Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to create a public awareness campaign about doulas. It mandates the campaign to explain doulas' roles before, during, and after pregnancy; detail their services and research-supported benefits; and list free or low-cost doula resources. The campaign must provide materials in the top 10 languages spoken in New Jersey, available online and distributed through health clinics, WIC offices, Planned Parenthood locations, pharmacies, and community organizations. The goal is to increase public understanding and access to doula services for pregnant and postpartum individuals statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill would enter New Jersey into the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, creating a multistate licensing system for cosmetologists. Under the compact, cosmetologists licensed in New Jersey would be able to practice in other participating states without needing separate licenses, provided they meet uniform requirements. The compact establishes a Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission to manage the system, share disciplinary information between states, and ensure public safety standards are maintained. This would reduce barriers for cosmetologists seeking work across state lines while maintaining regulatory oversight. The system requires member states to share information about licensees and disciplinary actions to protect public health and safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The program must develop public campaigns about symptoms, early detection, and safety; create accessible educational materials for health providers; and train emergency responders, judicial staff, and social services personnel. DHS must consult with the Alzheimer's Association and make materials available online in English and Spanish. The initiative is subject to available funding and aims to improve community understanding and response to Alzheimer's disease.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county colleges to disqualify bidders who have had prior negative experience with public institutions of higher education. County college boards of trustees may disqualify a bidder who would otherwise be the lowest responsible bidder or most advantageous bidder if they find the bidder failed to perform, defaulted on a contract, or was suspended from state contracting. The law requires colleges to provide written notice of potential disqualification, offer a hearing if requested, and consider mitigating factors before disqualifying a bidder for up to five years. This provision aims to help colleges avoid working with vendors who have previously provided unsatisfactory service.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits electric and gas utilities from charging residential customers in multi-unit dwellings (like apartments) a meter-reading fee that exceeds the actual cost of their electricity or gas usage for the billing period. It specifically targets fees charged to customers who opted out of smart meter installation and require manual meter readings. Utilities must cap these fees at the precise cost of the customer's usage, preventing overcharging for manual reading services. The law applies immediately upon enactment and defines key terms like "meter-reading fee" and "smart meter" in the bill text.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 17-member Chronic Absenteeism Task Force to study chronic absenteeism in New Jersey public schools. The task force, including the Commissioner of Education and members appointed by legislative leaders and education stakeholders, will analyze causes like barriers to attendance, mental health impacts, and pandemic-related absences. It must issue a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year, after which the task force will expire. The bill does not change school policies or funding but creates a structured process to assess and address absenteeism trends.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3041 prohibits cooperatives from receiving public works contracts if any member contractor or subcontractor within the cooperative has failed to pay prevailing wages. The bill extends a three-year ban (currently applied to individual contractors) to cover entire cooperatives, meaning a cooperative cannot win contracts if one of its members violates wage laws. It defines a "cooperative" as a business with collective ownership and long-term member control, and includes a process for affected cooperatives to request a hearing if they believe the ban is wrongly applied. The prohibition applies to all cooperative entities with a member on the prevailing wage violation list, lasting three years from the date of listing.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new safety requirements for railroad operations in New Jersey. It requires at least two crew members on dangerous hazardous trains (transporting large quantities of hazardous materials) with specific exceptions, prohibits trains longer than 8,500 feet on main and branch lines, and mandates railroad companies to submit federally required bridge inspection reports to state officials. The bill also requires railroad companies to install and maintain wayside detector systems to identify defects, with oversight by the Board of Public Utilities and Department of Transportation. Violations of the train length limit could result in civil penalties of $500-$1,000 per foot exceeding the limit, up to $250,000 for gross negligence or repeated violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to create a public awareness campaign about doulas. It mandates the campaign to explain doulas' role before, during, and after pregnancy; describe their services and benefits; and list free or low-cost resources for doula care. The campaign must develop materials in the top 10 languages spoken in New Jersey and distribute them online and through health clinics, WIC offices, Planned Parenthood, pharmacies, and community organizations. The bill directly affects residents seeking maternal care by improving access to information about doula services, without changing healthcare eligibility or funding.

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, done with the victim's consent using an evidence-based tool approved by the Attorney General, evaluates risk factors like recent violence, injuries, and firearm use to determine if the victim faces elevated risk of serious harm. If the assessment indicates high risk, officers must inform the victim and, with consent, immediately connect them to domestic crisis teams or other support services. The bill also mandates training for officers and judges on conducting these assessments and responding to high-risk cases.