Asm. Garnet Hall

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "sheltered market program" allowing New Jersey state agencies to reserve certain contracts for certified businesses including minority-owned, women-owned, disabled veterans' businesses, LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and other economically or socially disadvantaged enterprises. State agencies must seek approval from the Chief Diversity Officer to designate contracts for this program, using criteria like historical underutilization of certified businesses. The program requires agencies to publish designated contracts online, conduct outreach to eligible businesses, and submit annual reports tracking contract awards and performance. Contracts under the program cannot exceed three years, and prime contractors must make good-faith efforts to offer subcontracting opportunities to qualified businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Transit (NJT) Office of Customer Advocate and a Rider Advocacy Commission to independently represent NJT riders. The Commission, with three appointed members (Governor, Senate President, Assembly Speaker), establishes the Office and appoints a Rider Advocate who reports directly to it. The Office must review and analyze NJT proposals for fare increases, service cuts, or expansions before implementation, then report findings to NJT's board, the Governor, and Legislature. It also conducts monthly public meetings with riders, accepts online/voicemail feedback, and provides customer input on NJT decisions. The Office operates with separate funding, independent of NJT's budget, and replaces a prior requirement for NJT to employ a customer advocate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to make a good faith effort to increase the use of certified minority and women-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors in state procurement. It mandates agencies to develop specific goals based on a statewide disparity study (to be completed by August 2029), which found minority and women-owned businesses currently receive only 4-15% of prime contract dollars across different sectors. Contractors must submit utilization plans detailing how they'll engage these businesses, with waivers available for those who make good faith efforts but can't meet requirements. Agencies must report annually on progress toward goals, with the bill set to expire on December 31, 2029 if the disparity study shows no continuing disparity.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4720) requires New Jersey's Chief Diversity Officer in the Department of Treasury, working with the Business Action Center and the Economic Development Authority, to host regular outreach events, training workshops, and educational programs for certified minority and women-owned businesses. It directly affects these businesses by providing access to technical, managerial, financial, and marketing support - including project management and technology assistance - to help them compete for state contracts. The bill mandates these activities be conducted virtually and statewide, focusing on increasing awareness of these businesses in state contracting and improving their capacity to secure contracts. The requirement takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds the right to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), to New Jersey's constitutional protections for reproductive choice. It explicitly expands existing rights - previously covering contraception, sterilization, and pregnancy decisions - to include choosing whether to use ART. The law states that any state, county, or local law limiting this right is invalid and unenforceable. It directly affects all New Jersey residents seeking or providing ART services, reinforcing access amid legal challenges in other states like Alabama. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in New Jersey, including Medicaid and state employee plans, to cover specific family planning and reproductive health services without deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. It explicitly includes abortion (both aspiration and medication methods), emergency services for mothers/newborns, family planning counseling, genetic testing, pre/postpartum hospital care, and well-baby care. Childbirth itself is excluded from the required coverage. Religious employers may opt out under existing law, and exemptions for federal funding concerns are permitted but limited to the minimum necessary.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4621) requires New Jersey employers to provide written disclosure about an applicant's eligibility for state and federal leave programs - including family leave, medical leave, and disability benefits - at the time of a job offer. Employers must notify applicants if they will be ineligible for specific benefits and explain why, while also directing them to a state labor department webpage with more information. Employers who fail to provide this disclosure face civil penalties of up to $500 per violation. The law directly affects job applicants in New Jersey by ensuring transparency about leave rights before employment begins. It takes effect two months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires apartment buildings with 30 or more units in New Jersey cities with 50,000+ residents to install and maintain accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in unlocked, clearly marked locations. Landlords must provide tenants with the AED location and ensure regular maintenance, while residents using AEDs gain legal immunity. It also creates an Affordable Housing Defibrillator Fund within the Department of Community Affairs to provide grants specifically to owners of affordable housing developments to cover compliance costs. The law takes effect seven months after enactment, aiming to increase access to life-saving AEDs in multi-unit buildings where cardiac emergencies may occur.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 14 of each year as "Latino Business Day" in New Jersey to recognize the economic contributions of Latino-owned businesses. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day with activities highlighting these businesses' impact. The resolution cites that Latino-owned businesses contribute over $800 billion annually to the U.S. economy and have grown significantly faster than other business types. It directly affects New Jersey residents by creating an annual observance to raise awareness of Latino entrepreneurship's role in the state's economy. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to promote recognition of this business community.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to install automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in every athletic facility and student center, placed in unlocked, accessible locations during normal operating hours. Institutions must also maintain a supply of naloxone nasal spray near each AED for opioid overdose emergencies, with a designated campus medical professional overseeing its administration and storage. Staff must include at least two trained individuals in CPR and AED use during facility hours, and all equipment must be regularly maintained per manufacturer guidelines. The bill provides legal immunity for institutions and staff acting in good faith to comply with these requirements.