Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis bill adds licensed land surveyors and land surveying businesses to the list of professionals who may access unredacted property records under Daniel's Law. Specifically, it allows professional land surveyors (as defined in New Jersey law) and their firms to receive unredacted property addresses when requested in their ordinary business operations. The exemption applies to documents like deeds and tax maps that would otherwise have home addresses redacted for privacy. This change ensures land surveyors can perform their duties without unnecessary redaction, aligning with existing exceptions for title companies and real estate professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's "Food is Medicine NJ Pilot Program" within the Department of Human Services, targeting Medicaid recipients with specific chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure, renal disease, cancer, or obesity-related illnesses. It provides medically tailored meals to up to 3,000 high-risk participants and produce prescriptions with nutrition education to 7,000 at-risk participants, funded by a $5 million state appropriation. The program will be evaluated by a third party to measure reductions in hospitalizations, improvements in health metrics (like blood sugar and blood pressure), and Medicaid cost savings. Results will be reported to the Governor and Legislature after 18 months and at the program's conclusion, with the pilot expiring 30 days after the final report.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits manufacturers and sellers from intentionally adding carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, flame-resistant chemicals, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to synthetic hair products sold in New Jersey. It specifically targets products made from artificial fibers like polyester, nylon, acrylic, or cellulose that mimic human hair. The ban covers chemicals identified by the World Health Organization, U.S. Health and Human Services, or Environmental Protection Agency as harmful, including those that emit VOCs during normal use. Violations carry fines up to $20,000 per offense, plus potential cease-and-desist orders and punitive damages.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most public and private 18-hole golf courses in New Jersey to maintain an automated external defibrillator (AED) and train staff in its use. It applies specifically to full-sized courses open to the public (excluding 9-hole, executive, par-3, driving ranges, or miniature golf facilities). Within one year of the law taking effect, course owners must acquire and store an AED in an accessible location, provide staff with CPR and AED training, and ensure at least one certified employee is on-site during business hours. Violations carry civil penalties starting at $250 for the first offense, with immunity from liability provided for courses that properly maintain the AED.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows married New Jersey taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse to claim the state's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) while filing as "married filing separately" - a status they often must use when living apart from an abusive spouse. Currently, married filers must file jointly to qualify for the EITC, but this bill exempts victims of domestic abuse from that requirement. To qualify, taxpayers must show they are living apart from their spouse, cannot file jointly due to abuse, and indicate this on their tax return. The change aligns New Jersey's program with federal rules that already permit this exception for domestic abuse victims.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program governance by expanding the State Health Benefits Commission to 11 members and eliminating the previous Plan Design Committee. It requires the program to offer exactly five health plans for employees and non-Medicare-eligible retirees, including a new "NJ Gold" plan that doesn't require salary-based employee contributions. The bill establishes an escalator system to adjust employee contribution rates based on premium cost trends, increasing rates if premiums rise significantly above inflation and decreasing them if premiums fall. Additionally, it mandates that local government employers must decide within one year whether to join the SHBP, with a two-year commitment if they choose to participate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create secure mobile driver's licenses and digital non-driver ID cards for residents who voluntarily request them. The digital versions will include all the same information as physical licenses, be accessible on smartphones or tablets, and allow users to update their motor vehicle records (like address changes) in real time, with updates overriding physical copies. The MVC must implement security features to prevent fraud and will be permitted to charge a reasonable fee for the service. The bill also explicitly allows drivers to display these digital IDs to police officers instead of physical cards, while protecting the privacy of other device contents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to provide parents or guardians of special education students with a hard copy of a draft Individualized Education Program (IEP) and a list of excused IEP team members at least two business days before annual IEP meetings. The draft IEP must clearly state "DRAFT" on every page, and the notice must explain that proposed programs/services are preliminary and invite parent input. It directly affects parents of students with IEPs, ensuring they have sufficient time to review recommendations before meetings. The bill aims to improve parent engagement by standardizing advance notice of draft IEPs, aligning with existing federal and state requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools and participating nonpublic schools in the federal school meal programs to follow the USDA's stricter 2012 nutrition standards for breakfast and lunch, rather than weaker standards recently proposed by the federal government. It mandates compliance with specific USDA requirements for whole grains, sodium limits, and milk offerings as published in federal regulations from 2012 (and any future stricter standards). The law directly affects schools serving federally subsidized meals, ensuring they maintain healthier meal options for students. It takes effect immediately for the 2024-2025 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey school districts to provide universal access to free full-day preschool for all 3- and 4-year-old children by a date determined by each district. It establishes preschool expansion aid to support districts that don't yet offer universal free preschool and mandates a "mixed delivery method" combining district programs, licensed child care providers, and Head Start programs. School districts must submit implementation plans by July 1, 2025, with a statewide strategic plan due by July 1, 2026. The bill also requires all school districts to offer full-day kindergarten, with possible waivers if sufficient preschool expansion aid funding exists.