Rep. Maureen Rowan

Maddy summaryThis bill sets minimum staffing requirements for school library media specialists in New Jersey public schools based on student enrollment. Schools with under 300 students must employ at least a half-time specialist, those with 300-1,499 students must have one full-time specialist, and schools with 1,500+ students must have two full-time specialists. It also requires schools with 500+ students to employ library clerks (one full-time clerk plus one additional clerk per 500 students). The bill includes limited waivers for schools unable to hire certified staff, allowing up to two waivers within five years. These requirements apply starting the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a 30% tax credit against New Jersey's corporation business tax and gross income tax for businesses making qualifying capital investments in film production facilities. It directly affects film production companies that invest at least $30 million in facilities meeting specific size requirements (50,000+ square feet with one sound stage) during the 2020-2028 period. Key provisions include allowing tax credits to be transferred to other businesses for private financial assistance (at minimum 75% of value), capping annual credits at $100 million total, and requiring facility approval by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The credit applies only to new investments meeting the size and cost thresholds, not to existing facilities or other tax benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates all open water lifeguards employed in New Jersey as official "first responders" and "emergency response providers" under state law. It directly affects every paid open water lifeguard working in the state, recognizing their existing roles in life-saving operations, medical response, and emergency protection of property/environment. The key mechanism is a statutory change in terminology - replacing "open water lifeguard" with these official titles in all legal references. This aligns with the Legislature's finding that lifeguards already perform the four defined duties of first responders (responding to victims, treating, assisting, transporting) and meet federal standards. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey high school students to complete a one-semester financial literacy course as part of their curriculum. The course must cover budgeting, savings, credit, debt, taxes, college financial planning, and other personal finance topics, while excluding primarily business or economic instruction. Teachers must hold specific endorsements (e.g., in Finance, Social Studies, or Business) to teach the course, and school districts must integrate it into graduation requirements for state-endorsed diplomas. The requirement applies to students entering 12th grade in the 2027-2028 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) for the Huntington's Disease Grant Program, increasing its total funding for fiscal year 2025 to $701,000 (from an estimated $201,000). The funds will support grants to New Jersey-based institutions of higher education, non-profits, and research organizations to provide pre-symptomatic testing, neurology/psychiatry services, treatment, disease management, and counseling. It directly affects approximately 900-1,200 New Jersey residents living with Huntington's disease and about 7,000 at-risk individuals. Huntington's disease is a fatal, inherited condition causing progressive neurological decline without a cure.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a public database managed by New Jersey's Business Action Center (within the Department of State) listing vacant commercial properties available for small businesses to lease or purchase. The database must include specific details like square footage, included equipment, and building systems (e.g., HVAC, security). Commercial property owners are required to report vacancies or occupancy changes to the center, which will update the database monthly using input from owners, realtors, and municipalities. The database will be accessible online and promoted to business associations and local chambers to help small businesses find suitable space more efficiently.

Maddy summaryAJR 12 designates the first full week of June each year as "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week" to promote recreational fishing and boating. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public participation and directs the Division of Fish and Wildlife to publicize the week and coordinate at least one free fishing day with it. This procedural resolution does not create new regulations or funding but aims to highlight the state's fishing and boating opportunities and community benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Barnegat Bay Protection Act," would create a dedicated fund to protect Barnegat Bay by establishing three funding streams: a 1% tax on fertilizer sales, special "Protect Barnegat Bay" license plates (with a $50 application fee and $10 annual renewal), and voluntary donations collected during boat registrations, vessel renewals, and beach tag purchases. The fund, managed by the State Treasurer with input from the Environmental Protection Department, would finance watershed preservation and remediation projects, including public education campaigns. It directly affects residents and businesses in Ocean County (33 municipalities) and parts of Monmouth County (4 municipalities), where over 500,000 people live and visit. The bill focuses on generating ongoing revenue for bay restoration, not on new regulations or mandates.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's "Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act" to regulate businesses operating physical terminals that exchange cash for digital currency (like Bitcoin) or vice versa. It directly affects virtual currency kiosk operators (e.g., companies running crypto exchange machines) and the consumers using them. Key provisions require operators to provide clear, written risk disclosures to customers *before* any transaction, including material risks of virtual currency use, and to comply with federal anti-money laundering rules (Bank Secrecy Act/USA PATRIOT Act). The bill also mandates operator record-keeping for enforcement and restricts public disclosure of sensitive operational data while requiring basic operator information (name, address) to be publicly available.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council within New Jersey's Department of Health to address human trafficking risks associated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The council, composed of nine members including trafficking survivors and a law enforcement officer, will evaluate existing laws, review assistance programs, develop public awareness campaigns (including toll-free hotline signage), and submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 180 days. The bill appropriates $1 million from the state's General Fund to fund the council's operations, with the council's work ending upon report submission or one year after the World Cup, whichever occurs later. This directly affects New Jersey's state response to trafficking during the event, focusing on prevention, victim support, and coordination.