Asm. Yvonne Lopez

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3488) requires municipalities to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary housing units like in-law apartments or backyard cottages - in single-family and two-family residential zones. It mandates that local land use regulations permit ADUs as a "permitted use as of right," removing barriers such as excessive parking requirements, owner-occupancy mandates, or restrictions on occupant relationships. The bill also requires automatic approval (ministerial action) for ADU applications without public hearings, while prohibiting municipalities from imposing additional fees or fire sprinkler requirements beyond those for the main dwelling. It directly affects homeowners seeking to build ADUs, municipalities updating zoning rules, and renters who may benefit from expanded housing options within existing neighborhoods. The bill is pending before the Assembly Housing Committee as of January 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes mandatory standards for domestic violence counseling programs required by courts for offenders. It directly affects defendants ordered to attend such counseling in domestic violence cases, requiring programs to include four key components: risk assessments identifying escalating violence patterns, education on power/control tactics, verified attendance tracking with court reporting, and regular oversight by New Jersey's Department of Children and Families. The law aims to ensure counseling programs actively promote offender accountability rather than simply meeting attendance requirements. It implements a specific recommendation from a 2023 criminal justice report and takes effect three months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a licensing framework for businesses operating with digital assets (like cryptocurrencies) in New Jersey. It requires companies engaging in activities such as storing, trading, or issuing digital assets to obtain a license from the Bureau of Securities, unless exempt. Key exemptions include digital consumer assets used solely within online gaming platforms that don’t convert to cash or other currencies. The law explicitly excludes traditional securities from its scope and applies to activities occurring within New Jersey or targeting New Jersey residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3494, "Incarcerated Women's Protection Act") requires New Jersey correctional facilities to implement gender-responsive policies for female inmates. Key provisions include: mandating gender-specific risk assessments during classification, creating a Division of Women’s Services to address trauma, parenting needs, and reentry support, providing doula services for pregnant incarcerated women, establishing a PREA Compliance Unit, and forming a Special Victims Unit to investigate sexual misconduct. The bill directly affects all female inmates in state correctional facilities and requires correctional staff to undergo annual training on gender-responsive practices. These changes aim to improve safety, dignity, and access to services for incarcerated women through specific, measurable policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum age for residents in New Jersey's pediatric long-term care facilities from 19 to 26 years old. It directly affects facilities licensed under P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) and young adults aged 19-26 who currently must transition to adult care at age 19. The key provision modifies licensing rules to permit these facilities to admit and serve residents up to age 26. The Commissioner of Health must adopt implementing rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill standardizes pension benefits for New Jersey teachers by moving all current non-retired members of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) into a single benefit tier (previously called "Tier 1"), granting them the same retirement benefits as members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll teachers earning above minimum salary but not meeting work-hour requirements into TAPF within 60 days of enactment. Teachers in the separate Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) can automatically transfer their service credit to TAPF for retirement eligibility (but not pension amount calculations), with contributions staying in DCRP; they may opt out within six months of notification. The bill also allows TAPF members with long-term disability insurance to apply for disability retirement within two years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Lead Education, Accountability, and Disclosure Act," requires New Jersey public community water systems (serving 15+ connections or 25+ year-round residents) to provide specific lead-related information to customers. Water systems must include details on lead sources, health risks, and reduction steps in annual Consumer Confidence Reports and send written notices to new customers within 90 days of service. Before any lead pipe work, systems must notify affected customers about temporary water quality risks and provide exposure-reduction measures. The law takes effect immediately, focusing on transparency rather than mandating pipe replacement.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A2365 extends in-state tuition eligibility to spouses and dependents of military service members who move due to a service member's transfer. It allows these individuals to maintain in-state tuition rates at public colleges in New Jersey if they were already enrolled before the transfer and maintain continuous enrollment. The bill specifically applies to spouses and dependents who were attending school in New Jersey prior to the military relocation, ensuring they don't lose tuition benefits during temporary moves. This change directly affects military families facing frequent relocations, removing a barrier to educational affordability during service-related transfers. The policy update amends existing law (P.L.1985, c.231) to include these scenarios without requiring new funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program in specific New Jersey counties (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, and Union) and first-class cities to train school staff, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and students to identify and report behaviors signaling potential school violence. Key provisions include developing a threat assessment tool, creating a training curriculum on recognizing risk indicators, and building a system for immediate threat reporting and response. The program requires the Attorney General to collaborate with health and education officials and submit annual reports evaluating the pilot's effectiveness, with recommendations for potential statewide expansion. Funding for implementation will be provided through a general fund appropriation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Pilot Program Review Board to evaluate state pilot programs after implementation. The nine-member board, appointed by the Governor, legislative leaders, and Senate/Assembly minority leaders, will review each pilot program within one year of completion using objective performance measures developed by the implementing agency. The board will hold regional public hearings to gather input from stakeholders and then provide written recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on whether successful programs should be expanded statewide. This oversight mechanism applies to all state pilot programs, ensuring they meet intended goals before permanent adoption.