Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill requires residential buildings housing up to two households to install window exit devices (such as anchor plates, hooks, and rope systems) on every level above ground floor, ensuring safe egress during fires when ground exits are blocked. It directly affects property owners and landlords of such residential properties, mandating these fire escape mechanisms alongside existing smoke alarm and fire extinguisher requirements. Violations - specifically failing to install the escape mechanism - carry a penalty of up to $1,000, enforceable during occupancy changes or sales/leases through municipal fire safety inspections. The law takes immediate effect and directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish implementing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to hire additional staff to reduce delays in processing professional license applications and renewals. It appropriates $10 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2028 specifically for this purpose, directly affecting professionals in regulated fields (like healthcare, law, and trades) facing application backlogs. The bill mandates the division to report yearly on staffing changes, initial and current backlog levels, and how funds were used. This provides targeted funding to address a documented processing delay, with transparency through annual reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5172) requires New Jersey state and county correctional facilities to provide female inmates with feminine hygiene products - including tampons and sanitary pads - of varying absorbency levels at no cost, upon request. It amends existing law (P.L.2019, c.288) to specify that facilities must offer products in multiple absorbency levels, not just standard options. The policy directly affects all female inmates in New Jersey's correctional system, ensuring access to appropriate menstrual products. The change updates current requirements to better accommodate individual health needs during menstruation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Target Zero Commission" within the Department of Transportation, consisting of 13 state agency representatives (including Transportation, Health, and Public Safety officials). The commission’s primary duty is to develop a statewide action plan by 2040 aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries through engineering, education, and enforcement strategies focused on equitable road safety for all users. Key mechanisms include creating a public data portal for crash statistics, requiring annual public hearings and reports to the Governor and Legislature, and advising on policy changes to support safer transportation infrastructure. The commission must adopt its action plan within 12 months of the bill’s effective date and host public feedback sessions before finalizing it. This is a procedural bill creating a study body, not a direct policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's requirement that public bodies (like municipalities and school districts) may use newspapers for official public notices and legal advertisements - such as meeting schedules, bid solicitations, or ordinance publications - through March 1, 2025. It allows newspapers to be used regardless of format (print or digital) during this period, without charging extra fees for viewing digital notices or exceeding existing publication rates. The law ensures continuity for public notice requirements that previously had a deadline, covering both physical and electronic newspaper formats. It applies specifically to notices required under state law for public transparency.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's existing telemedicine pay parity law, requiring health insurance plans to pay providers the same rate for telehealth services as in-person visits for covered services. It applies to all health benefits plans in New Jersey (including Medicaid and private insurers) and affects providers delivering telehealth care. The extension, now ending December 31, 2025 (previously 2024), maintains the requirement that telehealth reimbursement equals in-person rates for covered services, excluding audio-only visits (which receive 50% of in-person rates) and behavioral health services (which receive full in-person rates). This is a procedural extension of an existing policy, not a new mandate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey financial institutions (including banks, credit unions, and mortgage servicers) to allow mortgage borrowers to choose biweekly payments (every two weeks), bimonthly payments (twice monthly), and extra payments toward their mortgage principal without penalties. It directly affects homeowners with mortgages secured by residential properties (1-6 units) in New Jersey. The key provision mandates that any overpayment in biweekly plans must reduce the principal balance, while bimonthly payments must equal half the monthly amount. The law applies to all new mortgage agreements signed six months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A908) requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a statewide Internet-based tracking system for rape kits (sexual assault forensic evidence kits). It directly affects victims of sexual assault, healthcare facilities that collect kits, law enforcement agencies, and laboratories that process them. The system must track kits through every step - from collection at a hospital to final disposition - allowing authorized users to monitor the chain of custody. The Attorney General must issue guidelines to implement the system, which takes effect seven months after enactment. The bill focuses on improving transparency and accountability in handling rape kits, not on changing legal standards for sexual assault cases.

Maddy summaryAJR 101 designates the second Friday in December each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to honor paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). This resolution directly recognizes PSRPs - including instructional aides, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodians, and maintenance workers - who support students through tutoring, classroom assistance, translation, meal service, and facility upkeep. The key mechanism is an annual observance calling on the Governor, Legislature, and citizens to acknowledge these workers' contributions. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but establishes a recurring day of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) to consult with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) when a court finds that a person who abused or neglected a child has a developmental disability and qualifies for DDD services. It mandates DCPP to work with DDD to create a tailored services plan for that individual, considering their disability. DDD must then determine the most appropriate service methods based on the person's specific disability needs. The policy change applies directly to adults with developmental disabilities involved in child abuse/neglect cases who are eligible for DDD support, ensuring their treatment aligns with disability-specific care standards.