Asm. Eliana Pintor Marin

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1684) amends New Jersey's brewery licensing laws but does not actually address wine shipping as its title suggests. The provided text only describes changes to *brewery* license classifications (for malt alcoholic beverages), including new tiers for breweries producing up to 300,000 barrels annually. It adds no provisions for wineries or direct wine shipping to consumers, contradicting the bill's title. The bill appears to be mislabeled or incomplete based on the text provided, as the amendments focus solely on brewery operations, not wine. No concrete policy changes for wineries or direct wine shipping are described in the text.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a public database managed by New Jersey's Business Action Center (within the Department of State) listing vacant commercial properties available for small businesses to lease or purchase. The database must include specific details like square footage, included equipment, and building systems (e.g., HVAC, security). Commercial property owners are required to report vacancies or occupancy changes to the center, which will update the database monthly using input from owners, realtors, and municipalities. The database will be accessible online and promoted to business associations and local chambers to help small businesses find suitable space more efficiently.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to create a statewide initiative for the Red Sand Project, aligning with January (Human Trafficking Prevention Month). The initiative must be developed in consultation with the newly established Commission on Human Trafficking, which evaluates trafficking laws and victim services. Funding for the project may come from the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund, as authorized by the Attorney General. The bill directly affects state agencies and victim support programs by formalizing a coordinated awareness effort.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new third-degree crime of incest in New Jersey, making it illegal for someone to marry or engage in sexual penetration with specific close family members. It directly affects individuals in relationships including ancestors/descendants, siblings, aunts/uncles (siblings of a parent), or nieces/nephews (children of a sibling), covering both blood relatives and adopted family ties regardless of legitimacy. The law establishes penalties of 3-5 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both for violations. This expands criminal liability beyond current sexual assault laws, which previously did not cover incestuous acts between consenting adults.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide $615,000 in additional state funding to the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership, a statewide service that connects residents to human services like food assistance, housing support, and mental health resources through a free 24/7 phone hotline. The funds would be allocated within the Department of Human Services' budget specifically for the Partnership's ongoing operational costs to maintain its 2-1-1 service. Since 2002, the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership has been the sole provider of New Jersey's 2-1-1 dialing code, serving all residents statewide. This is a routine budgetary measure to sustain an existing community resource, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's insurance premium tax credit for domestic insurance companies from 15% to 90% of retaliatory tax liability paid to other states. It directly affects insurance companies licensed in New Jersey that operate in multiple states, allowing them to reduce their New Jersey tax bill by a larger portion of taxes paid to other states. The key provision amends existing law to replace the current 15% credit (with annual 1% increases up to 15%) with a flat 90% credit for all filings due on or after March 1, 2024. This change aims to make New Jersey more competitive with states offering higher credits for retaliatory taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retail stores experiencing a coin shortage from charging customers extra for paying with cash. It specifically applies to in-person transactions (excluding online or phone sales) and bans retailers from imposing higher prices for cash payments during such shortages. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under New Jersey law, potentially leading to fines up to $20,000 per offense. The law aims to prevent businesses from unfairly penalizing cash users when coin supplies are low.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts specific baby products and sunscreen from New Jersey's sales tax starting October 1, 2025. It directly affects parents and caregivers purchasing baby necessities like baby wash, car seats (child restraint systems), cribs, nursing bottles, and strollers, as well as sunscreen regulated by the FDA for sun protection (excluding cosmetic products). The bill amends existing tax law to add these items to the list of exempt sales, clarifying definitions for terms like "child restraint system" and "sunscreen." It does not change tax rates but removes tax from these specific retail purchases. The exemption applies to all qualifying products sold after the effective date.

Maddy summaryAJR 60 designates April 11 of each year as "Black Doula Day" in New Jersey to recognize the role of Black doulas in maternal health. The resolution coincides with Global Black Doula Day and aims to honor professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to birthing people before, during, and after childbirth. It does not create new policies or funding but requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation. This symbolic measure follows New Jersey’s status as the third state to cover doula care via Medicaid and highlights ongoing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, where Black mothers are over seven times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.6 million to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for adult medical day care providers in New Jersey. It raises the per diem rate from $89.55 to $93.10 per patient per day, directly affecting community-based medical day care centers that serve vulnerable adults with physical or cognitive impairments. The funding is conditional on providers receiving this updated rate, stabilizing their finances after pandemic-related income losses. This change ensures providers can continue offering essential in-community care without closing, as mandated by the bill's amendment to the 2024 appropriations act.