only sets the framework for future implementation should Congress authorize states to observe daylight saving time year-round. The bill remains pending federal action and is currently in committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 430) requires that only registered design professionals (like architects or engineers) or employees certified by the state as fire escape contractors may install, service, repair, inspect, or maintain fire escapes in New Jersey. It directly affects contractors working on fire escapes and building owners requiring these services. The key provision creates a certification requirement for fire escape contractors, enforced by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, to ensure qualified personnel handle these critical safety systems. The bill does not apply to other fire protection equipment like sprinklers or alarms.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates an additional $35 million from the state's General Fund to the Urban and Rural Centers Unsafe Buildings Demolition Revolving Loan Fund, established under P.L.1997, c.125. The fund provides low-cost loans to New Jersey municipalities for demolishing unsafe buildings in urban and rural centers. Repaid loans replenish the fund, allowing it to support future demolition projects without new appropriations. This directly assists local governments in addressing hazardous building conditions through a revolving financial mechanism.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a New Jersey tax credit for businesses that hire formerly incarcerated individuals. Businesses would receive a 10% credit on qualified wages paid to these employees (capped at $1,200 per person per tax year), provided they hire at least 25% formerly incarcerated new employees and maintain 50% of those hires from the previous year. To qualify, employees must be in sustained employment (at least 185 business days) and businesses must conduct targeted recruitment for formerly incarcerated individuals and their immediate families. The bill includes safeguards against abuse, such as denying credits if businesses displace other workers solely to claim the credit, and prevents double-dipping with other state tax credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" in New Jersey's General Fund to support abortion providers and clinics. The fund would provide funding for three specific programs: clinical training to increase the number of providers (especially in underserved areas like southern counties), security grants for clinics facing threats like violence or cyberattacks, and loans to help facilities operate. It directly affects reproductive health care facilities, clinics, and health care professionals providing abortion services statewide. The bill requires the State Treasurer to allocate these funds to the designated programs, aiming to strengthen access to abortion care through direct financial support.

Maddy summaryAJR 60 designates April 11 of each year as "Black Doula Day" in New Jersey to recognize the role of Black doulas in maternal health. The resolution coincides with Global Black Doula Day and aims to honor professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to birthing people before, during, and after childbirth. It does not create new policies or funding but requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation. This symbolic measure follows New Jersey’s status as the third state to cover doula care via Medicaid and highlights ongoing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, where Black mothers are over seven times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial Assembly Resolution (AR 25) formally recognizes Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey - as one of the nation’s two surviving Negro League stadiums - and the annual football rivalry game between Montclair State University and William Paterson University held there. It does not create new laws or funding but publicly affirms the stadium’s historical significance and the cultural value of the university game. The resolution directs copies to university leaders, the Governor, relevant legislators, and the New Jersey Historical Society to support ongoing preservation and community engagement efforts. It specifically aims to honor the stadium’s legacy in African American sports history and promote its educational role.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.6 million to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for adult medical day care providers in New Jersey. It raises the per diem rate from $89.55 to $93.10 per patient per day, directly affecting community-based medical day care centers that serve vulnerable adults with physical or cognitive impairments. The funding is conditional on providers receiving this updated rate, stabilizing their finances after pandemic-related income losses. This change ensures providers can continue offering essential in-community care without closing, as mandated by the bill's amendment to the 2024 appropriations act.