Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill expands accidental death benefits for survivors of New Jersey Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) members. It allows a "companion" (defined as an unmarried, cohabiting partner meeting specific criteria) to receive the 70% pension benefit - previously reserved for surviving spouses - when no spouse exists. The bill also requires adjusting the deceased member’s final retirement pay to calculate benefits for all survivors, including spouses, companions, and children. It applies to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2023, with retroactive payments for eligible companions if approved within six months of the bill’s effective date. The bill is pending before the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Food Desert Elimination Act" to incentivize supermarkets and grocery stores (18,000+ sq ft) to open in designated "food desert communities" - areas with limited access to fresh food, identified using USDA and CDC data. It provides property tax-based tax credits to businesses that open their *first* supermarket or grocery store in a designated food desert community, covering the full property tax assessed by the municipality for three years after opening. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will designate up to 75 initial food desert communities, prioritizing areas with high poverty and limited healthy food access. This directly affects low-income residents in these communities by aiming to improve access to nutritious food through new retail options.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1977) modifies retirement benefits and salaries for New Jersey prosecutors and judges. It allows county prosecutors to count judicial clerk service (as a law clerk to a judge) toward retirement credits in the state retirement system without additional cost, and increases the annual salary for county prosecutors to $204,166.50 starting January 1, 2024. It also raises the salary of the Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division to $218,545.82 and permits retired judges to receive their pension while serving as county prosecutor. The bill is pending before the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends accidental death benefits to survivors of retired New Jersey State Police officers who died from health conditions related to 9/11 rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. It modifies eligibility rules by removing the requirement for a "written and sworn statement" that was previously needed to prove the retiree qualified for an accidental disability benefit. Surviving spouses, children, or legal guardians may now receive a lump-sum benefit equal to 3.5 times the retiree’s final compensation, provided they submit documentation showing the retiree would have qualified for such a benefit. The change applies to deaths occurring before July 8, 2019, and simplifies the process for survivors seeking these benefits.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3716) requires rental car companies to provide renters with clear notice about deleting personal data from a vehicle's computer system when returning the car. The notice - required to be posted at return locations, on company websites, or in rental agreements - must advise renters to unpair personal devices and delete information like navigation history, phone data, or garage codes. Rental companies failing to comply face civil penalties of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat violations, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law directly affects rental car businesses and renters in New Jersey, aiming to protect personal data stored in vehicle systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies in New Jersey to cover lead screenings for all children 16 years of age or younger. It mandates that healthcare providers (including doctors, nurses, and facilities serving children) perform these screenings unless parents object in writing, and follow up with families if elevated lead levels are detected. The Department of Health must establish regulations based on CDC guidelines, including screening schedules, follow-up protocols, and public education campaigns about lead poisoning risks. The law directly affects children under 16, their families, healthcare providers, and health insurers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's NJ STARS scholarship program to remove a one-year deadline for students who qualify for the scholarship but initially lack college readiness. It directly affects high school seniors in New Jersey who meet NJ STARS eligibility criteria but need remedial coursework to take college-level classes. The key change eliminates the requirement that these students must demonstrate readiness within one year of graduation, instead allowing their eligibility to remain active indefinitely as long as they meet the program's criteria when they enroll. This provides more time for students to complete necessary remediation before accessing the scholarship for up to five semesters of county college study.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3372) requires large warehouse developments (100,000+ square feet) to include sufficient onsite parking for tractor trailers between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. as a condition for preliminary site plan approval. It directly affects warehouse developers and property owners planning new large-scale distribution centers in New Jersey. The key provision mandates that parking must prevent tractor trailers from overflowing onto public roads or neighboring properties during overnight hours. This amendment to existing zoning law (P.L.1975, c.291) would change approval requirements for such developments, pending legislative action.

Maddy summaryAJR 111 designates November 25 each year as "Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in New Jersey." The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation urging public officials and citizens to observe the day with awareness activities. It directly affects New Jersey residents by establishing a formal day for community education and advocacy efforts focused on preventing violence against women. The resolution aligns with the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, using symbolic recognition to promote awareness of domestic violence issues highlighted by state data (e.g., 63,420 domestic violence offenses reported in NJ in 2016, 74% involving female victims).

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1942) provides tax credits to small New Jersey businesses that invest in employee job training. Qualified employers (businesses with under $2.5 million annual revenue, operating in NJ for fewer than 10 years, and employing NJ workers) can claim a 10% credit on training costs, up to $2,000 per employee annually. The credit applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, requires training to lead to industry-recognized credentials, and can be claimed for a maximum of five years. It does not reduce tax liability below the statutory minimum or zero.