Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryAJR 23 adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism for New Jersey. The bill defines antisemitism as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews" and includes examples like targeting Jewish individuals, property, or community institutions. It is intended solely as an educational tool for state employees, law enforcement, and educators to recognize and address antisemitism, not as a legal standard. The resolution explicitly states it does not infringe on free speech, including criticism of Israel. New Jersey joins 38 countries and several U.S. states that have endorsed this definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's professional licensing boards (e.g., for nursing, engineering, and other regulated occupations) to collect national average application approval times from other states and calculate a standard for their own processing timelines. Boards must use this national average as their target for approving initial credentials, after approval by the Division of Consumer Affairs. If boards miss the target, they must use licensing fees to hire third-party experts to identify improvements, with follow-up reviews after six months. The law mandates initial data collection within six months of enactment, followed by annual accuracy reviews to ensure boards meet the standardized timelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Family Development to base state child care subsidy payments to licensed providers and registered family day care centers on the number of enrolled children (counted on October 15 and April 15 annually), not on actual attendance. It directly affects child care providers serving low-income families who receive state and federal subsidies. The bill prohibits payments from being calculated on children present at any given time, aiming to provide more stable funding amid enrollment fluctuations. It also mandates the Commissioner to seek necessary federal waivers to maintain funding eligibility.

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 summaryThis bill caps residential rental application fees at $50 for most properties, prohibiting landlords or agents from charging more. Landlords violating this limit face a $1,500 penalty per offense, with $250 of each penalty returned to the tenant. The $50 cap automatically adjusts annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the New York-Northern New Jersey area if inflation exceeds zero, and the fee limit does not apply to single-family or two-family homes. The bill also requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to create an online system for tenants to report violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $5 million grant program to help New Jersey municipalities improve disaster relief services for residents. Municipalities can apply for grants of up to $30,000 to fund staff training, stockpiles of supplies, and technology for processing disaster relief applications and related paperwork. The Office of Emergency Management will prioritize funding based on each municipality's risk assessment, and grantees must report after one year on how funds improved emergency preparedness. The program is funded through a state appropriation and administered by the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" in New Jersey's General Fund to support abortion providers and clinics. The fund would provide funding for three specific programs: clinical training to increase the number of providers (especially in underserved areas like southern counties), security grants for clinics facing threats like violence or cyberattacks, and loans to help facilities operate. It directly affects reproductive health care facilities, clinics, and health care professionals providing abortion services statewide. The bill requires the State Treasurer to allocate these funds to the designated programs, aiming to strengthen access to abortion care through direct financial support.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Board of Paramedicine to regulate paramedic and EMT licensing and practice. It establishes a 11-member board with specific qualifications, including four active mobile intensive care paramedics, two EMTs, medical specialists, and public members. The board will set standards for advanced life support (paramedics) and basic life support (EMTs), oversee licensing, and define paramedicine as a regulated healthcare practice encompassing pre-hospital care and community health services. The bill does not change current service standards but creates the governing body to administer these regulations.

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 New Jersey bill (A-2227) creates a state-funded program to incentivize certified nurse aides and nursing students to work as direct support professionals (DSPs), such as in developmental disability care. It requires the Department of Health to distribute funds to employers so they can pay DSPs at standard certified nurse aide rates, and mandates nursing schools to grant academic credit for DSP work toward nursing degrees. The bill appropriates state funds from the General Fund to implement these provisions, directly affecting certified nurse aides, nursing students, healthcare employers, and approved nursing schools. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.