Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to impose a $10,000 fine on any public or private college or university that fails to properly investigate a student's allegation of sexual assault committed by another student. If an allegation is proven true, the institution must also take appropriate disciplinary action against the perpetrator. The fine is enforced through existing summary proceedings under New Jersey's Penalty Enforcement Law. The bill directly affects all higher education institutions in New Jersey that receive state funding or oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires underground structural assessments before starting public highway or transit projects near operating or retired mines in New Jersey. It directly affects transportation projects (like roads, bridges, or transit lines) in areas with known or potential mine hazards, particularly in northern and central counties. The key mechanism mandates the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to develop guidance on mine proximity risks and require assessments to prevent subsidence-related damage, with the Department of Transportation coordinating the process. The law aims to prevent infrastructure failures like recent sinkholes on I-80 by making safety evaluations mandatory before construction begins.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new contracting goals for New Jersey state agencies to increase participation by minority and women-owned businesses, based on a 2024 disparity study showing ongoing statistical gaps in public contracting. It requires state agencies and prime contractors to make a "good faith effort" to meet specific targets - 7% for minority-owned businesses and 3% for women-owned businesses - across construction, professional services, and goods/services contracts. The law defines key terms like "minority business" and references the 2024 disparity study as the basis for these goals, which replace previous race-neutral approaches. The bill is pending before the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for New Jersey employers who hire qualified individuals with disabilities. Employers can claim a 15% credit on wages paid to these employees (up to $2,000 per employee annually), provided the worker meets ADA criteria, works at least 35 hours weekly at $15+ per hour, and is not an independent contractor. To qualify, employers must apply for certification through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, which must approve applications within 90 days. The credit applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax returns, with limits preventing credits from reducing tax liability below the statutory minimum.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the daily credit for incarceration toward unpaid court debts from $50 to $90 per day. It directly affects individuals who default on court-imposed financial obligations, including fines, fees, restitution, or child support payments. The key provision amends New Jersey law to provide greater credit for each day served in jail due to nonpayment, reducing the total amount owed more quickly. This change applies to cases where incarceration results from failure to pay court-ordered financial obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the state's Science, Innovation and Technology Commission, to study how artificial intelligence affects the state's economy. The study must examine AI's impact on high-skill professions (like doctors and data analysts), industries most affected, implications for workforce education, emerging new jobs, and AI's effect on productivity and economic growth. Within one year of the bill's effective date, the Commissioner must submit a written report to the Governor and specific legislative committees detailing these findings. The bill does not make policy changes but mandates this study to inform future decisions about workforce development and economic planning.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires construction permit applicants in New Jersey to disclose the anticipated funding sources and amounts for their projects. It applies to most construction projects but excludes single-family homes, routine renovations or repairs of dwelling units, and small-scale alterations (like individual units in buildings with fewer than three units). Applicants must provide this funding information when applying for a permit, and before receiving a certificate of occupancy, they must certify the accuracy of that information or submit updated details. The Commissioner of Community Affairs will develop specific rules within 180 days to implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2082) updates New Jersey’s definition of "minority" for business certification and contracting purposes. It explicitly adds "Middle Eastern or North African" (MENA) individuals - defined as those with origins in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, or Morocco - to the list of groups qualifying as "minority" for state certification programs and assistance. The change directly affects businesses owned by MENA individuals, making them eligible for state minority business enterprise (MBE) certification and access to set-aside contracts (where contracts are reserved for MBEs, women’s businesses, or small businesses). The bill amends two existing laws (P.L.1985, c.490 and P.L.1985, c.482) to include this new category in definitions used for state agencies, school boards, and local government contracting.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 2080 requires the Attorney General to create an anonymous reporting program for school safety threats. The program will allow students, parents, school staff, and community members to report unsafe, violent, or criminal activities in schools via a phone line, mobile app, or other accessible methods, with strict privacy protections to keep reporters' identities confidential. It mandates training for schools and law enforcement on the program and requires annual reports tracking total reports, reporting methods, misuse instances, and outcomes. The program applies to all public and nonpublic schools in New Jersey, with the Attorney General submitting annual reports to the Governor and legislature.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 2095 directs the State Board of Education to create a biotechnology teaching endorsement for career and technical education (CTE) certificates. This special certification would allow teachers to instruct biotechnology courses in public high schools (grades 9-12). To qualify, teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology or related field, a master’s in biology/chemistry, an existing medical laboratory technician CTE certification, or verified industry work experience in biotechnology. The bill requires the State Board to establish implementing rules under existing administrative procedures.