Asm. Yvonne Lopez

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2251) allows firefighters employed by municipalities, fire districts, or authorities to transfer from the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), if they meet specific criteria. It directly affects firefighters hired after age 35 (who were automatically enrolled in PERS due to age restrictions) and currently enrolled in PERS, provided they meet PFRS's definition of "fireman" and obtain governing body approval. Key provisions require a 90-day waiver of PERS benefits, with full credit for transferred service only if the firefighter pays the accrued liability cost; otherwise, benefits are apportioned based on service credit ratios. The State will not cover additional costs for local employers resulting from these transfers.

Maddy summaryAJR 61 designates April of each year as "Financial Literacy Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging schools, financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations to host activities focused on financial topics like credit management, savings, debt management, and homeownership. It does not create new laws or regulations but aims to raise public awareness about financial education. The designation applies statewide, affecting all New Jersey residents through promoted educational efforts during April.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill A2282 establishes the Office of Resilience within the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction. The office, led by an executive director reporting to the DCF Commissioner, will develop trauma-informed strategies, run public awareness campaigns about ACEs, and create research-based tools to build resilience in children and adults affected by trauma. It will coordinate statewide community efforts with non-profits and early childhood providers to reduce ACE exposure and support healing. The office must report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts to include in domestic violence restraining orders a provision that automatically applies to a victim's child upon birth, if the victim is pregnant and requests this protection. It directly affects pregnant victims of domestic violence and their unborn children by extending legal protections without requiring the victim to return to court after childbirth. The key mechanism is that courts can now add this provision to restraining orders at the victim's request, rather than requiring the victim to seek a new order after the child is born. This change implements a court ruling that found it unreasonable to require victims to return to court immediately after giving birth to extend protections to their newborns.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15,564,293 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to the New Jersey Historic Trust for historic preservation grants. It funds 37 capital preservation projects totaling $12.18 million (including restoration of sites like the USS New Jersey, Trenton City Hall, and Morven) and 35 historic site management projects totaling $1.59 million (covering preservation planning and heritage tourism initiatives). Additional allocations include $25,000 for a Discover NJ History license plate fund, $100,000 for emergency preservation needs, and $1.67 million for administrative costs. All projects require recipient matching funds and involve properties listed or eligible for listing in the New Jersey or National Register of Historic Places.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to specifically address human trafficking in underserved communities, with a focus on girls and women of color who face heightened vulnerability. The Attorney General must allocate resources within the Department of Law and Public Safety to coordinate with local law enforcement on trafficking investigations, partner with victim support programs and community organizations to connect victims with resources, and collect data on trafficking trends in these communities. These actions are intended to target the unique challenges faced by underserved populations experiencing human trafficking. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires credit report companies that maintain nationwide consumer files to annually report to New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs the number of free credit reports they provided to New Jersey residents. Specifically, companies must submit by March 1st each year how many NJ residents received one free report and how many received two free reports during the previous calendar year. The report must cover agencies that compile credit data for third parties to assess creditworthiness. Failure to comply results in a $10,000 penalty per violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $25 million fund within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to support the Blue Acres program. The fund provides relocation assistance for homeowners and tenants displaced when the state acquires flood-prone properties through Blue Acres projects, and covers the cost of purchasing those properties. All money in the fund must be used for these purposes, with no more than 5% of annual funds allowed for administrative costs. The fund is non-lapsing (does not expire) and will be administered by the DEP to help residents affected by flood risk mitigation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1940) requires law enforcement officers to provide domestic violence victims with information about their rights in English, Spanish, and up to 10 additional high-demand languages spoken in New Jersey, as identified in the Supreme Court-approved Language Access Plan. It also mandates the Administrative Office of the Courts to create standard templates for temporary and final restraining orders in these languages for use by law enforcement, municipal courts, and Superior Court judges. These templates would be provided to both victims and defendants when restraining orders are issued. The bill aims to improve language access for non-English speaking domestic violence victims seeking legal protections across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2246) makes it a crime to create, sell, display, or possess false documents claiming someone received a COVID-19 vaccine. It imposes penalties ranging from up to 18 months in jail for possessing a fake card (fourth degree) to 5-10 years for selling or making them (second degree). The bill also requires the Attorney General to create a fraud prevention program within 30 days, using confidential access to the state’s vaccination records to investigate and prosecute fake card schemes. The program is limited to verifying vaccination status for fraud cases and cannot share personal health data beyond that purpose.