Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates approximately $77.4 million from dedicated tax revenues and Green Acres funds to the Department of Environmental Protection to support local governments in New Jersey. The money will be used to provide grants or loans for acquiring and developing land for recreation and conservation purposes, as well as for certain administrative expenses. Specific funding is designated for open space acquisition and planning projects in several municipalities, including Burlington, Gloucester, Livingston, Verona, West Orange, and Kingwood. The legislation defines eligibility based on population density and utilizes existing funds made available through interest earnings, loan repayments, and project cancellations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill temporarily increases the state child tax credit for residents with taxable income of $80,000 or less during the years 2026, 2027, and 2028. The legislation raises the credit amount for each child under the age of six, providing a $250 increase for families earning $30,000 or less and smaller increments for those earning up to $80,000. After these three years, the credit amounts will revert to their previous levels. The change applies to all filing statuses and allows the credit to be fully refunded if it exceeds the tax owed.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $358.81 million in funding for the 2026 state budget, directing money to various departments and local entities. The funds support specific initiatives such as domestic violence housing, school infrastructure, electric school bus programs, and subsidies for horse racing. It also allocates $40 million to help local governments cover expenses related to hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Furthermore, the legislation allows for greater flexibility in spending cannabis tax revenues and permits nonprofit organizations to host the state's AI supercomputer.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill mandates that health insurance plans and Medicaid cover medically necessary tests and FDA-approved treatments designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The law applies to hospital service, medical service, and health service corporation contracts, as well as individual and group health insurance policies issued or renewed in the state. A key provision ensures that these specific Alzheimer's treatments are not subject to step therapy requirements, meaning patients can access them without needing to try other medications first. Additionally, the coverage must be provided at the same level as benefits for other medical conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special license plates honoring the Borinqueneers, a nickname for the 65th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army. Vehicle owners can request these plates by submitting an application and paying a $50 fee, with an additional $10 annual renewal charge. The money collected from these fees will be placed in a dedicated state fund to support programs for Army veterans, while some initial costs for creating and advertising the plates will be covered by the Motor Vehicle Commission. The design and colors of the plates will be chosen by the Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special license plates for vehicles registered in the state that display "The Borinqueneers" along with imagery representing the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. Vehicle owners can apply for these plates by paying a $50 application fee and an additional $10 annual fee, which are deposited into a dedicated fund. The collected fees, after covering administrative costs, will be used to support programs benefiting veterans of the United States Army through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill also establishes procedures for designing the plates, managing the fund, and coordinating between relevant state agencies to implement the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows for-profit movie theaters in New Jersey to obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages on their premises. The license would permit the sale of alcohol during the two hours before a first-run movie screening and throughout the screening itself, subject to approval by the municipal governing board and the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Movie theaters must apply for this license annually and pay an initial fee of at least $210,000, which is reduced to $150,000 if 10 percent or more of the alcohol sold comes from local craft producers. The license is restricted to use only at the theater location and cannot be transferred to other premises.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2100) expands the authority of educational research and services corporations in New Jersey. It allows these corporations - formed by public universities, colleges, and state-aided institutions - to act as lead agencies for procuring *any* goods, services, or public works, not just educational technology systems as previously permitted. This change applies to all member institutions (including schools, counties, municipalities, and local authorities) that join these corporations. The bill modifies existing law to remove the prior restriction on procurement scope, while requiring compliance with all state and local procurement rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies protections for patients and providers accessing or offering legally permitted reproductive and gender-affirming health care in New Jersey. It prohibits obstructing or intimidating individuals at facilities providing these services - including blocking entrances, causing reasonable fear of harm, or threatening violence. The law defines "legally protected health care activity" to cover all such services lawful in New Jersey, regardless of a patient’s location, and applies to both in-state residents and out-of-state patients seeking care here. It expands existing safeguards by explicitly banning physical obstructions and threats at facilities offering these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a web-based tool and mobile app to help residents meet new work requirements for NJ FamilyCare and SNAP programs. It directs DHS to partner with the Governor's Office of Volunteerism to build a searchable database of approved volunteer opportunities that count toward the 80-hour monthly community service requirement for NJ FamilyCare (affecting 1.8 million recipients) and expanded SNAP work rules (affecting 425,000 households). The system will allow beneficiaries to find, register for, and document volunteer hours online, with annual audits to verify compliance. The law aims to prevent beneficiaries from losing coverage due to administrative hurdles under federal changes to these safety-net programs.