Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires school districts receiving specific preschool grants to partner with licensed child care providers and Head Start programs to offer free preschool services. The law limits the number of preschool classrooms a district can operate in a single building to two, with any additional spots provided through these community partnerships. Districts must use a competitive bidding process to select partners and must meet high-quality standards set by the Department of Education. The bill also directs the state to provide technical assistance and funding to help these providers meet quality requirements, with priority given to those in underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes criminal and civil penalties for caretakers who perform invasive grooming, such as shaving or waxing, on vulnerable adults without proper authorization. The law defines "vulnerable adults" as individuals over 18 who lack the capacity to consent due to illness, disability, or incapacity, and requires both written permission from a legal guardian and a physician's certification of medical necessity for such procedures. Penalties escalate based on severity, ranging from a third-degree crime for causing minor distress to a first-degree crime if the act involves sexual gratification, repeated abuse, or recording the incident. Additionally, the bill allows affected adults to sue both the individual caretaker and their employer for damages, while explicitly removing the defense that the caretaker believed the procedure was in the victim's best interest.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 24 of each year as "Mothers of Gynecology Day" in New Jersey to honor Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey, three enslaved women whose bodies were used in early gynecological experiments. The resolution formally recognizes their foundational contributions to the development of surgical techniques in the field, which were conducted without their consent or anesthesia in the 1840s. Under the bill, the Governor is requested to issue an annual proclamation calling on public officials and citizens to observe the day with appropriate activities. This measure serves as a commemorative acknowledgment of the historical figures rather than establishing new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to pay child care subsidies to eligible families for preschool-aged children at a rate equal to the per-pupil preschool education aid given to public schools. The policy specifically applies to three- and four-year-olds enrolled in licensed or registered child care programs that participate in the state's assistance program. To receive this higher reimbursement, child care providers must be rated as high quality under the Grow NJ Kids rating system and apply annually for the subsidy. The Department of Human Services will adjust these rates each year based on current school funding levels and must report annually on how many families and providers benefit from the change.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 13-member New Jersey Blue Ribbon Commission on Child Care within the Department of Children and Families to develop a statewide strategy for improving the state's child care system. The commission will be composed of state agency officials and public members appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, who will review issues such as affordability, workforce pay, and infrastructure to identify challenges and propose reforms. Members will serve without pay but may receive expense reimbursements, and the group is tasked with submitting a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months of organizing.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Targeted Midwifery Workforce Development Act, aims to address racial disparities in maternal and infant health in New Jersey by investing $12 million in workforce development for midwives. The legislation is based on findings that Black women and infants in the state face significantly higher risks of pregnancy-related death and infant mortality compared to white residents. To tackle these issues, the act appropriates funds to expand training and education opportunities for midwives, thereby increasing access to culturally competent care and helping to close the gap in prenatal care and birth outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $10 million emergency fund within the New Jersey Department of the Treasury to help licensed and registered child care programs avoid closure due to significant drops in enrollment. To access these funds, providers must demonstrate a decrease of at least 30 percent in their student numbers compared to the previous year and submit an application for assistance. The State Treasurer will manage the fund and release money on a rolling basis, with a maximum grant of $60,000 per provider per calendar year, while also allowing for the inclusion of available federal funding sources.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's laws to allow certain elevator inspectors to meet licensure requirements by obtaining certification as a qualified elevator inspector. It directly affects elevator inspection firms and the inspectors who work for them by formalizing the qualifications needed to perform routine and periodic safety inspections. The legislation requires these certified inspectors to be employed by registered firms and mandates that they follow specific rules for testing, reporting dangerous conditions, and maintaining safety standards. Additionally, the bill gives the Department of Community Affairs the authority to create detailed regulations regarding inspector qualifications and firm registration.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Community-led Birthing Justice and Equity Resource Initiative Program to address high maternal and infant mortality rates among Black women in New Jersey. It allocates $12 million to fund community-based programs that provide culturally congruent care through Black OBGYNs, midwives, doulas, and other medical professionals. The initiative specifically targets underserved urban areas like Atlantic City, Newark, Trenton, and Plainfield, aiming to improve health outcomes by supporting accessible and culturally sensitive birthing resources.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows courts to hold individual owners of limited liability companies and corporations personally responsible for unpaid housing, building, or health code fines when they act as residential landlords. To trigger this personal liability, the property must have at least three unpaid code violations that remain outstanding for a full year, and the individual must own at least 10% of the business or hold a leadership role. The law requires that proper legal notice be sent to the owners and their agents before enforcement can proceed, while also allowing individuals to argue they were not responsible if their involvement with the company was too brief to ensure payment.