Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs statewide. The 20-member commission includes state agency leaders, legislative appointees, and representatives from child care organizations, educators, and researchers. Its key duties are to assess current programs, develop statewide standards, examine funding sources, and evaluate program quality across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The commission must submit an interim report within one year and a final report within two years, after which it will expire. The bill directly affects all organizations providing out-of-school time programs in New Jersey by setting a framework for their review and improvement.

Maddy summaryThe Anthony's Legacy Act (A4989) requires New Jersey courts to give special consideration to grandparents applying for visitation rights if they are Gold Star family members - defined as relatives (such as spouses, parents, children, or legal guardians) of service members who died while on active military duty due to enemy action, accident, or disease. Currently, courts evaluate visitation applications based on factors like the child-grandparent relationship and family dynamics, but this bill mandates that Gold Star grandparents receive heightened attention under those considerations. The law does not alter the existing requirement that applicants must still prove visitation serves the child's best interests. It directly affects grandparents who lost a family member in military service when seeking court-ordered visitation with their grandchildren.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear standards for New Jersey courts to determine if a rent increase is "unconscionable" (extremely unfair) when challenged by tenants. Courts must consider factors like the rent amount, landlord expenses (including maintenance and insurance), local market rates, tenant bargaining power, and property condition. Landlords must prove increases are fair, and court records from tenant victories in eviction cases are kept private unless landlords win at trial. The bill excludes rent-controlled properties and affordable housing programs from these rules and takes effect immediately, except for the record confidentiality provision which starts six months after enactment.

Maddy summaryAJR 45 designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day" in New Jersey. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the day through appropriate activities. The resolution highlights that nearly one million U.S. women become widowed annually, with 70% of married women experiencing widowhood in their lifetime, and many facing ongoing financial, legal, and health challenges. This is a symbolic designation without new legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5322 limits how consumer contracts can be used by prohibiting companies from including terms that govern unrelated purchases. The bill requires service contracts (for personal, family, or household use) to apply only to the specific service bought, not controlling how consumers purchase other products or services from the company or its affiliates. It explicitly excludes securities and commodities transactions from this rule. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment and applies to new or renewed contracts entered after that date.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's AJR 225 designates February 28 of each year as "Amistad Day" to recognize the significance of the 1839 Amistad mutiny and its role in the abolitionist movement. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day through ceremonies and educational activities. This symbolic designation does not create new legal requirements or funding but commemorates the landmark 1841 Supreme Court ruling that Africans aboard the Amistad were illegally enslaved and had the right to fight for freedom. The bill aligns with New Jersey's existing observance of Black History Month and honors the historical event where the Africans' struggle for liberty became a pivotal test of American principles.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies New Jersey's expungement process for individuals seeking to clear criminal records. It requires courts to use an electronic filing system (to be developed within 12 months) for expungement petitions and mandates that law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Attorney General review applications within 60 days. If no objections are filed during that period, the court must automatically consider the petition on the 61st day (or next business day), eliminating unnecessary delays. This directly affects applicants, courts, and state agencies involved in expungement reviews. The change aims to streamline the process when there are no objections, ensuring timely resolution without requiring additional hearings.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands "Daniel's Law" to protect municipal court administrators by prohibiting the disclosure of their home addresses and unpublished telephone numbers. It directly affects municipal court administrators (including deputy and acting administrators) who were previously not covered by the law. The bill prohibits both government entities and private parties from disclosing these personal details, with violations potentially resulting in civil liability of $1,000 per violation and criminal prosecution. The law already protected judicial officers, law enforcement officers, child protective investigators, and prosecutors, and this expansion extends those safety protections to municipal court administrators who serve in critical roles within the justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to complete specialized training on electric vehicle (EV) fire safety. The training, to be developed by state agencies including the Division of Fire Safety and the Commissioner of Health, covers risks like lithium-ion battery fires that burn hotter and longer than gasoline fires. Firefighters must finish the training within 36 months of the law's effective date, and EMTs must complete it before certification or within the same timeframe if already certified. The law aims to ensure first responders are prepared for the growing number of electric vehicles on New Jersey roads.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's process for resolving disputes between public employers (like municipalities) and police/fire department unions through interest arbitration. It requires both parties to exchange information including expert reports before arbitration begins, and mandates that public employers provide detailed salary and cost information to arbitrators. The bill changes arbitrator selection (allowing mutual selection within 3 business days or random selection after that), extends the timeframe for arbitrators to issue decisions from 90 to 150 days (with possible 30-day extension), and increases arbitration fees from $1,000 to $1,500 per day. These changes directly affect municipalities, police and fire departments, and their union representatives during collective bargaining disputes.