Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public database managed by the NJ Business Action Center (Department of State) listing vacant commercial spaces available for lease or purchase by small businesses. It requires commercial property owners to report vacancies or occupancy changes monthly, with the database including details like square footage, capital equipment, and building systems (e.g., HVAC, security). The database will be updated monthly using data from property owners, realtors, and municipalities, and made accessible online with targeted outreach to business associations and chambers of commerce. The goal is to reduce the time and cost for small businesses to find suitable commercial space by centralizing vacancy information.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A595) protects the personal information of specific healthcare workers who are assaulted by patients or residents at healthcare facilities. It requires that the name and address of these victims be redacted from court documents, reports, and other public records if the assault occurred during their work. Violating this confidentiality - by disclosing the information without court authorization - triggers a $100 civil penalty per document. The law directly affects healthcare workers employed at licensed facilities, licensed healthcare professionals, and direct care workers at psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, or veterans' homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's nursing home reporting requirements, requiring more detailed financial disclosures and ownership structure information. Nursing homes, applicants for ownership transfers, and third-party entities managing nursing homes must now provide audited consolidated financial statements and organizational charts showing parent companies, subsidiaries, and related parties providing services valued at $200,000 or more annually. The bill lowers the threshold for disclosing ownership interests from 10% to 5% and mandates that nursing homes post this information on their websites. It also removes the previous requirement for nursing homes to post Medicare/Medicaid cost reports, instead requiring them to post the new financial statements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1781) requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to study how artificial intelligence (AI) affects the state's economy, specifically focusing on high-skilled professions like doctors, lawyers, and data analysts. The Commissioner must consult with the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology and submit a report within one year detailing AI's predicted impact on labor markets, affected industries, education needs, emerging jobs, and economic productivity. The report will inform future policy decisions but does not create new laws or directly change current regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's law against using wireless devices while driving. It reduces the look-back period for prior offenses from 10 years to 3 years when determining if a second or third violation is a repeat offense. Additionally, it allows first-time offenders who complete an approved defensive driving course to have the violation removed from their driving record. These changes apply to violations of the existing law that prohibits handheld device use while operating a motor vehicle.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey veterans with up to 60 tuition-free college credits at the county college in their county of residence. To qualify, veterans must have applied for all available state and federal education grants/scholarships and VA benefits (like the Post-9/11 GI Bill), be honorably discharged, and be enrolled in good standing at their local county college. Military service credits earned by veterans count toward the 60-credit limit. The bill does not cover non-tuition fees (such as books or housing), which veterans may still need to pay.

Maddy summaryThis bill, "Stephanie's Law," requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to create a publicly-accessible online registry listing individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes, subject to final restraining orders, or found in contempt of such orders. The registry will include personal details like name, aliases, physical description, photograph, vehicle information, and address for each person listed. Law enforcement officers must search this public registry, as well as the existing non-public domestic violence registry, during any arrest. Individuals listed can petition for removal if they no longer meet the criteria (e.g., no conviction or restraining order), and must update their address within five days of a change. The law aims to provide accessible information to the public and law enforcement regarding domestic violence histories.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs) in New Jersey, allowing them to practice to the full extent of their training without requiring physician supervision or joint protocols. APNs with more than 24 months or 2,400 hours of experience can practice independently, while those with less experience must maintain a joint protocol with a physician for prescribing medications. The bill updates requirements for prescribing medications (including pharmacology continuing education), authorizing medical cannabis, and practicing anesthesia, and repeals sections of law requiring physician collaboration. These changes aim to improve healthcare access, particularly in underserved areas, by expanding the scope of practice for APNs who are already trained to provide primary and specialty care. The bill also modifies documentation requirements so that APNs can use their own signatures instead of requiring physician endorsements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permanent Office of New Americans within New Jersey's Department of Human Services to support immigrants, refugees, and their children. The office will coordinate key services - including refugee resettlement, health screenings, and legal aid for low-income New Americans - and provide training to other state agencies on culturally responsive outreach. It requires the office to use data solely for integration efforts (like language access planning) and prohibits sharing data with immigration enforcement. The bill formalizes an existing office created by executive order in 2019, ensuring dedicated staffing and resources for New American communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey professional licensing boards (e.g., for nursing, engineering, or cosmetology) to track how long other states take to approve initial license applications. Boards must calculate a national average approval time based on data from other states and adopt it as their official timeline for processing new licenses. If a board misses this average, it must use licensing fees to hire experts who identify efficiency improvements to meet the standard. The Division of Consumer Affairs reviews compliance annually, with boards retaining fee revenue until they meet the national average timeline.