Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program allowing New Jersey volunteer emergency responders (firefighters, first aid squad members, or emergency management volunteers) who have in-state undergraduate student loans to receive up to $6,000 in loan redemption. Participants must complete 500+ annual volunteer hours (or meet firefighter response/certification standards), be state residents, and provide proof of active service. The redemption pays $2,000 per year during the second, third, and fourth years of service after graduation, with no payment in the first year. It applies only to loans used for undergraduate study at New Jersey institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's major transportation and economic authorities - including the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA - to actively consider and prioritize hiring minority and women employees, as well as awarding contracts to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Authorities must publish quarterly reports online detailing employee demographics (by gender, race, and ethnicity) and contractor diversity, including average salaries and contract values. The law defines "minority" broadly to include Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, and specifies that businesses owned by these groups must meet a 51% ownership threshold to qualify. If passed, these measures would directly affect hiring and contracting decisions across these agencies' operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the statewide high school graduation proficiency test requirement for all New Jersey students. It directly affects every high school student in the state by removing a mandated test as a condition for earning a diploma. The key mechanism deletes references to the "Statewide proficiency test" from existing graduation statutes (including sections of P.L.1979, c.241), shifting responsibility to local school districts to set their own graduation standards. This change means students will no longer need to pass a state-administered test to graduate, though local districts must still establish and monitor proficiency requirements.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3352) requires courts to provide counseling services for children in domestic violence cases and establishes that custody must generally be awarded to the domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. It mandates courts to advise victims and children about counseling services, allows emergency protective orders including firearm restrictions, and ensures temporary orders can be issued quickly without the victim's physical presence. The bill directly affects domestic violence victims, their children, and courts handling family cases, focusing on immediate safety and long-term support. It amends existing law to prioritize victim safety and child welfare in custody determinations.

Maddy summaryBill A 2571 establishes New Jersey’s "Food is Medicine NJ Pilot Program" within the Department of Human Services (DHS), appropriating $5 million to provide nutrition services to Medicaid recipients. The program directly affects up to 10,000 high-risk Medicaid recipients: 3,000 with complex chronic conditions (like diabetes or heart failure) receive medically tailored meals, while 7,000 others at risk of diet-related illness get produce prescriptions and nutrition education. Key provisions require DHS to partner with healthcare providers and nonprofits to deliver these services, with a third-party evaluator measuring impacts on hospitalizations, health metrics (e.g., A1C levels), and Medicaid cost savings over three years. The pilot expires after the final evaluation report is submitted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utilities in New Jersey to obtain approval from the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) before starting new transmission lines or major modifications to existing ones. Utilities must submit applications including necessary details and pay a fee, with the BPU required to review and decide within 150 days (extendable by 75 days). The BPU must approve only if the project is necessary, cost-effective for customers, promotes a competitive electricity market, and the utility can finance it without harming customers. Projects already approved by the regional grid operator (PJM) are exempt from this requirement.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2625 requires non-state employers participating in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) or School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) to stay enrolled for a minimum of five consecutive years after initial enrollment. If an employer voluntarily leaves and later rejoins, each re-entry adds another five-year requirement, cumulatively extending the total enrollment period (e.g., 10 years after first re-entry). The bill also mandates annual public reporting of employer terminations, transparency about premium changes, and annual program performance reviews to maintain cost stability. These provisions directly affect private-sector employers participating in either health benefits program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most retail stores to disclose the portion of a product's price affected by tariffs (import taxes) on price tags, online listings, or receipts. It exempts small businesses with under $500,000 in annual revenue and products where tariffs contribute less than 2% to the final price. Retailers must undergo periodic audits for compliance, with fines up to $500 per violation for noncompliance. The state's consumer affairs director will develop specific rules for calculating and displaying tariff impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates court filing fees for individuals defending against consumer debt lawsuits in New Jersey's Superior Court. It directly affects people sued for personal, family, or household debt - including medical and credit debt - as defined by current law. The bill removes fees for filing basic responses like answers, counterclaims, or appearances in the Special Civil Part or Civil Part of court. This aims to reduce financial barriers that often prevent defendants from responding to small debt claims (typically under $10,000), which frequently result in default judgments without defense.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey school districts to establish tax relief trust funds via board resolution. School boards may accept donations (bequests, gifts, or legacies) into these funds, which must be used exclusively to reduce local property taxes for residents in the district. A non-school board trustee must be appointed to manage the fund, remit payments to the tax collector, and ensure funds directly offset the annual property tax levy. The trust fund rules require clear documentation of how tax reductions will be applied each year. This creates a new mechanism for districts to potentially lower property tax burdens through community contributions, without affecting state aid eligibility.