Asm. Gary Schaer

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2919) requires most businesses in New Jersey to report their email address to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services annually. It applies to entities like corporations, partnerships, and nonprofits that must register with the Division (excluding government agencies), mandating they maintain an email capable of sending/receiving messages. The Division will share these addresses with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to send electronic notices, which are supplemental to existing paper communication requirements. Businesses failing to comply face a civil penalty of up to $250 per year. The law takes effect January 1 following enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords receiving New Jersey's state rental assistance (S-RAP) to maintain compliance with state and local housing standards and promptly correct violations. The Department of Community Affairs must use a statewide electronic database of rental property inspections to verify landlords' compliance before approving or continuing assistance. Landlords failing to meet standards may lose assistance eligibility, unless doing so would cause unnecessary hardship to tenants. Additionally, courts must have access to the inspection database during eviction cases to consider housing violation records as relevant evidence. These changes apply to all rental units receiving state rental assistance payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million from the General Fund to the New Jersey Division of State Police for purchasing mobile surveillance towers. The towers will be used during large public events or unpermitted gatherings - like the May 2022 incident in Long Branch - to provide 360-degree visibility for crowd control. The funding directly supports State Police operations during emergencies affecting public safety and local businesses. The bill is a supplemental budget measure, not a new policy, with no changes to existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes two key aspects of New Jersey's Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs. It requires eligibility determinations to be completed within 21 days of application submission, with written notification to applicants if processing exceeds this timeframe. It also changes the rule for coverage termination, requiring three consecutive months of unpaid premiums before NJ FamilyCare coverage is terminated (currently, coverage ends after one missed payment). These changes aim to streamline the application process and prevent individuals from losing coverage due to occasional payment delays. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature on processing performance.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's standards for evaluating nursing home performance and imposing penalties on low-performing facilities. It requires the Department of Health to develop specific metrics covering resident physical/mental well-being (e.g., falls, depression, medication use) and facility operations (e.g., staff turnover, vaccination rates, safety incidents), with annual reviews of these standards. Nursing homes receiving repeated low ratings (one-star from CMS or failing two metrics per category in three out of four quarters) face escalating sanctions, including warnings, restrictions on Medicaid admissions, and loss of reimbursement unless they submit and implement a 18-month improvement plan approved by state agencies. The bill also mandates annual joint reports to the Governor and Legislature on implementation, including sanction details and outcomes of improvement plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1481) requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish standardized testing methods and reporting requirements for microplastics in drinking water by public water systems within one year. It mandates a two-year study by the DEP and Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to evaluate microplastics removal technologies, including costs, effectiveness, and stakeholder input from scientists, industry, and the public. The study must result in a strategic plan and public report within three months of completion, recommending how to promote these technologies. The bill directly affects public water systems, which must test and disclose microplastic levels, and aims to inform future policy through evidence-based recommendations.

Maddy summaryAJR 88 adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) non-binding working definition of antisemitism for New Jersey, stating it as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews." This resolution serves as an educational tool for public officials, law enforcement, educators, and employees to recognize and address antisemitism, without creating new legal obligations. It explicitly clarifies that criticism of Israel similar to criticism of other nations does not constitute antisemitism, and emphasizes the definition is not intended to infringe on free speech protections under the First Amendment or New Jersey's Constitution. The bill references data showing 298 and 347 antisemitic bias incidents in New Jersey during 2020-2021, aiming to improve awareness and response to such incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities to reimburse municipalities for actual costs incurred when providing police services during utility projects (like construction or repairs) within 60 days of the municipality submitting a bill. It specifies that reimbursement must occur unless a prior payment agreement exists, and pauses the 60-day clock during negotiations between the parties. The bill also states that these reimbursement costs and any awarded attorney fees in related lawsuits cannot be passed on to utility ratepayers. It applies to all public utility projects requiring municipal police safety services under New Jersey law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in New Jersey to administer specific vaccines during declared public health emergencies involving infectious disease outbreaks. To qualify, EMTs must be certified by the state Department of Health (DOH), complete CDC-based training approved by DOH, and have their competency verified by a medical director. The vaccines must be recommended by the CDC for the specific disease causing the emergency, and administration must follow CDC or DOH guidelines. This change applies only during active emergencies and does not alter EMTs' regular scope of practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires commercial liability insurance policies for contractors and construction professionals in New Jersey to explicitly include faulty workmanship in their definition of "occurrence." Specifically, policies must define "occurrence" to cover both accidents (including ongoing exposure to harmful conditions) and property damage or bodily injury caused by faulty workmanship. The requirement applies to all new or renewed policies issued in New Jersey after the bill's effective date (90 days post-enactment). The bill does not restrict insurers from adding other exclusions but aims to clarify coverage standards and reduce legal disputes over whether faulty workmanship is covered.