Asm. Garnet Hall

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) to conduct a survey of all antenatal and prenatal care clinics across the state, including those that have closed or significantly reduced services within the past two years. The survey will collect data on clinic availability, demographic and socioeconomic details of patients (especially low and moderate income pregnant women), and disparities in care access, while protecting personal health information. The DOH must analyze the data to identify trends and develop strategies to improve maternity care quality and access, then publish findings on its website and submit a legislative report within 18 months. This policy change directly affects clinics, the DOH, and future health care planning for pregnant individuals in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes programs for New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to manage publicly owned forested lands, appropriating $60 million in funding from corporate business tax revenues and Green Acres funds. It requires the DEP to conduct a comprehensive survey of these lands, including identifying areas for carbon reserves, wildfire prevention, and biodiversity protection, while mandating that forest management plans prioritize ecological and climate goals over commercial profit. The bill directs the DEP to develop interim forest management rules within one year and more comprehensive rules within three years, and establishes a program to measure and reduce deer populations on public forest lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public entities operating motorbus regular route service in New Jersey to transition to electric-powered buses. Starting in 2031, 25% of new buses purchased must be electric, increasing to 100% by 2035. Public entities must begin preparing for this transition immediately and report their progress by March 2025, including staff training, facility upgrades, and transition schedules. The bill appropriates $82 million annually from societal benefits charges and carbon allowance revenues to support the transition, with funds to be used exclusively for preparing for electric bus adoption and purchasing electric buses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey nursing homes to create detailed outbreak response plans within 180 days of the law taking effect. These plans must include protocols for isolating infected residents, notifying families and staff, monitoring for illness, reporting to health officials, and securing additional staff during outbreaks. Nursing homes must also establish an infection prevention committee with a dedicated infection preventionist (trained in infection control and qualified with five years' experience or certification). The Department of Health will verify compliance, enforce penalties for non-compliance, and require annual training exercises to test the plans.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill extends the Transportation Trust Fund Authority's bond issuance capacity from $12 billion to $15.6 billion through 2029 and establishes an annual fee of $250 for zero emission vehicle owners starting July 1, 2024 (increasing by $10 annually to $290 by 2028). It also modifies the gas tax rate calculation to gradually increase annual revenue targets from $2.032 billion in 2025 to $2.366 billion in 2029. The fee revenues and adjusted gas tax collections will be credited to the Transportation Trust Fund to support transportation infrastructure projects, with the zero emission vehicle fees specifically going to the fund's capital reserves.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows for-profit organizations that provide low- and moderate-income housing to join with non-profit housing groups and housing authorities in shared insurance funds. It defines eligible for-profit entities as those focused on housing developments under state fair share plans or federal Section 8 programs. The shared funds cannot include municipalities, school boards, or offer health/life insurance to employees, but may provide environmental liability coverage or join higher-level insurance pools for excess risks. This changes how these housing entities access insurance options under existing law, without creating new funding or a pilot program.

Maddy summaryThis bill abolishes New Jersey's Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and replaces its system with a new municipal framework for meeting affordable housing obligations. Municipalities must now determine their own "fair share" of low- and moderate-income housing through binding resolutions, using state-published calculations, while allowing advocates to contest these determinations. The law appropriates $16 million for housing programs to support new construction and rehabilitation of substandard housing, particularly in urban areas. It directly affects all New Jersey municipalities and low-to-moderate-income residents seeking housing, ending regional contribution agreements and establishing clearer deadlines to prevent previous compliance gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of materials, supplies, and services used in building or improving affordable housing projects from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It specifically applies to projects where all housing units are intended for moderate, low, or very low-income residents, as defined by state law. The exemption covers transactions with contractors or repairmen for these projects, reducing development costs for housing sponsors. This expands existing tax exemptions to include a new category of affordable housing developments.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Highlands Conservation Trust to preserve environmentally important lands in New Jersey's Highlands Region. The trust would acquire and manage land in its natural state to conserve natural resources, preserve historic sites, and provide passive recreation opportunities. It would be funded primarily through a $50 application fee and a $10 annual fee for special "Highlands conservation" license plates, with additional revenue from grants and donations. The trust would be governed by a seven-member board appointed by the Governor and local officials, and lands acquired would become tax-exempt upon acquisition.

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish a certification program for businesses owned by LGBTQ+ individuals in New Jersey. To qualify, a business must be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by LGBTQ+ persons, with specific documentation required to verify eligibility. Certified businesses would be listed in the SAVI database, making them eligible for state contracting opportunities and public recognition. The program formalizes an existing executive order (E.O. 295) that created this certification process, making it permanent rather than temporary. Businesses seeking certification would apply through the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, with appeal processes available for denials or revocations.