Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1944) extends New Jersey's existing 5-business-day grace period for rental late fees to apply specifically to tenants receiving public assistance payments. It requires landlords to wait until after a tenant receives their monthly public assistance payment (e.g., Social Security, disability benefits, or Work First NJ) before counting the grace period toward late fees. For example, if rent is due on the 1st but assistance arrives on the 10th, late fees cannot apply until 5 business days after the 10th. The bill also mandates that leases must specify when tenants receive public assistance payments each month. It applies to all qualifying tenants, not just those with rent due on the 1st, and takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A1877) requires health insurance carriers to offer healthcare providers - such as doctors, dentists, and hospitals - more than one payment method (e.g., check, electronic transfer, or credit card) for reimbursement, rather than forcing them to accept only one option. It mandates that carriers disclose any fees tied to specific payment methods before the first payment and provide clear instructions for selecting methods, while requiring a 30-day turnaround for changing payment methods upon provider request. The bill also prohibits carriers from using a provider’s preferred payment method to decide whether to grant credentials for network participation. These changes apply to all health and dental insurance plans in the state, with enforcement handled by the Department of Banking and Insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A576) requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to create the "New Jersey Pandemic Entertainment Grant Program" to provide financial assistance to entertainment businesses significantly impacted by pandemic-related closures and capacity restrictions. It directly affects qualified businesses - such as family entertainment centers (NAICS codes 713110/713120) that operated 50%+ indoor revenue in 2019 and demonstrated a 50%+ revenue decline during April 2020-March 2021 due to the pandemic - excluding those who received prior pandemic grants. Grants equal 15% of the revenue loss during that period, with maximum amounts ranging from $25,000 to $750,000 based on business size and ride count. The bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to establish the grant program fund, mandating the EDA to administer applications, disburse funds, and set reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's state and county election boards to buy or lease old USPS mailboxes (decommissioned letter collection boxes) for use as secure ballot drop boxes during elections. It requires these repurposed mailboxes to meet safety and security standards set by the Secretary of State. The law directly affects election officials who manage voting locations and ballot collection, providing a new option for accessible drop box locations. It does not change voting rules or procedures, only expands the types of secure containers that can be used for ballot drop-off.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain a central database tracking available student openings in Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) programs at participating colleges and universities. The database will show real-time openings to campus EOF directors, improving communication between directors and eligible students seeking placement. Participating institutions must notify the Secretary within one business day when an opening is filled, ensuring the database stays current. If a student cannot secure a spot at their preferred institution, campus EOF directors must provide information about openings at other participating schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Rutgers' Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy to study how local governments can deliver services more efficiently - specifically examining municipal courts, code enforcement, health services, property tax assessments, public works, and emergency services (police/fire/EMS). The study will analyze shared service agreements, joint contracts, and alternative delivery methods to identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining service quality. The school must submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year, using $30,000 from the Property Tax Relief Fund. The goal is to inform future policies aimed at reducing New Jersey’s high property tax burden, which residents currently face as the highest in the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends paid leave for New Jersey public employees who serve in military reserves or the National Guard. It allows state, county, school district, and municipal workers to take paid leave for required inactive duty training (like regular drills) within existing annual limits: 30 work days for federal reserve members and 90 days for New Jersey National Guard members. The law maintains current pay protections but requires the state to reimburse local governments and school districts for any additional costs incurred. This change applies immediately to all affected public employees.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A365) prohibits cutting off or altering a dog’s tail or ears for cosmetic reasons, making it a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. It directly affects dog owners and veterinarians, exempting medical procedures performed by licensed vets for health reasons. Veterinarians must document such medical procedures in writing and submit them to the Department of Health; failure to do so risks disciplinary action. The law updates existing animal cruelty statutes (R.S. 4:22-26) to include this specific prohibition.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $17 million supplemental appropriation for New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2023 budget to fund lake management grants through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The grants will support qualified entities - including lake commissions (like the Lake Hopatcong Commission), local governments, and nonprofits focused on publicly accessible lakes - to cover costs for maintenance, water quality improvement, and preventing harmful algal blooms. The DEP must establish a program prioritizing projects that enhance public access, recreational use, and conservation, with funds also covering eligible stormwater and pollution management activities that directly benefit lake use. This one-time funding is specifically directed at lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A572) requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create online systems for schools and child care centers to submit lead testing results for drinking water. It directly affects all schools (required to test since 2016) and child care centers (required to test since 2017) statewide. Schools and centers must submit or resubmit existing test results via these systems within 90 days of their launch, and both departments must publish all compiled results on public websites in searchable formats. Additionally, DOE and DCF must jointly produce a two-year report analyzing lead contamination levels, remediation needs, and state assistance recommendations.