Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telecommunications and cable service providers to remove abandoned lines (defined as lines not terminated at both ends, not maintained safely, not intended for future use, or not in operation for 24+ months) and to mark lines with their identifying information. It specifically targets retired copper telephone lines, requiring owners to submit removal plans within 12 months and complete removal within 10 years (with at least 10% removed annually). Entities must report on abandoned line requests to the Board of Public Utilities every 90 days and provide customers with information about their rights to request line removal. Failure to comply may result in fines up to $1,000 per day. The bill primarily affects telecommunications companies and utility providers across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing (PDN) services in New Jersey. It sets a $60 hourly rate for registered nurses and $48 for licensed practical nurses - significantly higher than the current maximum rates of $40 and $28, respectively. The bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries requiring home-based PDN care and the nursing providers who deliver these services. To implement the change, the Commissioner of Human Services must apply for federal waivers within 180 days of enactment to secure matching federal funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey volunteer firefighters and first aid/rescue squad members to claim a $1,000 deduction from their state income tax. To qualify, volunteers must serve the entire tax year, meet specific participation thresholds (at least 60% of fire alarms/drills for firefighters or 10% of rescue alarms/drills for first aid/rescue members), and hold required certifications (Firefighter I or EMT training). Fire departments and first aid squads must submit annual lists of qualifying members to state agencies by March 31st. The deduction applies to taxable years starting after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey nurse aide workforce development program to support individuals seeking certification. It requires the Department of Health to provide free information on certification benefits, requirements, and cost protections - such as no fees for certification exams during training for those employed in long-term care facilities, and reimbursement for training costs within 12 months of hiring. A one-year pilot program will reimburse eligible nurse aide students up to 25% of training costs after course completion. All resources will be centralized on a dedicated Department of Health website, using available funds and expiring 365 days after the pilot begins.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1918 requires state government agencies (like departments and bureaus providing public services) to translate vital documents and provide interpretation services in the 15 most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficiency residents, based on U.S. Census data. Agencies must complete translations for the 10 most common languages within 365 days of the law's effective date and the additional 5 within 730 days, with immediate translation for applications, rights notices, and privacy documents. Each agency must create a language access plan within 90 days detailing how they'll provide services, train staff, document usage, and assign a language access coordinator to monitor compliance and produce annual reports. Funding for implementation comes from American Rescue Plan Act funds and state General Fund, with no requirement to remove existing translation obligations (like Spanish services).

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program to improve coordination of behavioral health services for people with severe mental health or substance use disorders in New Jersey. Managed care organizations will identify eligible patients using Medicaid data, require providers to conduct needs assessments, and implement care transition methods like warm hand-offs and supportive contacts. The program will be funded through a Medicaid value-based payment system that allows managed care organizations to retain savings if they reduce per-patient costs through effective coordination. After two years, the Department of Human Services must report on the program's effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey residents to obtain specialty license plates featuring Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. branding, with a $50 application fee and $10 annual renewal fee. Proceeds from these fees (after covering administrative costs) would fund a special non-lapsing "Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. License Plate Fund," which would annually support the fraternity's mission and programs. The program requires 500 initial applications and $25,000 in private funding from the fraternity's Eastern Region to cover startup costs before implementation. The plates would remain available only if the average cost per plate doesn't exceed the $50 application fee for two consecutive years, and the program expires if requirements aren't met within 12 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a 1% administrative fee on the total value of public construction contracts awarded to out-of-state contractors in New Jersey. The fee applies specifically to contracts subject to the state's prevailing wage law and public works contractor registration rules. Contractors can reduce the fee by subtracting other state registration fees they've already paid. The collected fees would go to the state's general fund. The bill applies to contracts awarded after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to reduce clinical practice requirements for teacher candidates seeking a lifetime teaching certificate (a "certificate of eligibility with advanced standing"). Currently, candidates must complete two semesters (including 175 hours of supervised teaching in a K-12 setting), but the bill mandates reducing this to one semester. The Commissioner of Education must develop specific recommendations for the reduction and consult with education stakeholders, including teacher unions and school administrators. The change would take effect immediately for the next academic year, aiming to reduce the cost and time burden of the second semester of internship.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1779) requires businesses and public entities in New Jersey to disclose security breaches involving geolocation data to affected consumers. It amends existing law by adding "geolocation" (the location of an individual determined by electronic devices like phones or tablets) to the definition of "personal information," which already includes Social Security numbers and financial account details. Under this bill, entities that collect geolocation data must notify consumers if a breach compromises that data, aligning geolocation protection with current requirements for other personal information. The law applies to businesses (including corporations and financial institutions) and public entities that maintain such data.