Asm. Katie Brennan

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement to join a national or multi-state self-exclusion program for casino gambling. It enables individuals who want to voluntarily ban themselves from casinos to use a single form to exclude themselves across multiple states, rather than submitting separate requests to each state. The bill requires the division to create forms and procedures ensuring people can select which states they want excluded from, and explicitly prohibits sharing their personal information without their direct consent. This directly affects gamblers seeking to self-exclude from casinos in multiple jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects funds previously set aside for widening the New Jersey Turnpike (a project canceled in 2025) to expand the Hudson Bergen Light Rail. Within three months of the bill's effective date, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority must transfer these funds to the state’s General Fund, and the New Jersey Transit Corporation must use them exclusively for Hudson Bergen Light Rail operations. The bill directly affects NJ Transit’s funding for rail service and riders in Hudson and Bergen counties who rely on this system. It makes no new policy changes but reallocates existing funds to prioritize light rail expansion over the canceled turnpike project.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A1698) allows eligible voters to register to vote on election day or during early voting at their assigned polling place or early voting site, provided they meet specific requirements. It directly affects voters who missed the standard 21-day registration deadline before an election. Key provisions require voters to provide valid ID (like a utility bill or photo ID), complete a provisional ballot affirmation statement confirming they haven't voted already, and submit the registration in person. The bill updates existing law to make same-day registration at polling locations a standard option, ensuring provisional ballots from eligible voters are counted if all requirements are met.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A-3989 prohibits landlords from using or purchasing algorithmic software that sets, recommends, or advises on residential rent prices or occupancy rates. It specifically bans tools analyzing non-public competitor data (like actual rent prices or lease details from other landlords) to coordinate pricing, including AI-based systems. The bill exempts aggregated rental reports published by trade associations and tools used for government affordable housing programs. Violations trigger penalties under New Jersey's Antitrust Act, such as fines up to $500 per day per unit or criminal charges, and do not restrict landlords from setting rents based on public data or internal management.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3119) extends New Jersey's child care subsidy law (P.L.2021, c.324) through June 2025, requiring licensed child care centers and registered family day care providers to base government payments on the number of enrolled children eligible for subsidies, not on daily attendance. It mandates that providers set staff wages and work hours based on enrollment numbers, not attendance, and requires the Department of Human Services to study enrollment-based versus attendance-based payment systems within three years. The law directly affects child care providers receiving state subsidies by changing how their funding is calculated and administered. The extension ensures continued stability for providers and families during the study period.

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 (A 1666) amends New Jersey law to allow people with certain past criminal convictions to serve on juries, removing an automatic disqualification. It directly affects individuals convicted of most serious crimes (indictable offenses) in New Jersey, other states, or federal court, provided they do not have a conviction for murder or aggravated sexual assault. The key change eliminates the automatic bar for these past convictions, though current incarceration for any serious offense still disqualifies someone. The bill maintains existing exceptions for murder (N.J.S.2C:11-3) and aggravated sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2), and does not apply to those currently serving prison sentences.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords and property management software companies from using algorithmic systems to coordinate rental prices across multiple properties. It defines a "coordinator" as any entity operating software that collects price data from multiple landlords, analyzes it with algorithms, and recommends rental rates or occupancy levels. The law makes it unlawful for landlords to subscribe to such services or for coordinators to facilitate price-fixing agreements that reduce competition. The bill addresses New Jersey's affordable housing crisis, where median rents for three-bedroom apartments rose 35% from 2021-2024 and over half of renters spend more than 30% of income on rent.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3323) amends New Jersey's child custody jurisdiction law to protect families seeking gender-affirming health care for children. It adds that a child's presence in New Jersey for gender-affirming care (as defined in pending legislation) satisfies the legal requirement for a court to have jurisdiction over custody matters. This means parents or guardians can seek custody decisions in New Jersey if a child is receiving necessary care here, without needing to prove other connections to the state. The bill does not change health care standards but addresses jurisdictional barriers for families traveling for treatment. The bill was introduced on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Assembly Health Committee.

Maddy summaryBill A 3492 sets requirements for New Jersey state and local governments when awarding contracts or grants to nonprofit organizations. It establishes a 15% maximum rate for covering overhead costs (like administrative expenses) on state or federal-funded contracts and creates a central database where nonprofits can submit required documents, such as tax-exempt status, financial statements, and organizational bylaws. The bill also mandates annual adjustments to contract amounts based on the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation and automatically extends contracts for three months if renewal isn't completed within 10 days of expiration.