Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 15-member Core Curriculum Content Standards Advisory Council to review and update New Jersey's K-12 education standards. The council, including educators, higher education experts, business representatives, parents, and students, will create subject-specific subcommittees to assess current standards. Each subcommittee must research best practices, gather public feedback via surveys and hearings, and propose revisions - ensuring transparency through 60-day comment periods and public posting. The revised standards then go to the State Board of Education for adoption, directly affecting public school curricula, school districts, and students across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows defendants on probation or suspended sentences to earn earlier release by complying with court conditions. For every full month of compliance, their sentence is reduced by 30 days, with courts reviewing eligibility every six months. However, individuals convicted of specific serious offenses - including certain sex crimes against minors, child endangerment, or kidnapping - remain ineligible for these reductions. The bill also requires the state to track recidivism rates to assess how this policy affects reoffending. It amends New Jersey's criminal sentencing laws (N.J.S.2C:45-2 and 2C:45-3) to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 12-member "Substance Use Disorder and Addiction Treatment Best Practices Task Force" within New Jersey's Department of Health. The task force will study whether oversight of addiction treatment services should be consolidated under one agency or improved through better coordination, develop best practices for treatment centers and sober homes, and recommend regulations for dual ownership of these facilities. It includes government officials, agency representatives, and public members (including treatment center managers and sober home owners) and must submit findings to the Governor and Legislature within two years. The task force aims to address fragmentation in New Jersey's current system, which involves multiple departments overseeing different aspects of addiction treatment and has faced issues like fraud and inefficiency.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits transportation network companies (like Uber or Lyft) from using surge pricing during declared states of emergency, such as natural disasters. It bans any fare increase exceeding twice the normal rate for rides during these emergencies. The law applies to all prearranged rides booked through digital platforms and requires companies to disclose standard fares to riders beforehand. This directly protects riders from price spikes when they need transportation most during crises.

Maddy summaryAJR 91 is a New Jersey joint resolution urging Congress to call a constitutional convention to consider amending the U.S. Constitution to protect reproductive health care rights. It specifically seeks a nationwide standard for rights including access to contraception, abortion, and pregnancy decisions, rather than state-by-state laws. The resolution does not create new laws or directly affect anyone - it is a procedural request to Congress, citing the Dobbs decision as a reason for federal action. It emphasizes that a constitutional amendment, if ratified by 3/4 of states, would ensure consistent access to reproductive care across all states. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program within the Department of Human Services, appropriating $3 million to increase access to fresh produce for SNAP participants. It directly affects food-insecure individuals (including 175,830 children) with limited incomes by providing financial incentives and cash-value vouchers to purchase approved fruits and vegetables at authorized retailers like farmers markets and grocery stores. Key mechanisms include SNAP-enrolled participants receiving discounts at participating stores, health professionals distributing vouchers to food-insecure individuals, and collaboration with agencies like the Department of Agriculture. The program aims to address low fruit/vegetable consumption among SNAP users while supporting local agriculture and retailers in high-need communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to conduct a standardized danger assessment for individuals they reasonably believe are victims of domestic violence. The assessment, using a tool approved by the Attorney General, evaluates risk factors like recent violence, injuries, and weapon use to determine if a victim faces elevated risk of serious harm. If the assessment indicates high risk, officers must inform the victim and, with consent, connect them to crisis services or domestic violence support. The bill directly affects domestic violence victims, law enforcement officers, and service providers, focusing on immediate risk identification and assistance. It does not alter existing legal definitions or penalties but mandates specific protocols for officer response.

Maddy summaryThis bill caps residential rental application fees at $50 for most properties, prohibiting landlords or agents from charging more. Landlords violating this limit face a $1,500 penalty per offense, with $250 of each penalty returned to the tenant. The $50 cap automatically adjusts annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the New York-Northern New Jersey area if inflation exceeds zero, and the fee limit does not apply to single-family or two-family homes. The bill also requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to create an online system for tenants to report violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 430) requires that only registered design professionals (like architects or engineers) or employees certified by the state as fire escape contractors may install, service, repair, inspect, or maintain fire escapes in New Jersey. It directly affects contractors working on fire escapes and building owners requiring these services. The key provision creates a certification requirement for fire escape contractors, enforced by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, to ensure qualified personnel handle these critical safety systems. The bill does not apply to other fire protection equipment like sprinklers or alarms.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2535) requires New Jersey's next Educational Adequacy Report (due September 1, 2025) to include two new consultation steps. It mandates the Governor and Commissioner of Education to: (1) engage diverse stakeholders (school staff, students, parents, community members) to identify unfunded school resources, and (2) commission school finance experts to recommend updates to funding methodology. These changes will directly affect how state school funding is calculated for all districts, including base per-pupil amounts, special education costs, preschool funding, and transportation aid. The bill does not change current funding formulas but requires the next report to incorporate stakeholder input and expert analysis before updates are finalized. The bill is pending before the Assembly Education Committee.