Asm. Carmen Morales

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a centralized electronic system in New Jersey to securely share health records between healthcare providers, correctional facilities, and reentry programs. It requires the New Jersey Health Information Technology Commission to build this infrastructure in consultation with the Department of Health and Department of Corrections. The system would allow patients to request their health information be shared across these different settings with their informed consent, while ensuring all data sharing complies with privacy laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires data center owners and operators in New Jersey to submit quarterly reports to the Board of Public Utilities detailing their water and energy consumption. The reports must include specific metrics such as total energy and water usage, power usage effectiveness, renewable energy factors, and sustainability indicators like waste heat reuse and air temperature settings. Data centers must provide this information within six months of the bill's effective date, or within three months if they have been operating for at least one year, and must continue submitting updates every three months thereafter. The legislation aims to increase transparency around resource usage at data centers by establishing standardized reporting requirements for facilities that store, manage, and process digital data.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Men's Health Commission within New Jersey's Department of Health to address the growing gap in life expectancy between men and women. The commission will consist of 25 members appointed by the Governor, Senate, and Assembly, as well as representatives from men's health organizations and individual applicants. Its main duties include developing awareness programs, researching health disparities among men, and creating strategies to improve men's health outcomes through community outreach and partnerships. The commission will meet at least four times per year and can request data from state agencies to support its work.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to create a Haitian Migrant Assistance Program for undocumented Haitian migrants who have lived in the state for at least two years. The program would provide financial aid, help with housing and public benefits applications, employment support including language training, legal referrals, and community orientation services. It specifically targets individuals of Haitian descent without legal immigration status and aims to offer practical assistance with settlement and integration. The legislation defines eligible recipients and outlines seven categories of support including cash assistance, vocational training, and information about local services and civic processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale, distribution, or manufacture of crayons and chalk intended for children under six years old if they contain lead. It requires manufacturers and distributors to immediately recall any affected products and mandates that retailers remove recalled items from display within 48 hours and return all inventory within 14 business days. Violations of the ban or recall requirements could result in criminal penalties ranging from fourth-degree crimes for first offenses to second-degree crimes for third or subsequent offenses. The law applies to products advertised as crayons or chalk designed for use by young children on paper, blackboards, or concrete surfaces.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts in New Jersey to offer one-time virtual or remote instruction to students attending public schools that are being used as polling places on April 16, 2026, for a special election. The measure permits districts to count this day of remote learning toward the state's 180-day school attendance requirement, which is normally only counted during declared emergencies. Districts must ensure students have access to necessary technology and follow existing virtual instruction guidelines approved by the state education commissioner. The superintendent of schools decides whether to implement the program and must notify parents, staff, and the school board of the decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires nursing homes in New Jersey to provide detailed financial and ownership information to the Department of Health before a sale or transfer of ownership occurs. The new requirements include submitting a transfer fee, a cover letter identifying the facility, a description of the transaction with full details on current and proposed owners, and copies of sales and management agreements. The Department of Health must post these applications on its website within 30 days while redacting personal and proprietary information, and the public will have an opportunity to comment on each transfer. Additionally, ownership transfer approval depends on the Department reviewing the new owners' disciplinary history and ensuring all outstanding Medicaid claims and penalties are resolved or assumed by the new owners.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to set aside at least 30% of their advertising budget for eligible local news organizations. The law defines eligible news organizations as those that produce original local content, maintain editorial independence, and meet specific operational and financial criteria. State agencies purchasing advertising must reserve this portion of their budget specifically for these qualifying local news outlets. The legislation aims to support local journalism by ensuring a steady stream of advertising revenue while maintaining the editorial freedom of news organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Skills Service Corps, a paid volunteer program for adults aged 18 and older that allows participants to earn industry-recognized credentials while working on state projects. Administered by the Office of Volunteerism in the Department of State, the program requires volunteers to commit at least 15 hours per month for up to two years in areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and community development, with priority given to residents of underserved communities. Eligible participants receive a monthly stipend determined by the program director and complete training and free certification upon finishing their service. The bill also establishes a dedicated fund to finance the program through state appropriations, federal grants, and private contributions, and includes an initial appropriation from the General Fund to launch the initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's County College Contracts Law to allow county colleges to disqualify bidders with prior negative experiences in previous contracts. It directly affects county colleges when awarding contracts for goods, services, or construction (excluding construction contracts), requiring them to consider a bidder's past performance. The key provision expands the definition of a "responsible bidder" to include excluding those with documented negative experiences, rather than solely focusing on lowest price. This change applies specifically to contracts under the County College Contracts Law (P.L.1982, c.189).