Asm. Yvonne Lopez

Maddy summaryThis bill caps residential rental application fees at $50 for most properties, prohibiting landlords or agents from charging more. Landlords violating this limit face a $1,500 penalty per offense, with $250 of each penalty returned to the tenant. The $50 cap automatically adjusts annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the New York-Northern New Jersey area if inflation exceeds zero, and the fee limit does not apply to single-family or two-family homes. The bill also requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to create an online system for tenants to report violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3512) sets new reimbursement rules for pharmacies serving Medicaid patients in New Jersey. It requires pharmacies to be paid at least the national average drug cost plus a $10.92 dispensing fee, regardless of whether services are delivered through traditional Medicaid or managed care plans. The bill also mandates that Medicaid managed care plans must allow patients to choose any participating pharmacy and prohibits plans from unfairly blocking pharmacies from joining their networks. Additionally, it requires an audit to track pharmacy pricing and potential state savings from these changes. The law directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries, pharmacies, and Medicaid managed care organizations in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) to provide public employers (like municipalities and school districts) with detailed health claims data upon request, limiting access to once per calendar year instead of once every 24 months. It mandates specific data including medical claims summaries, top prescription drugs by cost/quantity, utilization trends, and prescription details (e.g., drug types, costs, pharmacy types), while ensuring privacy compliance under HIPAA. The data must be shared with the public employer’s majority employee representatives if the employer requests it. This directly affects public employers participating in SHBP and their employees, enabling transparency about health benefit costs and usage patterns.

Maddy summaryBill A3263 establishes the New Jersey Energy Independence Bank as an independent subsidiary of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA). The bank will provide financing, loan guarantees, and other support for clean energy projects - including renewable generation, energy storage, efficiency upgrades, and electric vehicle infrastructure - primarily targeting residential, municipal, small business, and commercial developers. Key provisions require the bank to maintain separate finances from the EDA, have a board with majority independent members, and publicly disclose financing terms (with limited exceptions for confidential business information). The bill effectively renames the existing New Jersey Green Bank as the Energy Independence Bank and transfers its assets and staff to this new entity.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a statewide real-time database tracking available beds in homeless shelters across New Jersey. Homeless shelters (excluding domestic violence shelters) must update bed availability within one hour of changes, allowing shelter operators and referral services to quickly locate open beds for people needing emergency housing. Participation in the database becomes a condition for shelters to receive state funding from the Departments of Community Affairs and Human Services. The database aims to improve coordination between shelters to reduce wait times for individuals seeking immediate housing assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A422) requires New Jersey's Department of Education to annually report how federal pandemic relief funds are used by school districts. Specifically, the department must submit yearly reports by December 31 detailing the total funds received from federal programs like the CARES Act, CRRSA Act, and American Rescue Plan Act, along with the specific purposes school districts used these funds for (e.g., remote learning, staff support). A final report is also required six months after all funds are fully spent. The bill directly affects the Department of Education and public school districts receiving federal COVID-19 relief funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects inmates in New Jersey state correctional facilities who report sexual abuse, harassment, or violence by staff. It requires the Corrections Commissioner to create a confidential, fee-free system for inmates to file complaints anonymously, with language access and clear information about reporting options. The bill prohibits staff from retaliating against reporting inmates through transfers, job changes, or other punitive actions, and mandates victim advocate support. It criminalizes both retaliation against inmates and staff failing to report abuse, punishable as a fourth-degree crime with up to 18 months in prison or a $10,000 fine.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1784) requires owners of certain public spaces - like theaters, libraries, medical waiting areas, banks, restaurants, and grocery checkout zones - to install induction loop listening systems during new construction or substantial renovations costing over $40,000. These systems wirelessly transmit sound to hearing aids and cochlear implants with telecoil features, reducing background noise for people with hearing loss. Owners must also display permanent signage indicating the system’s availability and submit biennial self-certifications confirming it remains functional. Exceptions apply if a building code agency determines installation would be impractical, based on the owner’s request during permit applications.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3031) requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a program encouraging owners or operators of closed landfills to transform these sites into habitats supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and bats using native plants. The DEP must develop guidelines for establishing and maintaining these habitats within six months of the bill taking effect, and actively seek corporate or nonprofit partnerships to fund and support the program. It directly affects owners of legacy or closed sanitary landfills statewide, with the goal of repurposing underutilized landfill sites for ecological benefit. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes for habitat creation, not on outcomes or political arguments.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale or assembly of lithium-ion batteries made from used storage cells for electric bicycles and scooters, and requires new devices to have safety certification (like UL 2849/2272) with visible labels. It directly affects manufacturers, retailers, and businesses selling or leasing low-speed electric bikes/scooters, with penalties up to $1,000 for violations after a warning. Commercial operators must provide fire safety materials to employees using these devices, covering operation and storage. The law aims to reduce fire risks by setting safety standards for these products.