Asm. Mike Venezia

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mortgage lenders in New Jersey to provide homeowners facing foreclosure with detailed written notices that include specific information about free housing counseling services. The notice must clearly explain the homeowner's right to access free counseling through the Foreclosure Mediation Program and list resources like the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. It mandates that notices include contact details for local legal aid, the municipal affordable housing liaison (if applicable), and programs offering financial assistance to cure defaults. The law directly affects residential mortgage debtors and lenders, ensuring homeowners receive timely guidance to potentially avoid losing their homes. These changes amend existing foreclosure procedures under P.L.1995, c.244 and P.L.2019, c.64.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's "Safe Storage of Firearms Act" (Bill A 3560) requires all legal firearm owners to store unloaded firearms in locked containers (like gun safes) and keep ammunition separate at their homes or premises. It repeals older laws about minors accessing firearms and mandates a $500,000 public awareness campaign by the Attorney General. Retail dealers must provide written warnings about these storage rules to customers, and courts must inform convicted violators about firearm ownership restrictions. The law directly affects firearm owners, with exceptions for active law enforcement officers and certain retail displays.

Maddy summaryBill A 2750 establishes New Jersey's Tuition Reimbursement Program for Special Education Teachers, directly affecting current or prospective special education teachers in New Jersey public schools. The program reimburses eligible tuition costs for approved master's programs or graduate coursework in special education (leading to NJ certification), up to 100% of expenses, in exchange for a four-year teaching commitment in a NJ public school after completing the program. To qualify, participants must be NJ residents, hold a valid teaching certificate, enroll in an approved program, and agree to teach special education for four years. Failure to complete the service term or meet performance standards (like maintaining certification or residency) requires full repayment of the reimbursement to the state.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Caregiver's Assistance Act creates a tax credit for residents who pay for care of elderly relatives. Caregivers with income under $100,000 (or $50,000 for certain filers) can get 22.5% back on up to $3,000 annually in qualified care costs. Eligible expenses include home health services, adult day care, home modifications, and personal care assistance for qualifying seniors aged 60+ (or 50+ with disability) who meet income requirements. The credit does not apply to costs covered by insurance or government programs, and it's in addition to existing dependent deductions.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "New Jersey Health Care and Privacy Protection Act," prohibits businesses from disclosing precise geolocation data (like GPS coordinates within 1,750 feet) of individuals near reproductive health care facilities. It directly affects businesses that collect location data (e.g., apps, services) and patients seeking reproductive health care, including abortion, contraception, and pregnancy testing services. The key provision bans the sharing of such location data when individuals are near these facilities, while excluding public records or communication content. The law aims to protect patient privacy by preventing location tracking from being used to identify or target people accessing these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to provide onboard Wi-Fi service on all passenger trains it owns or operates within six months of the law taking effect. It directly affects NJT as the implementing entity and all passengers traveling on NJT rail services. The key provision mandates that every rail passenger vehicle must have Wi-Fi, expanding beyond NJT’s current station-based Wi-Fi hotspots. The law takes effect immediately upon approval.

Maddy summaryAJR 18 is a non-binding New Jersey joint resolution urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to study hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a potential treatment for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI). It does not create new programs or funding but requests the VA conduct research on HBOT's efficacy, referencing existing VA pilot programs and prior evidence reviews. The resolution directly addresses the VA, not veterans or healthcare providers, and focuses on gathering evidence to inform future treatment options. It was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly's Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain New Jersey school districts (specifically those in second-class cities ordered by the Supreme Court to address segregation) to provide transportation - such as bus services or equivalent assistance - to elementary students living more than 2 miles and secondary students living more than 2.5 miles from their chosen school. Sending districts (the districts students attend from) receive state transportation funding, which they must pay directly to the choice district. If the choice district’s actual transportation costs exceed this state funding, it can receive supplemental state aid after demonstrating cost-efficient routing (like centralized pick-ups). The choice district must annually report cost differences to the Department of Education for reimbursement.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax incentives for New Jersey residents with disabilities to save for disability-related expenses through ABLE accounts. It provides a one-time $750 dollar-for-dollar matching grant for initial deposits into a New Jersey ABLE account (for taxpayers earning $150,000 or less annually) and allows a state tax deduction for all contributions to these accounts. The matching funds are subject to annual state budget approval, with the Department of Human Services determining allocation if funding is insufficient. The program expands New Jersey’s existing ABLE program, which allows tax-advantaged savings for expenses like housing, education, and assistive technology, without affecting Medicaid eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3343) requires all teacher certification candidates who complete an approved educator preparation program to complete a mandatory anti-racism training course starting with the 2022-2023 school year. It also requires alternate route certification seekers to complete the training within one year of being hired. The training must cover recognizing diversity's role in teaching, developing racial literacy, examining personal biases, and understanding how race affects school decisions like grading and discipline. Educator programs must update their curricula to include this training and share syllabi and required texts online, though the state does not approve these materials. The bill directly affects all new teachers seeking certification in New Jersey.