Asm. Shavonda Sumter

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission to annually report the number of cannabis applications received and licenses or permits issued to minorities (as defined by law), Veterans, and women for five specific license types. These include standard and conditional medical cannabis treatment center permits, clinical registrant permits, and standard and conditional adult use cannabis licenses. The commission must provide this data each year to track participation by these groups in the state's cannabis licensing system. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, adding a transparency requirement without changing existing licensing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to create a centralized database tracking habitability violations in rental properties, including fire safety, health, and utility issues reported to landlords or municipalities. The database will categorize defects by severity (non-hazardous to immediately hazardous) and duration, and its contents will be used as evidence in court during landlord-tenant disputes. Landlords who fail to include tenant attorney fee clauses in leases face $500 penalties for first offenses and $1,000 for repeat violations, with tenants also able to sue for these penalties. Additionally, the bill removes a previous exclusion that barred public housing tenants from proactively suing landlords for habitability issues under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows state employees who were temporarily working at New Jersey psychiatric hospitals or correctional facilities before joining the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits if injured during that temporary employment. It deems injuries sustained while performing duties (e.g., as nurses, correction officers, or healthcare workers) at those facilities as occurring "during membership" for PERS benefit eligibility, even if the injury happened before PERS enrollment. The change applies retroactively to January 1, 2003, and covers employees who later become PERS members without interruption in their job. This specifically affects temporary workers in state psychiatric or correctional facilities who were previously ineligible for PERS disability benefits after becoming members.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct a study examining whether disparities exist in the use of minority-owned and women-owned businesses when state agencies purchase goods and services. The study will assess if these businesses are utilized at rates matching their availability in the market, focusing on all state agencies, including departments, commissions, and independent authorities. After completing the study, the officer must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to promote greater opportunities for these businesses in state procurement. The officer will also submit follow-up reports every four years to evaluate progress on prior recommendations and request funding for future studies if needed.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain New Jersey state agencies (excluding the lottery) with .com, .org, or .net websites to participate in a three-year pilot program selling internet advertisements on their sites. Agencies must ensure ads align with their mission, ban tobacco/alcohol/political ads, and include a disclaimer stating the State doesn’t endorse them. Revenue from ads must go to the State General Fund, with 10% reserved for agency innovation, while agencies must report on program effectiveness after the pilot ends. The program targets high-traffic agency websites to generate new state revenue without creating public forums for expression.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Class Two special law enforcement officers to carry firearms at all times while in New Jersey, rather than only while on duty. It also permits arson investigators to carry firearms at all times while in the state. The bill establishes new requirements for all special law enforcement officers, including age limits (21-75 years old) and mandatory drug testing at appointment. It clarifies that Class Two special law enforcement officers have the same legal protections and immunity from civil liability as regular law enforcement officers.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A865) requires providers of commercial financing to disclose specific financial details to business customers before they commit to a financing agreement. The disclosures include the total financing amount, finance charge, annual percentage rate (APR), total repayment amount, payment schedule, and other potential fees. It applies to various business financing types including sales-based, closed-end, open-end, and factoring transactions, but excludes financial institutions, transactions over $500,000, and providers making fewer than five transactions annually. Providers must obtain written or electronic signatures on these disclosures before proceeding with the transaction. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation, or $10,000 for willful violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program (the "MOM Project") under New Jersey's Department of Health to improve oral health access for low-income pregnant women and new mothers who do not qualify for Medicaid. It directly affects eligible mothers (pregnant, low-income, not enrolled in Medicaid) by providing free oral health education (at least three hours covering hygiene, nutrition, and disease links) followed by one year of dental treatment for the mother and child, including cleanings, cavity care, and infant dental visits. The program requires nonprofit health groups to conduct outreach, collect health data, and coordinate with community dental centers to deliver services, with $4.15 million appropriated from the General Fund for administration, education, treatment, and data analysis. The pilot aims to test a sustainable model for integrating oral health services into Medicaid, using data to evaluate outcomes and inform future policy.

Maddy summaryBill A594 requires New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency to establish a direct deposit option for adoption subsidy payments. Currently, these payments are mailed as paper checks to adoptive parents' addresses, but the bill would allow parents to request direct deposit into their bank accounts. Adoptive parents would need to submit a written request to switch from paper checks to electronic payments. The bill does not change eligibility criteria, payment amounts, or who qualifies for adoption subsidies. It only modifies the payment delivery method to provide a more efficient and secure alternative to mailed checks.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all law enforcement disciplinary records in New Jersey to be treated as public government records, making them accessible to the public. It directly affects law enforcement agencies (including school police, correction officers, and probation officers) and the public, while protecting certain personal information like home addresses, medical details, and witness identities through redaction. The bill mandates that agencies retain these records for at least 20 years, with bodycam videos requiring longer retention (until case resolution) if tied to criminal, disciplinary, or civil proceedings. This creates a standardized system for transparency in officer discipline without altering the content of the records themselves.