Asm. Yvonne Lopez

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to authorize their municipal clerks, rather than the full governing body, to provide written statements supporting affordable housing projects. This change would make it easier for housing projects to qualify for state funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund by accepting a clerk's statement instead of requiring a formal resolution from the entire municipal council. The bill also streamlines the application process for housing loans by allowing the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to accept the clerk's statement as proof of municipal need. It applies to any affordable housing project that conforms to the municipality's fair share housing plan. The bill is designed to simplify the process for communities to support affordable housing development without requiring full council approval for every project.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows for-profit organizations that provide low- and moderate-income housing to join with non-profit housing groups and housing authorities in shared insurance funds. It defines eligible for-profit entities as those focused on housing developments under state fair share plans or federal Section 8 programs. The shared funds cannot include municipalities, school boards, or offer health/life insurance to employees, but may provide environmental liability coverage or join higher-level insurance pools for excess risks. This changes how these housing entities access insurance options under existing law, without creating new funding or a pilot program.

Maddy summaryThis bill abolishes New Jersey's Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and replaces its system with a new municipal framework for meeting affordable housing obligations. Municipalities must now determine their own "fair share" of low- and moderate-income housing through binding resolutions, using state-published calculations, while allowing advocates to contest these determinations. The law appropriates $16 million for housing programs to support new construction and rehabilitation of substandard housing, particularly in urban areas. It directly affects all New Jersey municipalities and low-to-moderate-income residents seeking housing, ending regional contribution agreements and establishing clearer deadlines to prevent previous compliance gaps.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1422) modifies state tax rules to encourage new affordable housing development. It allows developers to deduct a larger portion of construction costs over a 10-year period based on the percentage of affordable units in a project - specifically, 2 times the ratio of affordable units to total units. To qualify, projects must include at least 20% affordable units (for households earning ≤80% of regional median income), avoid federal/subsidy funding for affordable units, and begin construction after the bill's effective date. The change applies to eligible construction costs for developments completed in the 2025 tax year and later.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of materials, supplies, and services used in building or improving affordable housing projects from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It specifically applies to projects where all housing units are intended for moderate, low, or very low-income residents, as defined by state law. The exemption covers transactions with contractors or repairmen for these projects, reducing development costs for housing sponsors. This expands existing tax exemptions to include a new category of affordable housing developments.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey tax law to allow developers building new affordable housing to use an alternative depreciation method for construction costs. It directly affects developers constructing qualifying affordable housing projects, defined as developments with at least 20% units for households earning ≤80% of regional median income. The key provision lets taxpayers depreciate a percentage of eligible construction costs over 10 years, calculated as 2 multiplied by (affordable units divided by total units in the development). This change applies to projects starting construction after the bill's effective date, with costs incurred for developments placed in service after 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the scope of practice for optometrists in New Jersey by allowing them to prescribe more pharmaceutical agents (including some controlled substances), administer certain immunizations (for coronaviruses, influenza, and varicella-zoster virus), and perform simple ophthalmologic procedures like non-invasive laser treatments. It clarifies that optometrists must complete specific training and credentialing to provide these expanded services, including evidence of competence through accredited education programs. The bill directly affects licensed optometrists in New Jersey and their patients, who will have access to a broader range of eye care services from optometrists. The legislation updates the legal definition of optometry practice to better align with optometrists' doctoral education and clinical training.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to require public bodies (like state agencies, municipalities, and authorities) to set aside 0.5% of funds from construction projects over $1 million for outreach and training programs. The funds must support programs preparing minority group members and women for careers in construction trades, engineering, management, and related occupations through apprenticeships and supportive services. Eligible programs can be run by community groups, labor organizations, schools, or other entities through grants from the Department of Labor. Annual reports will track fund usage, program participation, and employment outcomes for participants. The bill updates existing requirements from 2009 to expand covered occupations and ensure consistent fund allocation across all public construction projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state, county, and private adult and juvenile correctional facilities to provide free voice, video, and electronic mail services to incarcerated individuals, eliminating all fees for calls or messages. It prohibits facilities from charging per-minute rates, setup fees, or any other charges to incarcerated persons or their families, and mandates that services must be provided at no cost to any party. The bill appropriates funds from the General Fund to cover implementation costs, ensuring facilities can provide these services without financial burden. As a result, incarcerated individuals and their families will no longer face costs previously associated with communication, such as domestic call fees up to 11 cents per minute.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to pay providers the same rate for certain primary and mental health services as the federal Medicare program, starting July 1, 2023. It applies to services provided by physicians in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, or OB/GYN; advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, midwives; and mental health professionals like psychologists and licensed counselors. The law prevents Medicaid reimbursement rates from decreasing below prior year levels and covers both fee-for-service and managed care systems. It also mandates a report within one year on how these rate changes affect access and quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries, including recommendations for underserved areas.