Asm. Yvonne Lopez

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electronic voting system vendors to disclose any 5% or greater ownership interests in the company, its subsidiaries, or parent company to the New Jersey Secretary of State before their systems can be approved for election use. Vendors must also report any future ownership changes exceeding a 5% threshold. The law aims to increase transparency around voting system ownership, following similar measures in Maryland and North Carolina to address election security concerns.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Environmental Protection Commissioner (with the Agriculture Secretary) to create standards and a "pollinator-friendly" label for plants. It mandates that plants sold with this label must be native, non-invasive, and not treated with pesticides or chemicals harmful to pollinators like bees, butterflies, or hummingbirds. Retailers and distributors may only use the label if plants meet these standards, which prohibit harmful chemical treatments. The label applies specifically to plants marketed as safe for pollinators, defining "pollinator-friendly" based on these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to create a statewide database tracking real-time shelter bed availability for homeless individuals, using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). It directly affects homeless shelters (excluding domestic violence shelters) that receive state funding from the Departments of Community Affairs or Human Services, requiring them to update bed availability within one hour of changes. Shelters must cooperate with the database to maintain eligibility for state funding, enabling operators to quickly direct people to available beds in nearby facilities. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2259) updates New Jersey's process for removing deceased voters from registration rolls. It adds three new methods for transferring records: next of kin can submit a notarized form with a death certificate, veterans healthcare directors or nursing home administrators can notify county election officials, and funeral directors can submit a form. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to annually match the statewide voter system with the Social Security Administration's deceased persons database by October 1. These changes directly affect county election officials, next of kin, healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and funeral homes by streamlining how deceased voter records are reported and removed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey state program requiring contracting agencies (like state departments and authorities) to set annual procurement goals for awarding contracts to certified socially and economically disadvantaged business enterprises (SEDBEs). It defines SEDBEs as businesses owned by individuals who meet specific criteria for both social disadvantage (e.g., racial minority status, disability, gender identity, or location in high-poverty areas) and economic disadvantage (e.g., limited capital/credit access and net worth below a set threshold). The program mandates agencies to develop annual plans to meet these goals, use certified SEDBEs for prime contracts or subcontracts where feasible, and submit reports tracking contract awards and outreach efforts. The goal is to increase SEDBE participation in state procurement for construction, professional services, goods, and IT, without altering existing set-aside programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2239) requires publicly traded corporations with their principal executive office in New Jersey to have board of directors that reflect the state's racial and gender diversity by December 31, 2021. Corporations must use the most recent U.S. Census data to measure diversity and file annual reports with the Secretary of State listing all directors and their terms. Failure to comply results in civil penalties: $100,000 for a first violation and $300,000 for subsequent violations. The Secretary of State must also annually report compliance status, corporate headquarters moves, and changes in publicly traded status to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2186) requires ticket websites selling event tickets in New Jersey to publicly display three specific details about ticket availability: the total tickets available per venue, how many have been released so far, and how many have been sold. It directly affects online ticket sellers operating in New Jersey for events at venues like stadiums or theaters. The law mandates this information be shown on the website itself, not just in fine print. This aims to increase transparency for consumers purchasing tickets online.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 1% tax on purchasers of controlling ownership stakes in Class 4A commercial properties when the transfer value exceeds $1 million. It directly affects buyers of large-scale commercial real estate (such as office buildings or retail spaces, excluding residential, farm, industrial, or vacant land) in transactions over $1 million. The key change removes the "controlling interest transfer tax" (CITT) for these specific high-value transactions, reducing the cost for such purchases. The repeal takes effect after a two-month delay following enactment, applying to transfers occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's licensing renewal rules for polysomnographic technologists (sleep study technicians). It eliminates the requirement for license holders to complete additional educational courses or credits when renewing their license, if those same courses were needed to obtain their initial license. The change applies to all renewal applications, preventing redundant education requirements for existing practitioners. The policy change takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to January 1, 2021. (Based on Section 11(f) of A2287)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) to provide public employers (non-State entities participating in SHBP) with detailed claims data upon written request. It mandates inclusion of 26 specific data points, including prescription utilization reports (top 50 drugs by volume/cost), medical claims summaries by diagnosis, and provider information, while maintaining HIPAA-compliant privacy safeguards. Public employers may request this data once per calendar year (reducing the prior 24-month limit), and employee majority representatives can also access it within 15 days of a public employer’s request. The bill directly affects public employers and their employees by increasing transparency into health plan spending and utilization patterns.