Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires food service businesses to clearly inform customers about major food allergens present in each menu item. Covered establishments, such as restaurants, cafés, and grocery stores, must display this information directly on menus, via digital codes linking to websites, or through separate written materials like charts and booklets. The law mandates that allergen notices use common names or approved standardized symbols and applies to both permanent and temporary menu items, while exempting prepackaged foods already regulated by federal labeling rules. Enforcement is handled by the Department of Health or local health boards, which can issue written notices and order corrective action if violations occur.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3523) reduces the number of members required to form a quorum for the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority (NJ EFA) board. Currently, a majority of the full 7-member board (4 members) is needed; the bill changes this to a majority of the *current* members present, but with a minimum of 3 members. This directly affects the NJ EFA board, which oversees state education facility financing and bonds. The change streamlines decision-making by allowing meetings to proceed with fewer members present, as long as at least 3 are in attendance.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2127) prohibits electric and gas public utilities in New Jersey from charging residential tenants in multi-unit dwellings (like apartments) a meter-reading fee that exceeds the actual cost of their electricity or gas usage for a billing cycle. It specifically targets fees charged to customers who have opted out of smart meter installation and require manual meter readings. The law sets a clear cap: utilities cannot charge more for manual readings than the customer’s regular utility usage cost. This applies directly to renters in shared housing who choose manual metering, ensuring fees align with actual consumption rather than arbitrary charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's NJBEST educational savings program to expand eligibility for matching grants. Taxpayers with gross income of $75,000 or less who open an NJBEST account will now qualify for a dollar-for-dollar match on **all initial deposits** (not just the first deposit), up to a total $750 grant. The change clarifies that all initial contributions to the account - within the $750 cap - will be matched, whereas current law only referenced "the initial deposit." It directly affects low-to-moderate-income New Jersey residents opening these accounts for education savings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's child abuse reporting hotline (maintained by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency) to provide callers with information about available resources for victims and their families. The hotline must now include details about community services such as counseling, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home support, foster care, and residential care. It directly affects families reporting or experiencing child abuse by connecting them to immediate support options. The policy change amends existing law to ensure victims and families are informed about these resources during hotline interactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to create and maintain a public online portal on its website. The portal must provide accessible, annual updates of non-confidential licensing data, including application counts, processing times, active license numbers by county, exam pass rates, and consumer complaint statistics. Users can sort this data by profession or license type and view year-over-year comparisons. All data shared must comply with existing open records laws and privacy protections, ensuring only publicly disclosable information is made available.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear standards for courts to determine if a rent increase is "unconscionable" (extremely unfair), directly affecting landlords and tenants in New Jersey. Courts must consider factors like the rent amount, landlord expenses, comparable local rents (including HUD data), tenant bargaining power, and property condition, with landlords bearing the burden of proof. It also excludes certain eviction court records from public access - specifically dismissed cases and cases where possession was granted over seven years ago - while exempting rent-controlled properties or regulated housing programs. The law codifies existing court practices to provide consistent, objective criteria for rent disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2762) expands New Jersey's Jersey Fresh Program to officially include marketing and promotion of locally produced liquor, beer, and wine. It directs the Department of Agriculture to develop a quality grading system for these products - similar to its existing system for fruits and vegetables - and appropriates $100,000 annually from the General Fund to fund this promotion. The program will specifically target alcoholic products made from agricultural commodities grown in New Jersey, such as grapes for wine or grains for beer. This change formally adds alcohol products to the Jersey Fresh branding and marketing efforts, which previously focused on non-alcoholic agricultural goods.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense for creating, sharing, or possessing digital content depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children - including computer-generated or manipulated images that appear to show minors. It specifically targets items where a child (under 18) is identifiable by face, likeness, or distinguishing features, or where a person is manipulated to look like a minor ("purported child"). The law prohibits distributing such content via the internet or file-sharing programs, and makes possessing it with intent to share a crime. It directly affects individuals who produce, distribute, or share these materials online, regardless of whether the child is real or digitally altered.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how out-of-state colleges and universities must apply to operate in New Jersey by requiring them to submit detailed petitions to the Secretary of Higher Education. Institutions seeking licensure must provide extensive documentation including accreditation status, financial records, faculty qualifications, and an impact analysis showing how their programs will affect existing New Jersey schools and clinical training sites. The process includes a public comment period, review by the New Jersey Presidents' Council, and final approval decisions based on whether the institution meets state standards and does not negatively impact local higher education resources.