Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 131) urges the federal government to update the poverty threshold used to determine eligibility for public assistance programs. It argues the current federal poverty line - based on 1960s food costs and unchanged for decades - fails to account for modern expenses like housing, healthcare, and transportation, leaving millions who struggle to afford basics ineligible for aid. The resolution states that 53 million households face hardship but only 37.9 million are officially counted as poor under the current measure. It directly affects low-income households excluded from programs like Medicaid and food assistance due to the outdated calculation, especially amid rising costs since 2020. The resolution has no binding effect but requests federal action to expand access to public assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's housing finance laws to expand financing opportunities for low and moderate income housing by directing the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to establish specific incentives and priority considerations for certified minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned development businesses. It streamlines the approval process by requiring the agency to accept third-party verification of compliance and eliminate duplicative reviews, while allowing these businesses to satisfy bonding requirements through letters of credit rather than traditional performance bonds. These changes aim to increase participation from these business types in developing affordable housing, directly affecting housing developers and low/moderate income residents seeking housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires rental car companies in New Jersey to delete renters' personal information from vehicle computer systems when a vehicle is returned. It defines "personal information" to include navigation history, phone data, and garage door codes, and mandates deletion using NIST-approved protocols or the vehicle manufacturer's factory reset option. Rental companies failing to comply face civil penalties of $500 for a first violation and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. The law applies to all businesses renting vehicles short-term to the public, including hourly or daily rentals. It directly affects renters whose data could remain in vehicle systems and rental companies responsible for implementing the deletion process.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act, prohibits state and local government agencies from collecting immigration status information unless strictly necessary for service eligibility and from assisting federal immigration authorities. It requires government entities to adopt policies protecting sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and shelters from immigration enforcement activities, ensuring immigrants can access public services without fear. The law mandates law enforcement training on these restrictions, prohibits detaining individuals based on immigration status, and requires annual reporting on interactions with federal immigration authorities. It also establishes a public awareness campaign to inform immigrants of their rights under the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $20 million in additional state funding for New Jersey's Summer Tuition Aid Grants program for the summer 2025 semester. It directs that eligible undergraduate students - those who received aid in the prior fall or spring semester and are enrolled in summer courses at the same institution - will receive 75% of the full grant amount they would normally qualify for under current law. The funds are allocated to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to cover tuition costs for students enrolled in six or more credits during summer 2025. This is a supplemental appropriation to the existing FY2025 budget, specifically increasing the grant amount for summer enrollment without changing eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public colleges and universities to provide students with disabilities access to assistive services during class, such as note-taking software or a scribe for recording course material. It specifically limits recording use to personal study and prohibits recording tests or graded assignments completed during class. The law applies directly to students with disabilities enrolled at state-funded higher education institutions. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4525) requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to provide written notice of toll violations to vehicle owners before charging administrative fees. The notice must be sent within 60 days of the violation and include details about the violation (date, time, location) and a 30-day window to pay the toll and avoid fees. Authorities cannot issue or collect administrative fees unless they've provided this notice and the 30-day remedy period has expired. The bill also clarifies that rental vehicle lessors can avoid liability by submitting lease documentation to the authorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey motor vehicle inspection facilities and the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to notify vehicle owners about active safety recalls during inspections and registration. Owners would receive written notices describing each recall and confirming repairs can be done at no cost by authorized dealers. The requirement applies only to recalls needing physical fixes (excluding buybacks or manual labeling issues). The bill does not change manufacturers' liability for recalls but protects MVC staff from liability for notices (except in cases of gross negligence).

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program to help certified sign language interpreters in New Jersey pay off student loans. It provides loan redemption (up to $200,000 total per participant) in exchange for service at approved sites like schools, healthcare facilities, or nonprofits. Interpreters must be certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, work in New Jersey, and commit to 1-4 years of service (with 18% loan redemption after year one, increasing to 28% for years three and four). The $2 million appropriation will fund this program, prioritizing counties facing interpreter shortages and excluding those already in other federal or state loan repayment programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4923) prohibits New Jersey businesses from charging customers an extra fee (surcharge) for using credit cards. It requires businesses to clearly post notices about minimum transaction amounts for credit cards and any discounts offered for cash or debit payments. The law applies to most sellers of goods or services in New Jersey, but excludes motor fuel retailers (gas stations). Businesses must display these notices at physical locations or provide electronic/verbal notice for online/phone transactions.