Asm. Yvonne Lopez

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's inspection requirements for all long-term care facilities - including nursing homes, assisted living residences, and dementia care homes - to expand oversight beyond previous nursing home-only rules. It mandates the Department of Health to publish quarterly public reports comparing facilities based on staff-to-resident ratios, verified complaints, violations, and other compliance metrics. The bill also requires standardized inspections covering facility policies, physical safety, staffing levels, mandatory services (like medical care and infection control), and advisory services. The Department may increase inspection frequency or duration for non-compliant facilities, with a two-year phase-in period for staffing/resource needs if required. These changes aim to ensure ongoing compliance with health, safety, and operational standards across all facility types.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) agencies to remain open during public health emergencies and ensures the state funds one HPP agency in each populous county (defined as a county with 350,000 or more residents per the latest federal census). The Department of Community Affairs must provide ongoing funding for these agencies, and if federal pandemic-related funds become unavailable, the agency may request state funding from the General Fund. This applies specifically to counties meeting the population threshold, guaranteeing continuous homelessness prevention services during emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2895) increases penalties for criminal street gang recruitment in New Jersey by imposing mandatory minimum prison sentences of 5-15 years for people who recruit minors (7 years for those under 18, 10 years for those under 14) and for those who cause or encourage minors to join gangs. It establishes new restrictions requiring convicted recruiters to live at least 500 feet from schools and playgrounds, and bans them from jobs involving 80% or more child contact. The bill creates accomplice liability for those who recruit gang members, making them responsible for crimes committed by recruited minors. It applies to anyone convicted of recruiting minors or doing so on school property.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program to improve sickle cell disease care in New Jersey, appropriating $10.2 million from the General Fund. The Department of Health will competitively select federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), prioritizing those in Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, Trenton, Camden, and other high-need areas, to develop comprehensive treatment programs. The program requires participating centers to provide coordinated care (including telehealth where permitted), build specialized medical workforce capacity, conduct outreach, promote awareness, and collect state-wide data on sickle cell disease incidence and healthcare use. Funds must be used for these purposes during the three-year pilot, with unspent funds reverting to the General Fund after expiration.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey professional licensing boards to calculate the national average time other states take to approve initial credentials for each regulated profession or occupation. Boards must collect this data from other states (or national associations) within six months of the bill's effective date, then use the approved national average as their processing standard for new applications. If a board fails to meet the national average after one year, it must use licensing fees to hire a third-party expert to identify best practices for faster processing, which must be implemented immediately. The Division of Consumer Affairs reviews compliance annually to ensure boards meet the established timelines.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Disability Savings Act (A115) creates a state tax deduction for contributions to New Jersey ABLE accounts (disability savings accounts) and offers a one-time $750 matching grant for new accounts opened by residents with gross income of $150,000 or less. It directly affects New Jersey residents with disabilities or their families who use these accounts for qualifying disability-related expenses like housing, education, or medical costs. The bill allows a full state tax deduction on contributions (similar to NJ’s 529 education savings plan) and provides the matching grant as an incentive to save, though funding for the grant depends on annual state appropriations. The deduction and grant apply only to New Jersey ABLE accounts, not accounts from other states.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) within New Jersey's SNAP benefits program, allowing eligible homeless, disabled, or elderly SNAP recipients to use their benefits at approved restaurants for meals at low or reduced prices. The Department of Human Services will administer the program, designating eligible counties and working with county welfare agencies to approve restaurants, while requiring colleges and universities in participating counties to apply for on-campus restaurant participation and inform students. Annual reports will track participation rates, approved vendors, and program implementation at institutions of higher education. The program aims to provide meal access for vulnerable SNAP recipients who may lack the ability to store or prepare food at home.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Department of Early Childhood as a principal department within New Jersey's Executive Branch. It transfers numerous early childhood-related responsibilities from the Departments of Education, Human Services, Children and Families, and Health to this new department. The transfer includes programs for children from pregnancy through age eight, such as preschool education, child care services, home visitation programs, and early intervention services. The bill specifies the structure of the new department, including the role of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, and requires coordination among existing departments for an orderly transition of programs and staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to create financial incentives within 90 days to encourage private investment in child care facilities located in "child care deserts" - areas where demand for quality care exceeds supply. It directs DHS to develop incentives like tax credits, exemptions, loan guarantees, and workforce support, working with agencies including Economic Development and Taxation. The policy directly affects private child care providers in underserved communities and aims to expand access for low-to-moderate income families using the existing subsidy program. The bill mandates DHS to seek federal waivers to maintain funding for subsidized care while implementing these incentives.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2261 requires children under age 6 entering public preschool, public school, or Head Start for the first time to have a complete eye exam by January 1 of their enrollment year. Schools must collect proof of the exam from parents and notify them if it's missing, while the state will maintain a list of free or low-cost exam resources for families. A new "Comprehensive Eye Examination Fund" in the Department of Education will cover exam costs for uninsured children or those without health coverage. This bill aims to ensure early vision screening for young students in educational settings.