Asm. Garnet Hall

Maddy summaryThis bill requires human trafficking awareness signs to be displayed in four languages - English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean - instead of the current two (English and Spanish). It applies to businesses and facilities already mandated to display such signs, including strip clubs, massage businesses, airports, bars, hotels, and emergency rooms. The signs must meet specific size and font requirements (8.5x11 inches, 16-point font) and include the national human trafficking hotline information. The change follows a 2024 State Commission of Investigation report recommending expanded language accessibility for vulnerable communities. The law takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health services in New Jersey to be provided in a culturally affirming and linguistically appropriate manner for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It mandates that services be delivered in the client's primary method of communication, as determined by the client's preference or a communication assessment, and that mental health professionals be certified as fluent in that method. The bill establishes a deaf services coordinator position within the Department of Human Services to oversee implementation, develop certification standards for professionals, and ensure access to services statewide, including through telemedicine in underserved areas. It also requires the development of a statewide system of care with specific standards for communication accessibility and cultural competence in mental health services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A919 establishes standards for public service privatization contracts, requiring state and local agencies to demonstrate actual cost savings for taxpayers before outsourcing services. The bill mandates competitive bidding, ensures services maintain current quality and pricing for the public, and requires contractors to pay wages and benefits equal to those of displaced public employees. Agencies must provide detailed cost analyses, allow union input on cost estimates, and submit quarterly reports on contractor compliance. The Office of the State Comptroller reviews contracts for compliance, and the State Auditor conducts annual post-audits to verify savings and prevent service degradation or underpayment of workers.

Maddy summaryACR 154 is a symbolic New Jersey legislative resolution condemning President Trump's 2025 decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. It does not create new law or affect any specific group; instead, it formally expresses the state legislature's disapproval and urges the President to rejoin the agreement. The resolution was introduced by New Jersey Assembly members and will be sent to the President, Vice President, and New Jersey's congressional delegation. As a concurrent resolution, it has no legal effect but serves as a formal statement of the state's position.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill increases income and resource thresholds for Medicaid eligibility, primarily affecting older adults, disabled individuals, and those needing long-term care services. It raises the income limit for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) program from 100% to 138% of the federal poverty level (from $15,060 to $20,783 annually for an individual). The bill also increases resource limits from current levels ($4,000 for ABD and Medically Needy, $2,000 for MLTSS, $9,090 for Medicare Savings Programs) to $40,000 for individuals and $60,000 for couples. These changes will expand Medicaid access for more New Jersey residents who qualify under these eligibility groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows health care professionals licensed in other states to practice in New Jersey while their New Jersey licensure applications are being processed. It applies to a wide range of professionals including physicians, nurses, counselors, therapists, and other health care practitioners. The bill requires these professionals to immediately notify New Jersey authorities if their out-of-state license is suspended or disciplined, with a $500 daily penalty for failing to provide this notice. It also establishes temporary licenses for recent health care graduates (within six months of graduation) to practice under supervision while awaiting full licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allocate $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenue to preserve land in New Jersey's Highlands Region. It redirects $5 million from the existing Green Acres program (for recreation and conservation) and $2.5 million from the Farmland Preservation program into a new Highlands Preservation Fund managed by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. The fund will be used to acquire land for recreation, conservation, and farmland preservation through fee simple purchases, conservation easements, and development rights. The bill specifies that funds can't be used for contaminated land or land already preserved, and prioritizes areas identified in the Highlands regional master plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-5086) changes penalties for underage gambling in New Jersey from criminal offenses to civil fines. It applies directly to: (1) minors who gamble at casinos/simulcasting facilities (under age 21), (2) casino employees/licensees who allow underage gambling, and (3) adults who permit minors under their care to gamble. The key provisions set fines at up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for third or subsequent offenses. All collected fines will fund gambling addiction prevention, education, and treatment programs through the Department of Human Services, specifically supporting initiatives like those run by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that New Jersey's existing law requiring private career schools to have orderly closure plans - including a teach-out plan for student transfers - applies to cosmetology and hairstyling schools licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. It mandates the Board to develop a standard model teach-out plan by September 1, 2023, to help students transfer to another school if their program closes abruptly. The law applies retroactively to September 1, 2021, ensuring these schools must now comply with closure requirements for all closures occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3791, the "New Jersey Online Foreclosure Sale Act") permits sheriffs and authorized officials to conduct foreclosure sales of real property through online auctions, replacing in-person sales. Key provisions require online sales to display bids publicly in real-time, cap vendor fees at $1,000 per sale (including a $50 processing fee), and mandate a non-electronic bidding option (e.g., paper bids). It affects homeowners facing foreclosure, lenders seeking recovery, and sheriffs managing sales by adding online sales as an authorized method while maintaining traditional notice requirements. The bill does not change foreclosure timelines but aims to increase bidder participation and potentially higher sale prices for debtors and creditors.