Asm. Gabe Rodriguez

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the requirement for landlords to provide receipts for cash rent payments to cover all residential landlords, removing previous exemptions for small-scale properties. It affects landlords renting single units or small multi-unit buildings (previously exempt if under two units or owner-occupied with three units), but excludes hotels, motels, and transient housing. The key change is broadening the definition of "landlord" to mandate written or emailed receipts showing payment details for all cash rent payments. This creates a uniform requirement for all residential rental agreements lasting at least one month, with penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that when a petition for a temporary extreme risk protective order (which can temporarily remove firearms from someone posing a danger) is filed against a law enforcement officer, the officer's employer must immediately forward the petition to the county prosecutor. The county prosecutor must then initiate an internal affairs investigation into the officer's conduct. This applies only to petitions filed under this specific law involving law enforcement officers, not to general internal affairs cases. It does not alter the standard process for these petitions or other types of investigations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A3436 creates a 15-member Task Force on Child Care Deserts within the Department of Children and Families. The task force will study areas where over two-thirds of children cannot access licensed child care (defined as "child care deserts") and examine factors like geographic access, family demographics, funding gaps, and infrastructure needs. It will review existing research and develop policy recommendations for eliminating these deserts. The task force must issue a report to the Governor and Legislature within six months of organizing, with the group dissolving 30 days after the report is issued. This bill directly affects families in underserved urban and rural communities lacking child care options.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1977) modifies retirement benefits and salaries for New Jersey prosecutors and judges. It allows county prosecutors to count judicial clerk service (as a law clerk to a judge) toward retirement credits in the state retirement system without additional cost, and increases the annual salary for county prosecutors to $204,166.50 starting January 1, 2024. It also raises the salary of the Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division to $218,545.82 and permits retired judges to receive their pension while serving as county prosecutor. The bill is pending before the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 481) upgrades penalties for cyber-harassment targeting public servants or their family members, raising it from a fourth-degree to a third-degree crime. It also establishes the Office of Cyber-Harassment Support within the Department of Law and Public Safety to provide victim assistance, develop educational programs, and coordinate with law enforcement and schools on cyber-harassment prevention. Key provisions include creating accessible reporting systems for victims, requiring school-based cyber ethics education, and collaborating with social media platforms to address harmful content. Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, after being superseded by enacted legislation (P.L.2025, c.303).

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes the New Jersey Council of County Colleges' role in state funding and strategic planning. It requires the Council to submit an annual unified budget request to the Governor and Legislature, establish a performance-based funding formula (capping state operational support at 43% of colleges' base-year costs), and develop a strategic plan aligned with state priorities. The Council must also advise state agencies on higher education policy, promote equitable funding, and enhance data sharing for student success initiatives. Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was superseded by P.L.2025, c.371.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3716) requires rental car companies to provide renters with clear notice about deleting personal data from a vehicle's computer system when returning the car. The notice - required to be posted at return locations, on company websites, or in rental agreements - must advise renters to unpair personal devices and delete information like navigation history, phone data, or garage codes. Rental companies failing to comply face civil penalties of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat violations, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law directly affects rental car businesses and renters in New Jersey, aiming to protect personal data stored in vehicle systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students not enrolled in public schools (including homeschooled students, charter school students, county vocational students, and nonpublic school students) to participate in interscholastic sports in their district of residence, provided they meet the same eligibility standards as public school students. To qualify, students must prove district residency, meet all athletic requirements (like physicals and academic standards), and demonstrate they receive an academically equivalent education. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association resolves eligibility disputes, and the Department of Education will create guidelines for verifying academic equivalency. Students previously ineligible for athletics when leaving a public school remain ineligible under this bill.

Maddy summaryAJR 46 designates the first week of May each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week" in New Jersey. The bill requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the week with activities promoting awareness. This procedural resolution does not create new programs or funding but formally recognizes the week to support existing efforts addressing children's mental health. It directly affects New Jersey state officials and the public through the Governor's annual proclamation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey counties and municipalities to dedicate at least 50% of cash payments exceeding $100,000 from community benefits agreements toward affordable housing. It directly affects local governments entering such agreements with developers for commercial or residential projects, mandating that half the payment fund low- or moderate-income housing as defined by existing law. Community benefits agreements - binding deals where developers pay for community benefits in exchange for project approvals - must now allocate these funds specifically to housing creation or rehabilitation. The bill applies to all such agreements entered after its effective date, redirecting developer payments toward addressing local housing needs. It does not create new housing programs but ensures a portion of existing developer payments supports affordable housing.