Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey state agencies, counties, and municipalities to automatically enroll employees in retirement savings plans called deferred compensation plans. For state employees hired after the bill's effective date, enrollment is mandatory unless they opt out or choose a different contribution percentage. Local governments (counties and municipalities) may choose whether to implement automatic enrollment. Employers must provide clear notice and a reasonable opportunity for employees to adjust or decline participation, and must set a default investment option for those who do not select one.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative to connect students, workers, and job seekers with training in high-demand fields like healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy. The New Jersey Community College Consortium will operate the initiative, creating Centers of Workforce Innovation that develop publicly available training programs and skills for specific careers. These centers must promote financial aid access, expand apprenticeships, and partner with employers, schools, and colleges to build a skilled workforce. The program aims to directly support job seekers entering growing industries while helping employers meet labor needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a water safety fact sheet for schools. The fact sheet must cover reducing drowning risks, the importance of swim lessons, proper flotation device use, and monitoring water conditions. Public school districts must annually distribute this fact sheet to parents, while nonpublic schools are encouraged but not required to do so. Additionally, school districts must maintain and update an online list of local swim lesson locations, including free or low-cost options. The bill directly affects public schools, parents, and guardians by providing standardized water safety information and resources.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires municipalities and parking authorities to include in contracts with online parking payment service providers a provision that prohibits charging users a fee during times when parking is prohibited at a parking project. The bill defines "online parking payment service" as a public-facing website, app, or mobile application that allows users to pay for parking at publicly available locations. The requirement applies to all contracts between governmental units and these service providers. This policy change ensures users aren't charged for parking during prohibited times, such as during street cleaning or construction hours.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create and maintain a free, public online registry of tutors and organizations offering free supplemental tutoring to students. It allows certified teachers, retired teachers, college students, industry professionals, and relevant organizations to register, providing details like contact information and subject expertise. All registrants must undergo criminal background checks (except certified teachers with prior checks), and the registry explicitly states it does not endorse or verify the quality of services offered. The registry will be accessible to all New Jersey residents via the DOE website.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates group disability insurance for disabled members of New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). It provides monthly income benefits equal to 60% of a member's base salary (minimum $50) while they are totally disabled, payable until age 70 if disability began before age 60. Members must have completed one year of continuous service to qualify, and coverage excludes pregnancy, war injuries, self-harm, imprisonment, or time outside the U.S. Canada. The State Treasurer purchases the insurance through a special fund, with premiums paid from employer contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Early Language Access Program within New Jersey's Department of Health to provide free language instruction services to deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children under age 5 and their families. The program matches families with interprofessional teams (including ASL interpreters, speech therapists, and audiologists) who deliver up to 25 hours per week of tailored instruction - using the family's preferred communication method (like ASL, spoken language, or multimodal approaches) - in settings such as homes, childcare centers, and preschools. It also covers support services like hearing device assistance, provider training, and case management. Eligibility requires proof of the child’s hearing loss, age, and New Jersey residency. The bill codifies and permanently authorizes this existing early intervention service.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4374) makes two specific violations of New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act criminal offenses. It targets employers who knowingly falsify payroll records for public construction projects or submit false information on contractor registration forms. Currently, these violations result in fines up to $25,000 and disqualification from public work; the bill upgrades them to a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to $10,000 in fines, 18 months in jail, or both. The law applies directly to employers working on state or local public construction projects requiring prevailing wage compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Real Estate Appraiser Board to adopt the Appraisal Qualifications Board's "Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal" (PAREA) program as an alternative way for prospective appraisers to gain required experience. Currently, applicants must find a licensed appraiser to supervise their on-the-job training, which is often difficult with no formal support system. Under the bill, the PAREA program would allow applicants to fulfill all experience requirements through virtual simulations of real-world appraisal work, guided by mentors. This change directly affects individuals seeking real estate appraiser licenses or certifications in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits residential rental application fees to the actual cost of a credit check or related service, with a maximum cap of $30. Landlords cannot charge tenants more than this amount for application fees, even if the credit check costs more than $30. Violating this rule results in a $250 penalty per violation, enforceable by the state or through a tenant lawsuit seeking the penalty plus attorney fees. The law directly affects landlords and tenants in New Jersey rental housing by restricting excessive fees and providing enforcement mechanisms.