Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to add specific details to its annual pavement condition report, including the number of pothole repair projects, their costs, allocated resources, and estimated timeframes for all maintenance work. It also mandates a lifecycle cost analysis of pavement surfaces, factoring in user expenses like vehicle damage claims from potholes and associated repair costs recorded by the Division of Risk Management. Both the updated annual report and the lifecycle analysis must be published online for public access. The changes aim to increase transparency about road maintenance efforts and costs without altering current repair practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens protections for individuals with expunged criminal records by imposing new requirements on background check providers and licensing boards. Background check companies must delete expunged records immediately upon knowing they are expunged, report only records received within the last 30 days, and provide free corrections within 30 days. It also allows individuals to sue for $5,000 per violation or actual damages if their expunged record is wrongfully disclosed. Additionally, professional licensing boards must redact references to expunged convictions in their records while keeping the fact of disciplinary action visible.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 1995 law that restricted how New Jersey public colleges could charge students for fees related to legislative advocacy. The repealed law prohibited mandatory tuition fees for student groups engaging in legislative activity but allowed optional fees with specific disclosures (e.g., stating the fee isn’t mandatory and isn’t endorsed by the college). The repeal removes these disclosure requirements and restrictions, allowing public colleges to handle such fees without mandated statements. It directly affects public universities and student organizations seeking to fund nonpartisan legislative advocacy efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires underground structural assessments before starting public highway or public transportation projects near operating or retired mines. It affects state transportation authorities like the Department of Transportation, New Jersey Transit, and the Turnpike Authority, as well as their contractors. The key mechanism requires entities to obtain guidance from the Department of Labor's mine safety section, conduct assessments if needed, and submit results within 10 business days. For high-risk sites, it mandates post-construction monitoring using techniques like elevation scans and ground-penetrating radar. The goal is to prevent subsidence-related damage, ensure public safety, and avoid infrastructure disruptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1973) requires hospitals, birthing centers, and healthcare providers in New Jersey to screen individuals who were diagnosed with preeclampsia during pregnancy and later show symptoms of endometriosis. It mandates that providers use industry-standard screening tools, provide education about endometriosis symptoms, and obtain written consent (with an option to refuse screening) within six weeks of giving birth. If screening is positive, providers must discuss results and develop a treatment plan to address endometriosis risks. The bill directly affects pregnant people and new mothers with preeclampsia who exhibit endometriosis symptoms, aiming to improve early detection through standardized health system protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires retail gun dealers to report to the State Police when a background check denies a firearm or ammunition purchase due to the buyer being a prohibited person (e.g., convicted of certain crimes or domestic violence offenses). Local law enforcement chiefs are then notified if a denied purchase occurs in their municipality, allowing them to address potential safety concerns. It applies directly to gun dealers conducting sales, local police departments, and individuals barred from firearm ownership under existing law. The key mechanism is mandating this notification process to improve communication between state and local law enforcement regarding denied transactions.

Maddy summaryThe "Firearm and Ammunition Procurement Act" sets new requirements for New Jersey state agencies when purchasing firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories. It mandates that businesses bidding on state contracts certify they do not sell unserialized gun kits or parts that can be used to build firearms (like unfinished frames), disclose any past inspection violations, and provide annual documentation on safety practices, including trace requests and theft reports. State agencies must reject non-compliant bids and cannot make emergency purchases of these items. The bill also requires agencies to develop compliance processes with the Attorney General, focusing on preventing straw sales, sales to prohibited individuals, and ensuring employee training. These rules apply to all future state contracts for these products.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey financial institutions (like banks, credit unions, and mortgage servicers) to allow homeowners (mortgagors) to choose biweekly payments (every two weeks), bimonthly payments (twice monthly), or extra payments directly to their mortgage principal - without penalties. It mandates that any amount paid beyond the annual required total in biweekly plans must reduce the principal balance. The law applies to all new mortgage agreements signed six months after enactment and affects homeowners seeking more flexible repayment options to potentially pay off loans faster. It does not change existing mortgage terms but expands payment choices for future agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1825) establishes guidelines for health insurance plans regarding "step therapy" protocols, which require patients to try lower-cost medications before coverage is provided for a preferred medication selected by their doctor. It requires insurers to base these protocols on clinical guidelines developed by expert panels with conflict-of-interest safeguards, and creates a clear process for patients to request exceptions when step therapy would be harmful or ineffective. Insurers must grant or deny exception requests within 72 hours (24 hours in emergencies), and must report on exception requests and outcomes to the state insurance commissioner. This affects all health insurance carriers in New Jersey, including those offering SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid plans, as well as the patients and healthcare providers who use these plans.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution designates May 18 of each year as "Six Triple Eight Day" in New Jersey to honor the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-African American, all-female U.S. Army unit that served during World War II. The resolution commemorates their historic achievement in delivering over 14 million pieces of backlogged mail to U.S. personnel in Europe under difficult conditions. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of the day. The resolution specifically recognizes that 28 New Jersey women served in the unit, including those from Allentown, where one member was born on May 18.