Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Vaisakhi (typically falling on April 13-14) and Bandi Chhor Divas (typically in autumn) as official public holidays in New Jersey. It amends state law to add these days to the list of paid holidays for state government employees and to the calendar of public holidays affecting business operations and financial transactions. The bill directly affects state government operations, requiring offices to close on these days, and ensures financial instruments like checks are treated as payable on the next business day if issued on these holidays. It does not change existing holiday provisions or create new obligations beyond the designated holidays.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A366) prohibits the sale of products using advertisements that directly or indirectly link to controlled dangerous substances or their analogs. It specifically bans the sale of food, beverages, or products intended for ingestion/inhalation with such ads, and prohibits selling any product using these ads to anyone under 18. The law does not apply to prescription medications dispensed by pharmacists under a valid prescription. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under New Jersey law, potentially resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to provide victims of domestic violence with copies of specific records upon request, including police photos, body camera footage, 9-1-1 recordings, and police reports. Victims or their legal representatives can request these records within 10 calendar days at no cost, with records to be provided electronically or in paper form as requested. If records can't be provided within 10 days, agencies may request additional time from the court but must deliver within 24 hours once available. The bill clarifies that this right supplements existing open public records access under OPRA and requires courts to note record access delays during domestic violence hearings. This policy directly affects domestic violence victims seeking evidence to support their cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to encourage health care facilities and licensed professionals (like pediatricians and family practice doctors) to implement a "Reach Out and Read Program" during well-child visits for children aged 6 months to 5 years. The DOH must provide resources, including printed materials and a website link, to help facilities adopt this evidence-based program. The program aims to promote early literacy by encouraging parents to read with their children, develop language and social skills, strengthen parent-child bonds, and provide health care professionals with tools to monitor child development. It directly affects pediatric providers, health care facilities, and families with young children in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Law Enforcement Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services, appropriating $3 million from the General Fund. It provides grants to mental health providers to offer confidential mental health services to law enforcement officers or their immediate family members (spouses, children, or parents living together) experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts. The program requires the Commissioner of Human Services to develop application criteria prioritizing providers within one hour of travel distance to maximize accessibility, publish approved providers online, and manage grant distribution. The bill directly affects New Jersey law enforcement officers, their families, and qualifying mental health service providers across the state.

Maddy summaryThe Economic Emergency Investment Stabilization Act would allow New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to make equity investments in businesses significantly harmed by major economic emergencies. The EDA would match private investments dollar-for-dollar, with investments ranging from $100,000 to $1 million per business, for a maximum 25% ownership stake, requiring businesses to secure at least $1 in outside investment for each dollar the EDA provides. Businesses must demonstrate they were financially healthy before the emergency, have a clear plan to return to financial viability, and meet specific location and employee requirements to qualify. The EDA would exit its investments within 12-10 years after the emergency ends, with proceeds returned to the Economic Recovery Fund, and the program would be funded by the Economic Recovery Fund, proceeds from previous equity sales, and other EDA resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study and implement methods that would allow more rooftop solar, small wind, and other distributed energy systems to connect to the electrical grid. Specifically, the BPU must examine four key technical solutions: enabling electricity flow between grid segments, requiring solar inverters to manage electricity flow more efficiently, making energy storage systems adjust to demand, and allowing solar panels to automatically adjust output based on weather. Within one year, the BPU must submit a report with recommendations, followed by a pilot program testing these solutions in a small area before potential statewide adoption. This directly affects renewable energy developers, utility companies, and homeowners with distributed energy systems by potentially easing grid connection barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to create a statewide database tracking real-time shelter bed availability for homeless individuals, using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). It directly affects homeless shelters (excluding domestic violence shelters) that receive state funding from the Departments of Community Affairs or Human Services, requiring them to update bed availability within one hour of changes. Shelters must cooperate with the database to maintain eligibility for state funding, enabling operators to quickly direct people to available beds in nearby facilities. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2802) requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to seek federal Medicaid waivers to secure funding for new graduate medical education training spots focused on behavioral health care. If approved, it would create a process for medical training programs to apply for Medicaid funds to add these specialized slots. The bill directly affects graduate medical education programs in New Jersey, enabling them to expand training in behavioral health care through existing Medicaid funding mechanisms. It does not create new state spending but leverages federal Medicaid resources to address a specific training gap.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2348) requires all official general election and primary election sample ballots to include a clear watermark identifying them as samples. It mandates that sample ballots must also display the exact wording: "This ballot cannot be voted. It is a sample copy of the official general election ballot used on election day" in large type at the top. The bill applies to all voters receiving sample ballots, ensuring they cannot be mistakenly submitted as actual votes. It amends existing election law to add these specific visual and textual identifiers to prevent confusion during voting.