Asm. Yvonne Lopez

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Information Privacy within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to manage home address privacy for specific public officials. It exempts the home addresses of judicial officers, law enforcement officers, child protective investigators, prosecutors, and their immediate family members from standard public record redaction rules. The office will operate a secure portal allowing authorized representatives (like family members or legal guardians) to request or revoke address privacy, with clear processes for handling these requests and exceptions. This changes how home addresses appear in public records for these covered groups, balancing privacy needs with access for election officials, legal challenges, and other specified circumstances. The bill is currently in the introduction stage (2026-01-13).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC) to publicly report incidents of suicide and self-harm among inmates housed in Restorative Housing Units (RHUs). RHUs are disciplinary housing units where inmates are separated from general population, and the bill mandates quarterly public reports (without personal identifiers) detailing these incidents alongside data on inmate demographics and confinement types. The reports must include non-duplicative annual counts of self-harm, suicide, and emergency confinement in RHUs across all facilities. This is a transparency measure focused on data collection, not policy changes to RHU operations. The bill aligns with a 2024 recommendation from the Corrections Ombudsperson.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "source of lawful income" to New Jersey's list of protected categories in housing, prohibiting discrimination by landlords or housing providers. It directly affects renters and homeowners who use lawful income sources (such as government benefits, disability payments, or child support) for housing payments. The law expands existing protections under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination to explicitly cover this factor, making it illegal to refuse housing, impose different terms, or harass someone based on how they pay rent or a mortgage. The amendment clarifies that victims can seek remedies like damages for discrimination-related harms, including economic loss or emotional distress. (Note: The bill was withdrawn as redundant after similar protections were enacted as P.L.2025, c.251.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires age-restricted community associations in New Jersey to permit property owners to sell or transfer their homes to any buyer, regardless of the buyer's age, as long as the new owner certifies the unit will be occupied by someone meeting the community's federal age requirement (e.g., 55+ or 62+). It directly affects homeowners in these communities, the community associations managing them, and potential buyers. The key provision amends certification rules to ensure associations cannot block sales based on buyer age alone, while adding enforcement: the Commissioner of Community Affairs can penalize associations that restrict sales or buyers who fail to maintain compliance. Penalties apply if associations deny transfers or if buyers allow non-compliant occupants. The bill aims to streamline sales while preserving federal "housing for older persons" compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires social media companies with at least five million global users to establish a 24-hour toll-free phone number for New Jersey residents to report account fraud, such as unauthorized access. Social media companies must display this number in security email alerts sent to New Jersey account holders and on their platform's homepage or help page. Failure to comply would violate New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act, resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense and potential additional penalties like cease-and-desist orders. The law directly affects large social media platforms operating in New Jersey, aiming to provide residents with a direct, accessible channel for security concerns.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to share domestic violence registry records with specific licensed healthcare providers. It directly affects healthcare professionals (like doctors, nurses, and therapists) who have a legal duty to warn patients about potential violence under existing law. The key change expands current access rules to allow these providers to view the registry when they have a duty to protect a patient from domestic violence. Records remain confidential and can only be used for this specific safety purpose, with violations punishable as a fourth-degree crime.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a public database managed by New Jersey's Business Action Center (within the Department of State) listing vacant commercial properties available for small businesses to lease or purchase. The database must include specific details like square footage, included equipment, and building systems (e.g., HVAC, security). Commercial property owners are required to report vacancies or occupancy changes to the center, which will update the database monthly using input from owners, realtors, and municipalities. The database will be accessible online and promoted to business associations and local chambers to help small businesses find suitable space more efficiently.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands requirements for public awareness signage about human trafficking. It adds 10 new locations where businesses and facilities must display the Commission on Human Trafficking's sign, including gas stations, staffing agencies, law enforcement offices, nail salons, and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices. The sign must be 8.5x11 inches, in 16-point font, and bilingual (English/Spanish), containing the national trafficking hotline number. Businesses failing to display or replace defaced signs face $300 fines for first offenses and $1,000 for subsequent violations. The bill directly affects the listed establishments by mandating visible signage to aid trafficking victims.

Maddy summaryBill A 3456 allows firefighters employed by municipalities, fire districts, or authorities (who were not eligible for the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) at hire due to age and are currently enrolled in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS)) to transfer to PFRS with their employer’s approval. To transfer, eligible firefighters must waive PERS benefits within 90 days of the bill’s effective date, and their accrued PERS service credit will transfer to PFRS. Firefighters may choose to pay for full credit toward PFRS benefits (like purchasing military service credit), or benefits will be split based on the ratio of PERS to total service credit. The bill ensures no additional state costs for local employers and maintains existing death/disability benefits under PFRS.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) agencies - nonprofit organizations managing homelessness services in New Jersey - to remain open during public health emergencies. It mandates the Department of Community Affairs to fund one agency per "populous county" (county with 350,000+ residents) to manage homelessness prevention services in those areas. If federal pandemic funding is insufficient, the agency head may request state funds from the General Fund to cover gaps. The law directly affects agencies in populous counties and the residents they serve, ensuring continuous access to homelessness prevention during emergencies.