Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program promoting women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and LGBTQ-owned energy businesses. The program must establish annual targets for energy purchases from these businesses, starting at 5% in the first year and increasing to 25% by the fourth year for businesses and public entities using third-party energy providers. To qualify, businesses must be certified by state or national organizations (like the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council), registered in New Jersey, and file annual reports. The BPU must track progress, publicly post approved businesses on its website, and update the public on the program’s results.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects certified doulas in New Jersey from employment discrimination or retaliation when missing work to attend a birth for a client in active labor. Employers cannot fire, harass, or refuse to hire someone for this reason, provided the doula gives at least one hour's notice (or as soon as possible if not feasible). Employers are not required to pay for the missed time, but doulas may use accrued vacation or sick days. Violations allow employees to sue for remedies including reinstatement, lost wages, fines up to $5,000 per violation, and attorney fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of apartment buildings and other Group R-2 structures to display clear signs at elevator entrances showing the maintenance company's contact details and the elevator's unique ID number. It mandates the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to create a public online portal listing elevator inspection records, safety status, and maintenance history for consumer access. The bill also directs DCA to establish a low-interest loan program specifically for senior housing owners to cover elevator maintenance costs. Failure to post the required signage results in fines starting at $100 for the first offense, increasing to $1,000 for repeated violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's regulatory requirements for surgical practices by removing the need for them to be licensed as ambulatory care facilities. Instead, surgical practices must register with the Department of Health for a $1,000 fee, valid for five years. The bill defines surgical practices as facilities with no more than one operating room, dedicated recovery areas, and established by physicians for their private practice. It also removes previous restrictions on new facility licensing that were in place under P.L.2017, c.283.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords and real estate brokerage firms from charging residential tenants fees, commissions, or charges related to brokerage services. It requires landlords to clearly disclose all tenant fees in rental listings and provide itemized written fee disclosures before lease agreements are signed. Landlords must also include a specific attestation in rental applications affirming they won't impose brokerage fees on tenants. Violations would result in penalties of $5,000 or three times the amount of fees charged, whichever is greater, with tenants able to sue for these penalties plus attorney fees. The bill applies specifically to residential rental properties, not commercial real estate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to display a person's full legal name - including Roman numerals - on specific driver's licenses, identification cards, and permits. It directly affects residents whose legal names (as recorded on birth certificates) include Roman numerals (e.g., "John Smith III"), ensuring their name appears exactly as documented without omitting the numeral. The MVC must display the full legal name if applicants provide standard verification documents proving identity, age, and residence. This change applies to all standard licenses, permits, and REAL ID documents without altering existing name-change procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5838) allows county sheriffs to certify that law enforcement officers employed by their departments meet existing requirements for license renewal. It amends current law to permit sheriffs (instead of just the chief law enforcement officer) to verify officers satisfy criteria like good moral character, completion of required training, and absence of disqualifying offenses (e.g., certain convictions or bias-related conduct). The certification must cover the same standards already required for renewal applications. This change specifically applies to officers working in county sheriff's departments across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs statewide. The 20-member commission includes state agency leaders, legislative appointees, and representatives from child care organizations, educators, and researchers. Its key duties are to assess current programs, develop statewide standards, examine funding sources, and evaluate program quality across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The commission must submit an interim report within one year and a final report within two years, after which it will expire. The bill directly affects all organizations providing out-of-school time programs in New Jersey by setting a framework for their review and improvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies (carriers) in New Jersey to automatically approve physician credentials for their provider networks if the physician holds a valid, unrevoked license from the State Board of Medical Examiners. It applies to physicians seeking initial network participation or credential renewal, streamlining the process by mandating acceptance of a standardized application form. Carriers must approve applications where the physician’s license status is verified as "in good standing" without additional review. The law takes effect immediately for all applications received after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create and update guidelines within 90 days for state and local agencies to use when purchasing goods made from recycled materials. The guidelines will recommend specific recycled content percentages for procurement contracts, potentially referencing existing U.S. EPA guidelines. State agencies and local governments must incorporate these guidelines into new product specifications for purchases, unless following them would increase contract costs. The bill applies to all state departments and local entities with procurement authority, but exempts local contracts where cost would rise.