Rep. Maureen Rowan

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to set aside at least 30% of their advertising budget for eligible local news organizations. The law defines eligible news organizations as those that produce original local content, maintain editorial independence, and meet specific operational and financial criteria. State agencies purchasing advertising must reserve this portion of their budget specifically for these qualifying local news outlets. The legislation aims to support local journalism by ensuring a steady stream of advertising revenue while maintaining the editorial freedom of news organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Skills Service Corps, a paid volunteer program for adults aged 18 and older that allows participants to earn industry-recognized credentials while working on state projects. Administered by the Office of Volunteerism in the Department of State, the program requires volunteers to commit at least 15 hours per month for up to two years in areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and community development, with priority given to residents of underserved communities. Eligible participants receive a monthly stipend determined by the program director and complete training and free certification upon finishing their service. The bill also establishes a dedicated fund to finance the program through state appropriations, federal grants, and private contributions, and includes an initial appropriation from the General Fund to launch the initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey to join the Women's Reproductive Health Care Compact, a multi-state agreement. The compact requires member states to work together to protect patients and providers who seek or provide reproductive health care across state lines. Key provisions include preventing extradition or investigations against those involved in care, blocking forced disclosure of medical records, stopping penalties against providers (like license suspensions or insurance hikes), and banning data collection about patients' travel, costs, or barriers to care. It directly affects New Jersey residents traveling for care, out-of-state providers serving New Jersey patients, and medical facilities operating across participating states. The compact does not change New Jersey's own abortion laws but focuses on interstate cooperation to safeguard access.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax incentives for historic diners and restaurants in New Jersey that meet specific criteria. To qualify, establishments must have operated continuously for at least 25 years (including pandemic closures), qualify as small businesses, comply with health/safety rules, and be family-owned. Approved businesses receive a sales tax exemption on prepared food and beverages for on-site consumption and corporation business/gross income tax credits. The program requires annual registration through a state registry established by the Division of Travel and Tourism, with applications reviewed and approved by the Director.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3955) requires New Jersey's Business Action Center to study vacant commercial real estate and its impact on small businesses. The study must examine how local governments track vacancies, assess existing programs aiding vacant space, survey business owners' experiences finding space, and recommend improvements. The report must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within one year of the bill's effective date. This bill does not create new programs but mandates a review to inform future policy decisions. It directly affects small businesses seeking commercial space and local governments managing vacant properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school bus drivers and personnel to call 911 in potential life-threatening emergencies involving students. It mandates that school buses transporting students with disabilities be equipped with specific safety features (though exact features aren't detailed in the text). The bill also requires annual safety training for all bus personnel, including emergency procedures and recognizing signs of life-threatening situations for students with disabilities. Funding for these requirements is included through an appropriation. The bill directly affects school bus operators, drivers, aides, and students with disabilities in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 123) is a symbolic measure sponsored by Assemblyman Kenyatta Stewart that supports International Mother Language Day (observed February 21). It encourages New Jersey residents to observe the day through ceremonies and activities, and directs the state to send copies of the resolution to UNESCO and New Jersey's congressional delegation. The resolution references UNESCO's work on linguistic diversity and highlights data showing over 6,000 endangered languages globally, including many Native American languages in the U.S. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally expresses New Jersey's endorsement of preserving linguistic heritage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4191) raises the criminal penalty for trespassing into a domestic violence victim's home when a restraining order is in place. It makes such trespass a third-degree crime (carrying 3-5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine) if the person enters intending to cause injury or commit a crime. The law creates a rebuttable presumption of intent to harm if the perpetrator has a restraining order against them or has been charged in a domestic violence case. This directly affects domestic violence victims protected by court orders and perpetrators violating those orders. The key change is elevating the offense level and removing the presumption against incarceration for these specific violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests New Jersey's state government to ask the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve replacing the state's existing statue of Civil War general Philip Kearny in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall with a statue of Alice Paul. Alice Paul, a Moorestown, New Jersey native and key suffrage leader who helped secure the 19th Amendment, is highlighted as the proposed replacement. The bill creates a temporary selection committee to choose a sculptor, approve the statue design, and secure funding for the new statue and its installation, while also outlining how the replaced Kearny statue would be displayed within New Jersey. It is a procedural request, not a direct mandate, requiring approval from the federal committee before any physical replacement occurs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4107) requires the State Capitol Joint Management Commission to display a head-and-shoulders commemorative representation of Alice Paul in the New Jersey State Capitol building. The Commission must select an appropriate location for the display, with an alternative site during building renovations. The bill honors Alice Paul, a New Jersey native who co-drafted the 19th Amendment granting women voting rights, recognizing her role in women's suffrage. (Procedural commemorative bill; summary adheres to 1-2 sentence guideline.)