Asm. Gabe Rodriguez

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipal recreation departments and nonprofit youth organizations (like Little Leagues, soccer clubs, and police athletic leagues) to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) available on-site at all youth athletic events and practices held on public fields. It applies to events organized, sponsored, or affiliated with these entities on municipal, county, school, or publicly-owned fields, effective September 1, 2020. Organizations can comply by either having an AED on-site or ensuring a certified first responder with an AED is present. The bill also grants liability protection to these organizations and their staff for acquiring and using AEDs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3310) requires New Jersey counties and municipalities to dedicate at least 50% of cash payments exceeding $100,000 received through community benefit agreements to affordable housing. It directly affects local governments entering such agreements with developers for commercial or residential projects, mandating that half the funds support the creation or rehabilitation of low- or moderate-income housing as defined in existing law. The bill defines a "community benefit agreement" as a binding deal where developers pay for community resources (like housing or infrastructure) in exchange for local approval of their project. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, ensuring a significant portion of developer-funded community benefits directly addresses housing affordability needs.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A593 requires every public school to employ at least two full-time certified mental health professionals (licensed school counselors or psychologists) on staff. For schools with over 500 students, districts must add additional staff proportional to enrollment. This applies to all public school districts statewide, beginning with the first full school year after the law takes effect. The bill directly affects school boards and administrators by mandating specific staffing levels for student mental health support.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program, which provides eligible New Jersey high school graduates with student loans to cover education costs in exchange for five years of full-time teaching in the state's public schools. To qualify, applicants must be NJ residents, graduate from a NJ high school, exhaust other grants/scholarships first, and maintain academic standing. Participants receive up to $40,000 in undergraduate loans and $10,000 in graduate loans, with the state redeeming up to $10,000 per year of service - capping at $50,000 total - after completing their teaching commitment. The program aims to recruit high-achieving students into teaching careers while addressing educator shortages.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A592) requires every public school in New Jersey to have at least one full-time school social worker employed by the local school board. Schools with over 500 students must add additional social workers proportionally based on enrollment. It applies to all New Jersey public school districts and takes effect for the first full school year after enactment. The law defines a "school social worker" as a certified professional holding a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with the required endorsement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 1-year pilot program in New Jersey to study how credit scores affect rental payment behavior among low-income tenants. It targets 1,000 randomly selected households already receiving rental assistance through the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) or Section 8, who have completed approved credit counseling. The program guarantees landlords payment for tenant defaults (rent, damages, fees) within 30 days, requiring tenants to repay the amount within 90 days to replenish the fund. The $10 million appropriation creates a dedicated "Guaranteed Rental Payment Fund" to cover these reimbursements while tracking default rates by credit score tier.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on the history and contributions of Indigenous people in Social Studies classes for all students from kindergarten through 12th grade. School boards must adopt policies for selecting instructional materials that accurately represent the cultural diversity of Indigenous communities. The New Jersey Commission on American Indian Affairs will provide guidance and support to school districts in implementing these requirements. The law takes effect immediately for the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3296) requires the New Jersey Law Revision Commission (NJLRC) to specifically identify statutes containing racially discriminatory language as part of its ongoing review of state laws. The NJLRC, which already examines statutes for defects, anachronisms, and redundancies, must now add racial discrimination to its review criteria and propose amendments or repeals for affected laws. This change builds on the commission's existing statutory duty to simplify and modernize New Jersey's legal code to better serve current social needs and ensure equitable justice. The bill does not amend specific statutes but directs the commission to identify problematic language within the existing legal code.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct a study examining whether disparities exist in the use of minority-owned and women-owned businesses when state agencies purchase goods and services. The study will assess if these businesses are utilized at rates matching their availability in the market, focusing on all state agencies, including departments, commissions, and independent authorities. After completing the study, the officer must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to promote greater opportunities for these businesses in state procurement. The officer will also submit follow-up reports every four years to evaluate progress on prior recommendations and request funding for future studies if needed.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act requires legal firearm owners to store unloaded firearms in a locked container with ammunition stored separately when not in use, applying to most owners except active law enforcement officers (when minors are present), temporary transfers, and firearms on display for sale. Retail dealers must provide written warnings and post signs about safe storage requirements to customers. The bill appropriates $500,000 for a public awareness campaign about safe storage risks and requires the Attorney General to collect data on implementation and submit annual reports to the Legislature. This replaces previous laws specifically addressing minors' access to firearms with broader safe storage requirements for all firearm owners.