Asm. Shanique Speight

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 expands requirements for public awareness signage about human trafficking. It adds 10 new locations where businesses and facilities must display the Commission on Human Trafficking's sign, including gas stations, staffing agencies, law enforcement offices, nail salons, and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices. The sign must be 8.5x11 inches, in 16-point font, and bilingual (English/Spanish), containing the national trafficking hotline number. Businesses failing to display or replace defaced signs face $300 fines for first offenses and $1,000 for subsequent violations. The bill directly affects the listed establishments by mandating visible signage to aid trafficking victims.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises foreclosure sale procedures for residential properties in New Jersey, directly affecting sheriffs, lenders, homeowners, and nonprofit community development corporations (CDCs). Key changes include requiring sheriffs to sell foreclosed properties within 150 days, mandating specific notice rules (including Fair Debt Collection Act compliance), and establishing a 3.5% deposit requirement for nonprofits or residents who plan to occupy the property for 84+ months. It also prohibits lenders from delaying sales if a nonprofit or homeowner intends to bid, and requires disclosure of property occupancy status before sale. The bill amends existing law (P.L.1995, c.244) and is currently pending in committee (introduced Jan. 2026).

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain mental health services to at least the Medicare rate. It directly affects Medicaid-eligible patients (adults and children) and providers like licensed substance abuse treatment centers or mental health professionals offering evidence-based outpatient counseling. The key provision requires that services must be proven effective (listed in federal registries or approved by state officials) and limited to individual/group therapy in outpatient settings. This policy change aims to improve payment for specific behavioral health treatments under New Jersey's Medicaid program.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the asset limits (resource thresholds) for New Jersey Medicaid eligibility under the "medically needy" program. It raises the maximum allowable assets from current levels to $40,000 for single-person households, $60,000 for two-person households, and an additional $20,000 per extra person in larger households. These changes directly affect individuals who qualify as "medically needy" - including pregnant women, children under 21, seniors 65+, and people who are blind or disabled - by allowing them to retain more assets while still qualifying for Medicaid coverage. The policy adjustment aligns New Jersey’s resource standards with federal guidelines for medically needy eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), and the State Employees Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) to cover specific mammogram screenings. It mandates one baseline mammogram for women aged 35 and annual screenings for women 35 and older, while also requiring coverage for women under 35 with breast cancer risk factors (like family history) as determined by their provider. Additional tests like ultrasounds or MRIs are covered if needed due to dense breast tissue, abnormal results, or other risk factors. The law applies to all health insurance plans in New Jersey, ensuring these screenings are covered without additional out-of-pocket costs for eligible individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands protections for cooperating witnesses in New Jersey by authorizing state funding for their safety and relocation. It amends existing law to include cooperating witnesses (those testifying for prosecutors or working with law enforcement, including confidential informants) under the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights, guaranteeing them protection from harm and access to safety-related services. The bill specifically directs the Victim and Witness Advocacy Fund to cover relocation expenses for witnesses and their household members, plus safety costs like crisis response, counseling, and emergency services. These changes directly affect witnesses who cooperate with prosecutions and their families, ensuring they receive concrete support to safely participate in criminal justice proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to better serve residents of long-term care facilities, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. It directly affects long-term care residents (including those in nursing homes, dementia care facilities, assisted living communities, and retirement communities) by strengthening their ability to report complaints about facility conditions, abuse, or rights violations. Key provisions update definitions to include new facility types, clarify the ombudsman’s authority to investigate complaints, and require the office to resolve issues affecting residents’ safety and civil rights. The $1 million appropriation ensures the office has resources to expand its staff and services statewide.

Maddy summaryBill A 3035 requires New Jersey long-term care facilities (including nursing homes and assisted living residences) to meet annually with each resident and their family to review emergency contact information on file. It also mandates that facilities offer residents the chance to update their emergency contact details - defined as primary and secondary contacts - twice each year. The bill emphasizes compliance with privacy laws and clarifies that facilities may still share resident information with non-emergency contacts. This policy directly affects residents, their families, and the facilities managing their care, aiming to ensure contact information remains current for emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum age for residents in New Jersey's pediatric long-term care facilities from 19 to 26 years old. It directly affects facilities licensed under P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) and young adults aged 19-26 who currently must transition to adult care at age 19. The key provision modifies licensing rules to permit these facilities to admit and serve residents up to age 26. The Commissioner of Health must adopt implementing rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.