Asm. Reginald Atkins

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey-Africa Commission within the Department of State to strengthen ties between New Jersey and African nations. The 21-member commission includes five state agency heads and 16 public members (residents identifying with the African Diaspora) appointed by legislative leaders. It will advise the Governor on expanding economic, cultural, educational, and governmental exchanges - focusing on trade, agriculture, arts, health, and education - and organize into five specialized committees. The commission must report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its recommendations and activities, starting within one year of its first meeting.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to transfer inactive alcoholic beverage retail licenses (typically held by closed bars or restaurants) to other municipalities for use in designated redevelopment or revitalization areas. The transferred licenses must be used in specific zones like urban enterprise zones, downtown business improvement areas, or transit-oriented developments, and must primarily support food sales (at least 60% of total annual sales). Municipalities must follow specific procedures including public sale processes, 90-day notice requirements, and establishing transfer fees, with licenses expiring if not actively used within two years. Transferred licenses will not count toward a municipality's population-based license limit, and license holders must certify food sales will be the primary business.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires residential mortgage lenders to grant a six-month forbearance period upon written request from borrowers facing foreclosure on "high-risk mortgages," which include subprime loans, interest-only mortgages, or loans with negative amortization. During this period, lenders must pause all foreclosure actions, cannot increase interest rates, and must notify borrowers of their right to forbearance within 30 days of filing a foreclosure complaint. Borrowers must participate in mediation (via the Judiciary's Foreclosure Mediation Program or another option), and lenders must certify documentation accuracy and ownership of the mortgage note to proceed with foreclosure. The forbearance provisions expire two years after enactment, but existing forbearance periods continue in full.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's drug court program to require treatment providers to specifically identify if a drug court participant tests positive for marijuana or cannabis. Currently, treatment providers must report positive drug tests to probation departments, but this bill adds a requirement to specify whether the positive test involves marijuana or cannabis. If a positive test for marijuana or cannabis is identified, the probation department must then notify the appropriate division within the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill does not change drug court eligibility, treatment requirements, or other reporting procedures for non-marijuana/cannabis positive tests.

Maddy summaryAR 86 is a symbolic Assembly Resolution expressing New Jersey's support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks. It condemns Hamas for launching a "massive, unprovoked war" involving rocket attacks, killings, abductions, and violence against civilians (citing 1,400 Israeli deaths and 30 American citizens among the casualties). The resolution formally supports Israel "as it defends itself" and directs copies to Israel's Prime Minister, U.S. ambassadors to Israel and the U.S., and New Jersey's members of Congress. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact new laws but publicly affirms New Jersey's stance on the conflict.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey law enforcement officers operating patrol vehicles with emergency light bars to activate colored, solid, non-flashing lights (known as "cruise lights") between dusk and dawn. It directly affects all state and municipal law enforcement agencies using such vehicles, requiring them to follow guidelines issued by the Attorney General. The key provision permits this lighting practice to enhance officer visibility and deter crime, similar to policies in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Connecticut. The Attorney General can establish or adjust implementation guidelines for agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes guidelines for how landlords assess creditworthiness when renting affordable housing. It prohibits using credit scores to deny housing to applicants with federal or state tenant-based housing subsidies (like Section 8 vouchers), except when an individualized assessment shows repeated failure to pay rent while receiving a subsidy. For other affordable housing applicants, landlords must conduct individualized assessments considering income, employment, payment history, health factors, and budgeting efforts rather than relying solely on credit scores. Landlords must provide written denial notices explaining their decision in English and Spanish, and submit annual reports to the Attorney General with demographic data on denials. The bill aims to prevent credit-based discrimination against low and moderate-income households seeking housing they can afford.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 15-member Legislative Enactment Oversight Committee within the New Jersey Department of State. The committee will monitor how state agencies implement new laws and joint resolutions, ensuring they are carried out effectively, efficiently, and on time within their specific provisions. It will track implementation progress, assess delays and resource needs, and submit biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature. The committee members, appointed by the Governor with legislative recommendations based on specific expertise areas, will serve full-time with salaries capped at $120,000 for the chair and $90,000 for other members.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that mail-in ballot application forms, which voters return by mail, include prepaid postage paid by the State. It directly affects voters who apply for mail-in ballots using the physical form (as opposed to the electronic option starting in 2026) by eliminating the need for them to purchase postage. The key mechanism mandates that the Secretary of State’s application forms must include prepaid postage, ensuring voters can return their applications without cost. This change streamlines the process for mail-in ballot applicants without altering eligibility or voting procedures.

Maddy summaryA1796 would allow licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) to directly bill the NJ FamilyCare program for covered mental health services provided to program beneficiaries. To qualify, LCSWs must hold a valid license under New Jersey law, be approved as a provider by NJ FamilyCare, and offer services that are already covered under the program. The bill requires the state to seek federal approval for this change to maintain Medicaid funding. This policy update would streamline reimbursement for LCSWs who currently cannot bill NJ FamilyCare directly.