Asm. Mike Venezia

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill amends state law to officially include accounting as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subject for educational programs. It updates two existing statutes - specifically P.L.2021, c.76 and P.L.2021, c.239 - to add "accounting" to the definition of STEM fields. This change expands eligibility for state-funded initiatives supporting underrepresented students (such as women and minorities) in higher education recruitment and K-12 outreach programs focused on STEM careers. The bill does not create new programs but adjusts statutory language to ensure accounting degrees and careers qualify for existing STEM-related support.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 794) allows distressed New Jersey municipalities (those with a revitalization index score of 50 or higher) to acquire vacant, abandoned, or tax-delinquent properties by either paying the owner the fair market value or using eminent domain. It replaces older, more cumbersome processes like tax foreclosure with simpler methods, while permitting municipalities to deduct unpaid taxes and liens from the payment amount. Properties are defined as "abandoned" if at least four specific conditions exist (e.g., overgrown vegetation, disconnected utilities, or boarded windows), but exclude properties under active renovation or seasonal use. The law directly affects distressed municipalities seeking to revitalize blighted properties and property owners of abandoned real estate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies to assess substance and alcohol use disorder treatment providers for conflicts of interest before approving state funding, licensure, or certification. Providers must submit detailed financial information, board member details, and lists of stakeholders with financial ties. If a conflict is identified that could affect care quality, the provider has 90 days to resolve it or risk losing funding/approval. After resolution, providers must undergo two additional conflict assessments within the next year. The law applies to all licensed or certifying state entities and defines conflicts as situations where outside financial interests might influence treatment decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to display a person's full legal name - including Roman numerals - on specific driver's licenses, permits, and identification cards. It directly affects residents whose legal names (as recorded on birth certificates) include Roman numerals (e.g., "John Smith III"). The MVC must display these names upon receiving standard documentation proving identity, age, and residence, as already required for license issuance. The policy applies to all standard licenses, REAL ID cards, and commercial driver's licenses, ensuring official documents reflect legally recognized names.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits companies from advertising generative artificial intelligence as capable of practicing regulated professions or occupations such as law, medicine, or accounting. The law applies to any person or entity developing or deploying AI systems in the state that generate text, audio, or visual outputs with minimal human oversight. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud offenses, subjecting violators to fines up to $10,000 for first offenses and $20,000 for subsequent ones, along with potential cease and desist orders. The legislation aims to prevent misleading public representations about AI capabilities while maintaining oversight of licensed professions.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase the gross income tax rate for individuals in New Jersey whose taxable income exceeds $2,000,000. It directly affects high-income earners by amending the state tax code to apply a higher percentage to income above this specific threshold. The legislation would modify the existing tax tables to ensure that only the portion of income surpassing $2 million is taxed at the new, elevated rate. This change aims to generate additional revenue from the wealthiest taxpayers while leaving tax rates for lower and middle-income earners unchanged.

Maddy summaryBill A 2733 requires emergency departments in New Jersey general hospitals to provide parents or guardians of children experiencing mental health crises with contact information for nearby county-based care management organizations (CMOs). These CMOs are defined as nonprofit groups offering in-person support for youth with complex needs and their families. The bill mandates that hospitals share this specific information during emergency visits, directly affecting parents/guardians, emergency departments, and CMOs. It takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and insurance carriers to increase transparency and fairness in prescription drug coverage. It requires carriers and PBMs to establish pharmacy and therapeutics committees with strict conflict-of-interest rules, prohibits commission-based PBM compensation (mandating flat fees instead), and mandates detailed reporting of PBM fees for insurance filings. The law directly affects insurers, PBMs, and pharmacies by changing how drug formularies (approved drug lists) are managed and how PBM costs are calculated and disclosed. Key provisions include banning preferential formulary placement for higher-cost drugs over lower-cost generics/biosimilars and requiring actuarial documentation for PBM compensation. The bill aims to reduce patient cost-sharing and ensure PBM compensation aligns with administrative costs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3256) requires restaurants to clearly disclose any mandatory gratuity fee to customers. It mandates that the fee be visible on menus, at the restaurant entrance, on the customer's bill, and on the restaurant's website. Restaurants that fail to disclose the fee face fines of $1,000 for the first violation, $2,500 for the second, and $5,000 for the third or subsequent offenses, with each day of violation counted separately. The law directly affects restaurants operating in New Jersey and ensures customers are informed about mandatory service charges before paying.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit social media platforms from promoting content related to eating disorders - such as diet products, extreme weight loss practices, or harmful eating behaviors - to users under 18. Platforms must conduct quarterly internal audits and annual independent audits to ensure their algorithms or features don’t contribute to eating disorders in children, and fix any issues within 30 days if identified. Small platforms with less than $100 million in annual revenue are exempt from the audit requirements. The bill does not hold platforms liable for user-generated content unless the platform paid to promote it (e.g., via advertisements).