Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 63) is a non-binding request urging the U.S. President and Congress to pass federal legislation granting amnesty and creating an 8-year path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. It directly addresses the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., citing their economic contributions and current lack of legal status. The resolution emphasizes that such legislation would improve economic outcomes, reduce exploitation, and integrate immigrants into society - referencing the 1986 Immigration Reform Act as a historical precedent. It does not create new law but formally calls on federal lawmakers to act.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey state contractors to adjust construction contracts when material costs rise unexpectedly above 5% from the contract's original award date. It applies only to contracts awarded before April 1, 2020, for materials purchased after March 1, 2020. Contractors must provide evidence (using U.S. Labor Department indices) to the Treasury for approval of cost adjustments, which cannot include labor or profit. Any future price decreases must also be adjusted downward. The bill expires June 30, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the NJCLASS Teacher Loan Redemption Program, allowing teachers who borrowed under New Jersey's College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) program to reduce their debt by teaching in New Jersey schools. For each full year of service as a teacher in a public or nonpublic school in New Jersey, 10% of the loan's principal and interest is redeemed by the state. To qualify, participants must be New Jersey residents, have received NJCLASS loans as undergraduates, and sign a service contract for a specified number of years. The program requires full school-year teaching to earn redemption, with annual proof of employment needed to process each year's reduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A364) requires all health insurers in New Jersey - including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and state health benefit programs - to cover the cost of annual physical examinations for student athletes. It directly affects student athletes participating in school sports or camp activities, mandating that these exams be covered "to the same extent as any other preventive health care service" under existing insurance plans. The law applies to policies issued or renewed 120 days after enactment, ensuring coverage for pre-participation clearance exams without additional cost to families. This is a concrete policy change requiring insurers to include these exams in standard preventive care coverage.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1683 requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a program for building wildlife crossings - like tunnels, overpasses, or fenced pathways - on state roads. The DOT must prioritize projects on high-collision roads or those fragmenting habitats of threatened/endangered land animals, publishing this list within 12 months. Within 24 months, the DOT must begin constructing at least one priority project and continue until all listed projects are completed. The bill also mandates seeking federal grants (under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and including annual funding requests for the program in future budgets.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to reduce clinical practice requirements for teacher candidates seeking a lifetime teaching certificate (a "certificate of eligibility with advanced standing"). Currently, candidates must complete two semesters (including 175 hours of supervised teaching in a K-12 setting), but the bill mandates reducing this to one semester. The Commissioner of Education must develop specific recommendations for the reduction and consult with education stakeholders, including teacher unions and school administrators. The change would take effect immediately for the next academic year, aiming to reduce the cost and time burden of the second semester of internship.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A358 bill authorizes attorneys, county clerks, and deputy county clerks to optionally use a seal when validating affidavits, acknowledgments, proofs, oaths, or affirmations. The seal would indicate their official authority to perform these validations under state law. Validations done this way would have the same legal effect as those performed by notary publics. The bill makes this sealing optional for these professionals, not mandatory.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Renewable and Efficient Energy Financing Program (REEF) to help state agencies, local governments, and school districts fund energy efficiency improvements in their buildings. The program would provide loans and financial assistance for projects that reduce energy costs, requiring applicants to demonstrate that improvements will save more in energy costs than they cost over a 10-year period or the project's useful life. The Board of Public Utilities would transfer up to $20 million annually from societal benefits charge revenues (a surcharge on utility bills) to fund the program through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The program requires annual reports on effectiveness and sets criteria for project eligibility, prioritization, and financial assistance terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A937) expands what certain New Jersey alcohol manufacturers can sell on their premises. It allows limited breweries, wineries producing under 250,000 gallons annually, farm wineries, cideries, meaderies, and craft distilleries to sell each other's products for off-premises consumption. The bill also permits these manufacturers to coordinate with third-party restaurants for food service (without operating restaurants themselves), increases the annual brewing limit for restricted breweries from 10,000 to 50,000 barrels, and removes the requirement for tours to sell products on-site. Additionally, it allows limited breweries to host up to 52 annual on-premises special events and private parties without needing permits or notifying authorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey nursing homes to include their most recent federal cost report (submitted to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) in their annual financial report to the state Department of Health. Nursing homes must also file separate cost reports for central or home offices if those costs are reported on the nursing home's cost report. The Department of Health will then compile this data into an annual public report showing aggregated spending trends by region and county (without naming individual facilities) and publish it online for transparency.