Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryS 4476 permits New Jersey school boards to award preschool education service contracts (for licensed childcare providers or Head Start programs receiving state preschool aid) without public bidding, using a board resolution instead. It extends the maximum contract term for these services from 24 months to three years. This change applies only to preschool programs funded through state preschool education aid, simplifying the contracting process for early childhood education providers.

Maddy summaryS 4162 limits how New Jersey public and charter schools can use or share personal information from waiver forms students or parents submit to avoid completing financial aid applications for high school diplomas. The bill requires waiver forms to collect only minimal contact details (name, phone, email, date, and signature) and prohibits schools from disclosing this information without consent, in line with federal student privacy laws like FERPA. Schools must include clear disclosure notices on all waiver forms, whether created by the Department of Education or the school. This applies to students in the 2023-2024 grade 11 class through the 2025-2026 school year, and covers waivers submitted before the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and certain nonpublic schools to offer parents a no-fee option for paying school meals, field trips, activity fees, and other school-related costs. It mandates that payment platforms used by schools must clearly disclose all fees, average annual user costs, and the availability of the no-fee alternative. Schools must include this fee information and the no-fee option in all payment requests sent to parents. The law applies to all school districts and charter schools, taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3787) changes how 5% of annual service charges from urban renewal entities is transmitted to counties under New Jersey's Long Term Tax Exemption Law. It requires municipal tax collectors, not municipalities, to directly send this amount to county chief financial officers within seven days of receiving the payments. These annual service charges are payments in lieu of taxes for tax-exempt development projects. The bill affects municipalities, urban renewal entities, and counties involved in long-term tax exemption agreements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4194 prohibits public works contractors from bidding on state projects if any member of their cooperative entity failed to pay prevailing wages. Specifically, it extends the existing three-year ban on wage violators to entire cooperatives (defined as collective ownership structures where members control operations), preventing them from securing public contracts if one member is listed for nonpayment. The law requires public bodies to verify contractors against a commissioner's list of wage violators before awarding contracts, with broad definitions covering ownership ties, shared resources, or business relationships. This directly affects cooperative businesses in construction and related fields bidding on state-funded projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers and contractors working on projects for New Jersey public bodies (such as state agencies, local governments, schools, or publicly funded projects) to register with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) and submit certified payroll records. It expands current requirements by applying to all work for public bodies - not just projects subject to prevailing wage laws - covering construction, maintenance, repairs, and other work paid for with public funds or financial assistance. Employers must provide these records within 10 days of a request; failure to comply allows DOLWD to direct public bodies to withhold up to 25% of payment (capped at $100,000) until records are submitted. The bill directly affects contractors and employers performing work for public entities, ensuring transparency in wage reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for nonprofit theater liquor licenses in New Jersey to include tax-exempt "disregarded entities" (like single-member LLCs treated as part of a parent nonprofit for tax purposes). It specifically allows community theaters operating as 501(c)(3) nonprofits to obtain licenses for venues with 50-1,000 seats (smaller theaters) or 1,000+ seats (larger theaters), including their tax-exempt subsidiaries. The licenses permit alcohol sales during two hours before, during, and two hours after performances (with a 15-performance annual limit for smaller venues), but do not count toward other license caps. This directly affects nonprofit theaters seeking to serve alcohol during events without needing separate licenses for subsidiary entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools to follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2012 nutrition standards for school meals, which limit calories, fat, and sodium while increasing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nonfat milk. It directly affects public schools serving federally subsidized breakfasts and lunches to roughly 32 million students nationwide. The standards aim to combat childhood obesity - New Jersey's child obesity rate is 14.8%, the 28th highest nationally - by maintaining stricter dietary requirements than USDA's recent proposed relaxations. The bill mandates compliance with these 2012 standards or any stricter future standards, effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 18-member Chronic Absenteeism Task Force to study chronic absenteeism in New Jersey public schools. The task force, composed of the Commissioner of Education, appointed public members representing education stakeholders, and legislative leaders, will analyze causes like mental health, school climate, pandemic impacts, and discipline policies. It must research state and national solutions and develop recommendations for school districts to improve attendance within six months. The task force will report to the Governor and Legislature before expiring 30 days after submitting its final findings. This procedural bill creates a study group but does not directly change attendance laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year pilot program to support new school supervisors in New Jersey. It directly affects first-year certified supervisors (called "novice supervisors" in the bill) who guide teaching staff, requiring them to participate in a mentorship program. The program mandates 15+ hours of annual mentoring with trained mentors, plus additional professional development, administered by a nonprofit partner under the Commissioner of Education's oversight. The state appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to cover program costs. A final report on the program's effectiveness will be submitted to the Governor and Legislature after the pilot ends.