Rep. Jerry Walker

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's Second Chance Program within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The program provides career opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals by partnering with labor organizations to identify and create employment pathways in local trades. It directly affects people recently released from prison who face significant barriers to stable work. The key mechanism requires labor organizations - defined as per federal law - to collaborate with the state in developing job placement plans, aiming to reduce recidivism through meaningful employment. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey retail food establishments (like restaurants and cafes) to clearly display a "High caffeine" warning next to any beverage containing 80 milligrams or more of caffeine per serving. The disclosure must appear directly beside the beverage name on all menus, including digital displays and drive-through boards. Businesses failing to comply face fines of $200-$500 for a first offense and $500-$1,000 for repeat violations, enforced by health departments. The law also prohibits local governments from creating conflicting caffeine disclosure rules, making this a statewide requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes two new entities in New Jersey: the Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency (within the Department of Health) and the Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission. It requires hospitals, health insurers, and other healthcare providers to publicly report detailed pricing data for services like inpatient care, emergency visits, and physician services. The Commission will set annual benchmarks for healthcare cost growth and hospital pricing, monitor entities exceeding these benchmarks, and may impose public transparency requirements or civil penalties for noncompliance. These provisions directly affect all New Jersey hospitals, health insurers, and healthcare providers by mandating transparency in pricing and cost reporting to promote affordability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's major transportation and economic authorities - including the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA - to actively consider and prioritize hiring minority and women employees, as well as awarding contracts to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Authorities must publish quarterly reports online detailing employee demographics (by gender, race, and ethnicity) and contractor diversity, including average salaries and contract values. The law defines "minority" broadly to include Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, and specifies that businesses owned by these groups must meet a 51% ownership threshold to qualify. If passed, these measures would directly affect hiring and contracting decisions across these agencies' operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds $10 million from the off-budget Universal Service Fund to the NJSHARES-S.M.A.R.T. Program for utility payment assistance in New Jersey's fiscal year 2026. It directly helps low-income homeowners and renters facing financial hardship by providing grants to cover past-due utility bills (arrearages) and ongoing payments. The program requires applicants not to receive duplicate benefits from private insurance or other existing aid programs. The funding supplements a prior $5 million General Fund appropriation for the same program, directing the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish quick-processing guidelines for eligible residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "Sikhism" to New Jersey's list of protected classes under the state's bias intimidation law (N.J.S.2C:16-1), explicitly including Sikhs in legal protections against hate crimes motivated by religious bias. It directly affects Sikh residents and community members who face discrimination or violence due to their religious identity, such as attacks targeting turbans, beards, or gurdwaras. The key mechanism amends the statute to cover offenses committed "because of their membership within a protected class," including Sikhism, and creates a legal presumption that bias was a motivating factor in such crimes. The bill also appropriates $100,000, likely for educational or support programs related to Sikh community awareness, though specific funding details aren't outlined in the text.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for New Jersey's Work First New Jersey Child Care program by $28 million in the FY2026 budget, raising its appropriation from $565.8 million to $593.8 million. It directly affects lower-income families who rely on child care subsidies to cover expenses, reversing actions taken in August 2025 that paused new applications and raised family copayments from 1-5% to 2-6% of income. The bill requires the state to resume accepting new applications and return to pre-August 2025 copayment rates (no higher than those in place on June 30, 2025). This funding adjustment addresses a projected shortfall identified by the Department of Human Services to ensure the program operates fully without suspending enrollment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires veterinarians to provide clear, written disclosures to pet owners before rabies testing on dead companion animals. It mandates that veterinarians give owners a standard notification form detailing testing reasons, body handling protocols, and disposal rules (including that heads may not be returned after testing), along with a pamphlet explaining rabies vaccines and testing procedures. The pamphlet must be provided to owners when a rabies vaccine is administered, and veterinarians must display a related poster in their offices. The law applies to pet owners and veterinarians, with penalties for non-compliance, while also establishing optional mental health training for veterinary staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Rider Advocacy Commission (with three appointed members) and the New Jersey Transit Office of Customer Advocate to directly represent NJ Transit riders' interests. The Office must analyze and report on proposed fare increases, service cuts, expansions, or major spending to NJ Transit's board, the Governor, and Legislature. It requires NJ Transit to share relevant documents with the Office for independent review before major changes. The Office collects public feedback through its website and monthly customer meetings, ensuring rider concerns directly inform transit decisions.