Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill allows businesses registered with New Jersey's Division of Revenue to opt into receiving official business notices (like new rules or economic incentives) via email instead of paper mail. It applies to most business entities (corporations, nonprofits, etc.) that file registration documents, excluding government agencies. Businesses must still maintain physical mailing addresses for legal notices, and paper mail remains required where state law specifically mandates it. The Division of Revenue will collect email addresses and share them with relevant agencies (like Taxation and Economic Development) to enable electronic notifications.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A3436 creates a 15-member Task Force on Child Care Deserts within the Department of Children and Families. The task force will study areas where over two-thirds of children cannot access licensed child care (defined as "child care deserts") and examine factors like geographic access, family demographics, funding gaps, and infrastructure needs. It will review existing research and develop policy recommendations for eliminating these deserts. The task force must issue a report to the Governor and Legislature within six months of organizing, with the group dissolving 30 days after the report is issued. This bill directly affects families in underserved urban and rural communities lacking child care options.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey state program requiring government agencies to set aside certain contracts (for goods, construction, or services) exclusively for businesses owned and operated by people with disabilities. These businesses must be at least 51% owned by such individuals and certified by approved nonprofits like Disability:IN. State agencies must award at least 3% of their contracts to these certified businesses, either through direct awards or subcontracting requirements. The Department of the Treasury will manage the program, maintain a list of certified businesses, and handle disputes, while ensuring set-aside contracts are competitively bid and priced fairly.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans covering groups of 50+ people in New Jersey to cover standard fertility preservation services (like egg or embryo freezing) for individuals diagnosed with specific menstrual disorders - such as endometriosis, heavy bleeding, or uterine fibroids - that may cause infertility. It mandates coverage when a medically necessary treatment could cause infertility or for those with qualifying disorders, applying the same copays, deductibles, and benefit limits as other medical conditions. Insurers cannot deny coverage based on age, sex, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics. The law amends existing insurance regulations to ensure equitable access to these services for affected individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new pathway for certain long-term incarcerated individuals in New Jersey to seek release. It allows inmates who have served at least 20 years (or 30 years for murder convictions) and are age 60 (or 62 for murder) to receive a "Certificate of Eligibility for Rehabilitative Release" from the Corrections Commissioner. The process requires a court hearing where the individual must demonstrate they are not a danger to the community, have engaged in rehabilitation while incarcerated, and that justice warrants release - considering factors like victim input, their crime's severity, and a reentry plan. If approved, the individual receives a modified sentence and five years of parole supervision.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Food Desert Elimination Act" to incentivize supermarkets and grocery stores (18,000+ sq ft) to open in designated "food desert communities" - areas with limited access to fresh food, identified using USDA and CDC data. It provides property tax-based tax credits to businesses that open their *first* supermarket or grocery store in a designated food desert community, covering the full property tax assessed by the municipality for three years after opening. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will designate up to 75 initial food desert communities, prioritizing areas with high poverty and limited healthy food access. This directly affects low-income residents in these communities by aiming to improve access to nutritious food through new retail options.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends multiple New Jersey statutes to replace the term "inmate" with "incarcerated person" in legal language. It updates terminology across provisions related to court records, departmental reporting, legal representation, release notifications, and correctional facility operations. The change is purely linguistic - no legal procedures, rights, or requirements are altered. It directly affects all state laws and documents referencing individuals held in correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to extend the deadline for enrolling newborn infants in health benefits coverage from 60 to 90 days after birth. It directly affects newborns and their parents, requiring health insurance corporations to allow enrollment within this longer timeframe. The key provision states that parents must notify the insurer and pay the required subscription amount within 90 days to maintain coverage beyond that period. The bill was withdrawn as it was already enacted into law through P.L.2025, c.194.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey hospitals to include testing for fentanyl and xylazine in routine urine drug screenings when treating patients. It directly affects all general acute care hospitals licensed in New Jersey that conduct such screenings. Hospitals must report de-identified test results to the Department of Health if fentanyl, xylazine, or other drugs under a health alert are detected. The law aims to improve overdose response by ensuring these dangerous substances - linked to rising fatal overdoses - are identified during patient care.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Alzheimer's Disease Master Plan Study Commission within the Department of Human Services. The 15-member commission - appointed by state leaders and including health experts, caregivers, and community representatives - will develop a comprehensive master plan to address Alzheimer's care. The plan must cover public education, healthcare improvements, funding, community-based services, caregiver support, and poverty reduction for those affected. The commission must submit its report to the Governor and Legislature within two years, after which it will expire.