Asm. Yvonne Lopez

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a New Jersey gross income tax credit for licensed child care staff and registered family day care providers. Eligible workers must have been employed for six continuous months in their current role, with credit amounts varying by income level ($25,000-$45,000) and the age group of children they serve (birth-30 months or 30+ months). For those earning under $45,000, the credit is refundable - if it eliminates tax liability, they receive the remaining amount as a cash payment. The credit does not count as income for other state benefit programs and requires at least 50% of work time to be spent directly providing child care services.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the sale, distribution, import, or manufacture of children's products intended for children under six that contain lead, mercury, or cadmium. It requires manufacturers to issue immediate recalls if they discover such products, and retailers must remove recalled items from shelves within 48 hours and return inventory within 14 business days at the manufacturer's cost. Manufacturers must then destroy recalled products within 60 business days to prevent public access. Violations carry penalties including fines up to $20,000 for initial offenses, or criminal charges with up to 10 years in prison for repeated failures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed child care centers in New Jersey to provide parents or guardians with 60 days' written notice before increasing tuition rates. Centers must send the notice via certified mail (with return receipt), first-class mail, or in-person delivery to the parent's last known address, and also post it on their website and display it prominently at the center. The notice requirement applies to all tuition rate changes occurring three months after the bill's enactment. This directly affects parents of children enrolled in licensed child care centers by giving them advance warning of fee changes.

Maddy summaryBill A2100 creates a presumption that public safety workers (firefighters, police, EMTs) who responded to the September 11, 2001 attacks and developed illnesses covered by the CDC’s World Trade Center Health Program are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. It removes time limits for filing claims and requires documentation from the CDC program to prove eligibility. Benefits cannot duplicate existing state or federal compensation for the same condition. This applies only to workers currently enrolled in the CDC’s WTC Health Program, not to all 9/11 responders.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires apartment buildings with 30 or more units in New Jersey cities with 50,000+ residents to install and maintain accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in unlocked, clearly marked locations. Landlords must provide tenants with the AED location and ensure regular maintenance, while residents using AEDs gain legal immunity. It also creates an Affordable Housing Defibrillator Fund within the Department of Community Affairs to provide grants specifically to owners of affordable housing developments to cover compliance costs. The law takes effect seven months after enactment, aiming to increase access to life-saving AEDs in multi-unit buildings where cardiac emergencies may occur.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 14 of each year as "Latino Business Day" in New Jersey to recognize the economic contributions of Latino-owned businesses. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day with activities highlighting these businesses' impact. The resolution cites that Latino-owned businesses contribute over $800 billion annually to the U.S. economy and have grown significantly faster than other business types. It directly affects New Jersey residents by creating an annual observance to raise awareness of Latino entrepreneurship's role in the state's economy. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to promote recognition of this business community.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for New Jersey homeowners who received federal disaster assistance after Hurricane Ida damaged their primary residence in September 2021. It requires mortgage servicers to grant a one-year payment pause (forbearance) without fees, penalties, or credit reporting, retroactive to payments missed since September 1, 2021. Homeowners must meet income limits (≤150% of area median income) and asset thresholds (less than six months of income in bank accounts), and submit a written request. The relief ends either after one year or July 1, 2024, whichever comes first, and does not apply to federally-backed loans like FHA or VA mortgages.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state colleges to close on Election Day for general elections, meaning no academic classes will be held on that date. It directly affects public colleges across the state by mandating they treat Election Day as a holiday on their academic calendars. The law takes effect in the first full academic year following its enactment, ensuring colleges adjust their schedules to accommodate the holiday.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the State Real Estate Appraiser Board from 11 to 7 members, with specific appointment rules requiring the Governor to appoint members based on recommendations from the Assembly Speaker and Senate President. It prohibits real estate appraisers and appraisal management companies from discriminating in property appraisals based on race, color, or national origin of property owners or occupants. The Department of Law and Public Safety will investigate discrimination complaints and direct the Board to enforce penalties, including requiring restitution for discriminatory appraisals, mandating anti-bias seminars for first violations, suspending licenses for second violations, and revoking licenses for third violations. Civil penalties of up to $10,000 may also apply for repeated violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4695) creates an independent Office of Nonprofit Ombudsperson within New Jersey's Department of Treasury to assist nonprofit organizations interacting with state agencies. The Governor will appoint a qualified ombudsperson who will provide technical help, investigate complaints about state agencies, monitor compliance with a statewide nonprofit information portal, and develop better contracting practices for nonprofits. The office will maintain a website, hold public meetings, and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. The bill appropriates $329,000 from the General Fund to establish and operate this office.