Asm. Yvonne Lopez

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide all vehicle and licensing services - such as license renewals, registration, and ID cards - in person at every MVC agency location, without mandatory appointments. It mandates walk-in service for all customers (with accommodations when locations aren't fully booked), emergency license printing, and an online scheduling system for commercial driver’s license tests. The MVC must also create and distribute informational brochures (both online and in print) detailing all available services. These changes directly affect MVC customers seeking in-person vehicle and license services across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThe Better Care Dog Act creates a statewide system for dog leashing and fencing requirements, replacing inconsistent local ordinances across New Jersey. It requires dogs to be leashed or restrained when off the owner's property (with exemptions for working/hunting dogs), and imposes fines of $100 for the first violation, $250 for the second, and $500 for third and subsequent violations. After a warning notice for an unrestrained dog attack (without injury), municipalities can require owners to install fencing for dogs that repeatedly run loose. The bill also establishes new criminal penalties for dog owners whose unrestrained dogs cause injury or death, including assault charges for causing bodily injury and more serious charges for causing serious injury or death. Municipalities must adopt consistent ordinances and establish a dedicated fund to enforce the law, with fines collected going to the local municipality.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Community Schools within the New Jersey Department of Education to support public schools in creating integrated community school models. The office will provide training, grants, and technical assistance to public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools seeking to adopt community school strategies that connect students and families with educational, health, and developmental services. It appropriates $10 million (with $2 million from the state's General Fund and $8 million from federal recovery funds) to fund these efforts, including publishing a statewide list of schools using community school models. The office must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing its activities and impact, starting with the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Office of Financial Assistance within New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to help eligible small businesses access public financial assistance like grants, loans, and tax credits. It directly affects companies with fewer than 225 employees (75% working in New Jersey) operating in specified industries like biotechnology or renewable energy. The key mechanism requires the office to create a digital platform allowing these businesses to identify available programs, store application documents, submit multiple applications simultaneously, and track their status. State agencies offering such assistance must use this platform for all applications and ensure its information stays current.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 1-year pilot program in New Jersey to study how credit scores affect rental payment behavior among low-income tenants. It targets 1,000 randomly selected households already receiving rental assistance through the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) or Section 8, who have completed approved credit counseling. The program guarantees landlords payment for tenant defaults (rent, damages, fees) within 30 days, requiring tenants to repay the amount within 90 days to replenish the fund. The $10 million appropriation creates a dedicated "Guaranteed Rental Payment Fund" to cover these reimbursements while tracking default rates by credit score tier.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's State Board of Education to create three new teaching certifications (endorsements) for educators. It allows teachers to teach students with disabilities across all grade levels (excluding blind/visually impaired or deaf/hard of hearing students), combine elementary and middle school teaching under one K-8 endorsement, and teach bilingual education with new language proficiency requirements. Currently, teachers must hold separate certifications for different grade levels or subject areas. The changes aim to simplify certification for special education, K-8 instruction, and bilingual programs while requiring language skills for bilingual educators.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows state employees who were temporarily working at New Jersey psychiatric hospitals or correctional facilities before joining the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits if injured during that temporary employment. It deems injuries sustained while performing duties (e.g., as nurses, correction officers, or healthcare workers) at those facilities as occurring "during membership" for PERS benefit eligibility, even if the injury happened before PERS enrollment. The change applies retroactively to January 1, 2003, and covers employees who later become PERS members without interruption in their job. This specifically affects temporary workers in state psychiatric or correctional facilities who were previously ineligible for PERS disability benefits after becoming members.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program to include homestead owners and tenants who made payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) to their municipality. Currently, the program covers eligible homeowners and renters based on income, but the law didn't explicitly include those with PILT agreements - though the Division of Taxation has allowed it for tenants in rental properties. The bill formalizes this by adding "including principal residences on which a homestead owner or tenant made one or more payments in lieu of taxes" to the eligibility criteria. To qualify, applicants must submit an application to the Division of Taxation by March 1, 2024, with benefits based on 2019 property tax amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct a study examining whether disparities exist in the use of minority-owned and women-owned businesses when state agencies purchase goods and services. The study will assess if these businesses are utilized at rates matching their availability in the market, focusing on all state agencies, including departments, commissions, and independent authorities. After completing the study, the officer must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to promote greater opportunities for these businesses in state procurement. The officer will also submit follow-up reports every four years to evaluate progress on prior recommendations and request funding for future studies if needed.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates up to $20 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Education specifically for school facility cleaning and sanitization. It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools that receive a written health directive from the New Jersey Department of Health or a local health officer to close due to potential COVID-19 exposure (starting March 9, 2020). Funds cover disinfectants, cleaning supplies, and increased personnel costs for enhanced cleaning schedules. The Commissioner of Education must establish an expedited application process and allocate funds based on student enrollment across all eligible schools.