Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1397) requires New Jersey's Department of Treasury to update the state's Disparity Study every five years, starting January 1, 2029. The study examines how well small, minority, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses are participating in state government contracts. The updates must track changes in these businesses' availability and use in state procurement. The requirement applies directly to the state's procurement system and the businesses seeking state contracts. The bill builds on the 2024 Disparity Study, mandating regular reviews to inform policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Property Owner’s Protection Act," requires county recording offices to notify property owners whenever a deed transfer for their property is recorded. To enable this, it mandates that property owners provide preferred contact information (mailing or email) during recording, and recording offices must collect an additional $2 fee per deed to cover notification costs. The bill also requires new deeds to include specific details: a statement of true purchase price, exemption justification for fee-free transfers, "NEW CONSTRUCTION" labeling for new builds, and an affidavit confirming ownership. These changes directly affect property owners, recording offices, and anyone submitting deeds for real estate transfers in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1666) amends New Jersey law to allow people with certain past criminal convictions to serve on juries, removing an automatic disqualification. It directly affects individuals convicted of most serious crimes (indictable offenses) in New Jersey, other states, or federal court, provided they do not have a conviction for murder or aggravated sexual assault. The key change eliminates the automatic bar for these past convictions, though current incarceration for any serious offense still disqualifies someone. The bill maintains existing exceptions for murder (N.J.S.2C:11-3) and aggravated sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2), and does not apply to those currently serving prison sentences.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of Resilience within New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) to address childhood trauma. It directly affects children and families experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) - such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction - and requires DCF to coordinate statewide efforts to build resilience. The office will develop trauma-informed strategies, run public awareness campaigns about ACEs, create research-based resilience tools, and report annually to the Governor and Legislature. Key mechanisms include partnering with community organizations to promote trauma-responsive services and support multi-generational healing. The bill aims to reduce long-term health, educational, and social costs linked to childhood trauma by focusing on prevention and early intervention.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program (NJ FamilyCare) to reimburse hospitals for long-acting injectable antipsychotic drugs at the same rate used for outpatient settings, rather than including these costs in standard hospital payment systems. It directly affects inpatient hospitals and providers who administer these drugs for conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The key change ensures hospitals receive payment based on the actual drug cost (like outpatient settings) instead of a fixed hospital payment rate that doesn't account for expensive medications. The bill also allows qualified pharmacists to administer these drugs under a prescriber's order, with state board oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have allowed New Jersey municipalities to create dedicated "Municipal Homelessness Trust Funds" by adding a $5 fee to existing fines (like parking tickets). It required towns to adopt a homeless housing plan - developed with community groups - to address local homelessness through permanent housing solutions, rental assistance, and prevention programs. Funds would have been used exclusively for housing initiatives within four years, with unspent money transferred to the state for community-based organizations. The bill was withdrawn in January 2026 after similar provisions were enacted in P.L. 2025, c. 348.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1410) establishes new rules for New Jersey state agencies when purchasing firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories. It requires businesses bidding on state contracts to certify they don’t sell unserialized gun kits or firearm precursor parts, disclose past inspection violations, and provide annual documentation on trace requests, thefts, and compliance with firearm laws. State agencies must reject bids or cancel contracts from non-compliant businesses and develop processes to assess safety practices like preventing straw sales or prohibited transfers. The bill applies only to state procurement contracts and is pending legislative action (introduced January 2026).

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1885) clarifies and expands firearm carry permissions for municipal arson investigators under New Jersey law. It adds a specific requirement that fire department members assigned to arson investigation units must complete approved police academy training, firearms certification, and annual qualification before being authorized to carry weapons. These investigators can carry firearms while actively working on arson cases or on call, with approval from their local government or county prosecutor. The change formalizes existing practice for these specialized personnel, ensuring they meet standardized training and safety protocols. The bill does not create new investigative powers but updates firearm-related exemptions in state law.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill amends penalties for driving while using a wireless phone or electronic device. It reduces the look-back period for prior offenses from 10 to 3 years when determining repeat offense status (e.g., a second offense within 3 years counts as a second violation, not a first). It also allows drivers who commit a first offense to have it removed from their record after completing an approved defensive driving course. The changes apply specifically to violations under P.L.2003, c.310 (C.39:4-97.3), affecting drivers with prior distracted driving convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health clubs from including contract terms that limit their liability for injuries caused by the health club's negligence (e.g., carelessness in maintaining equipment or facilities). It applies directly to all health club service contracts in New Jersey, requiring written agreements to clearly state this prohibition in conspicuous language. Key provisions include mandating that contracts include a prominent notice about the 3-day cancellation right (allowing full refunds), setting limits on fees retained during cancellations (max 10% of total price), and requiring automatic renewal options to be easily accessible online. The bill aims to strengthen consumer protections by ensuring health clubs remain accountable for preventable injuries under their control.