Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly prohibit housing and employment discrimination based on "source of lawful income." It defines "source of lawful income" to include public assistance, housing vouchers (like Section 8), disability benefits, veterans' benefits, child support, alimony, and other lawful payment methods. The law now makes it illegal for landlords to refuse rental payments based on the source of income, and for employers to discriminate against applicants or employees based on how their income is earned. This directly affects tenants and job seekers who rely on non-traditional income sources, particularly those using public assistance programs or housing vouchers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all menstrual products sold in New Jersey - including tampons, pads, discs, cups, and underwear (both disposable and reusable) - to list every ingredient on the package in descending order of quantity. The label must be clearly visible and understandable to consumers. Manufacturers who sell noncompliant products after the bill’s effective date face civil penalties of up to 1% of their annual in-state sales per package, capped at $1,000 per item, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law applies only to products manufactured after the effective date and excludes shipping packaging.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey higher education and proprietary institutions from withholding student transcripts due to debts under $2,000 for non-mandatory charges (like activity fees). It requires institutions to release transcripts for transfer, graduate programs, or employment purposes regardless of such small debts, but allows them to require repayment plans for larger debts (over $2,000) or mandatory fees (tuition, room/board). Institutions cannot charge extra fees for transcripts or use transcript issuance to collect debt. Students needing transcripts for new or refinanced student loans cannot have their transcripts restricted. The law applies only to students residing in the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program to the Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program and makes several key changes to expand eligibility and improve program administration. It increases the maximum loan redemption amount from $120,000 to $200,000, allows psychiatrists and other health professionals designated by the Commissioner of Health to participate, and expands the definition of "State designated underserved area" to include municipalities where over 50% of households are at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. The program provides partial loan repayment for health care professionals who commit to working in underserved areas, with repayment amounts based on years of service at approved sites. The bill also establishes new criteria for sites to be automatically designated as approved sites and requires annual reporting on the program's impact to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits social media platforms from designing, promoting, or using features that could cause children under 18 to develop eating disorders, including promoting diet products. It requires platforms to conduct quarterly internal audits and annual third-party audits to identify harmful features, with corrective action required within 30 days if issues are found. Platforms with under $100 million in annual revenue, gaming-focused services, or those complying with audit requirements are exempt from penalties. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $250,000 per violation. The bill specifically targets platform algorithms and features, not user-generated content.

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish a legal framework for supervised psilocybin therapy in New Jersey for adults 21+ with behavioral health conditions. It creates licensed psilocybin service centers where trained facilitators provide guided sessions, requiring prior medical referrals and mandatory preparation/integration therapy sessions with mental health providers. The bill defines key terms like "administration session" and "adverse event," and mandates a regulatory system including a Psilocybin Advisory Board to oversee safety, prevent diversion, and ensure accessibility. It specifically targets conditions like depression, anxiety, and treatment-resistant depression, with provisions to develop a statewide strategic plan for long-term service delivery. The bill does not legalize recreational use but focuses on regulated medical access under strict supervision.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3865) requires public schools to include cursive handwriting instruction for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It mandates that schools provide age-appropriate learning activities and resources to ensure students can read and write cursive by the end of third grade. The bill aims to address declining cursive skills due to digital technology use and supports cognitive development benefits linked to learning cursive. It directly affects all public school students in the specified grades across New Jersey. The requirement takes effect immediately for the next full school year following enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Pet Insurance Act establishes a regulatory framework for pet insurance in New Jersey, requiring insurers to clearly define key terms like "preexisting condition" and "hereditary disorder" in policies. It mandates specific disclosures to consumers about exclusions (e.g., for hereditary disorders, congenital conditions, or chronic illnesses) and limits waiting periods to 30 days for illnesses or orthopedic conditions (with no waiting period for accidents). The bill also prohibits requiring veterinary exams for policy renewals and mandates that wellness programs be clearly labeled as non-insurance, separate from coverage. Additionally, it requires insurance producers to complete training on policy terms and consumer disclosures before selling pet insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agencies - including departments, boards, and public authorities - to make their websites compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA standard, ensuring they are accessible to people with disabilities. It mandates that all websites must also function properly on smartphones, tablets, and similar mobile devices. State agencies must certify compliance with these standards within two years of the bill’s effective date, with biennial recertification required thereafter. The Chief Technology Officer will establish the certification protocol and oversee compliance for all state government websites.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to offer multiple application options for state-administered housing, shelter, and rental assistance programs - such as Section 8 housing assistance and the State rental assistance program - instead of limiting applicants to online submissions alone. It mandates that applicants must be able to apply via mail, email, in-person delivery, or fax, where federal law permits. The bill directly affects individuals seeking housing aid through DCA programs, removing a potential barrier for those without reliable internet access. Key provisions ensure accessibility by requiring DCA to implement these alternative application methods, with implementation beginning three months after enactment.