Asm. Gary Schaer

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable tax credit for New Jersey residents who pay for care of qualifying elderly relatives. It allows eligible caregivers to claim 22.5% of up to $3,000 in qualified care expenses (such as home health services, adult day care, or home modifications) paid for a senior family member who is 60+ (or 50+ with Social Security Disability) and meets income requirements. To qualify, caregivers must have gross income under $100,000 (or $50,000 for certain filing statuses), and the credit is refundable - meaning it can be paid as cash if it exceeds tax liability. The credit applies to expenses not reimbursed by insurance or government programs and is in addition to any dependent deductions claimed.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey A602 establishes the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" within the Department of State to study and develop recommendations for addressing historical and ongoing racial disparities stemming from slavery and systemic discrimination. The 11-member task force, appointed with representation from the Governor, legislative leadership, and civil rights organizations, will examine New Jersey's role in slavery, its legacy of racial discrimination, and potential remedies over a 24-month period. The task force must hold at least six public meetings across the state and issue an interim report within 12 months and a final report with recommendations within 24 months. This legislation directly affects Black communities in New Jersey who face significant racial disparities in housing, wealth, education, and criminal justice. The task force's work will inform potential policy changes and reparative measures to address these systemic issues.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum number of children a registered family day care provider in New Jersey can care for from five to ten at one time. It requires providers caring for more than five children to meet additional health and safety standards and have at least one additional trained person present during care. The change applies to family day care homes operating under the "Family Day Care Provider Registration Act" and does not alter the registration process itself. The bill also authorizes using federal funds for required training but does not change other existing licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2416) would regulate credit card interchange fees in New Jersey by prohibiting electronic payment systems (like Visa/MasterCard networks) from imposing restrictive terms in contracts with merchants. It directly affects merchants (businesses accepting cards) and consumers, as it would allow merchants to offer discounts for cash or debit payments and choose which payment systems to accept at different locations. Key provisions ban systems from blocking merchants from setting minimum/maximum credit card transaction values ($10 minimum), limiting payment system choices, or restricting how merchants display pricing. If passed, violations would be treated as consumer fraud under New Jersey law, with penalties up to $20,000 per offense and mandatory reimbursement of fees to affected merchants.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public water systems to notify customers and local officials (including schools, hospitals, and municipalities) within 30 days if PFAS levels in drinking water exceed a safe limit, explaining health risks and directing them to an educational program. Landlords must share these notices with tenants within 3 business days and post them prominently in rental properties. The state's environmental agency must create an online educational program about PFAS health effects and mitigation steps, updated annually on its website. These requirements take effect 18 months after enactment, with the educational program starting within one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct every five years a review of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water that are not currently regulated under state or federal law. It specifically mandates two assessments: one to determine if new safety standards are needed for unregulated PFAS, and another to evaluate whether existing PFAS standards adequately protect children, who may be more vulnerable due to their body size and higher water intake relative to weight. The DEP must then submit written reports of these findings to the Governor, the Legislature, and publish them online for public access. This directly affects the DEP's regulatory process and aims to inform future drinking water safety policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows parking tickets to be served by regular or certified mail to the vehicle owner when the operator isn't present, rather than requiring personal delivery or attaching the ticket to the car. It also permits municipalities using authorized remote monitoring systems (like cameras) to issue tickets based on video evidence within 30 days of the violation, with mail service having the same legal effect as in-person delivery. The bill directly affects vehicle owners (especially in municipalities with remote monitoring systems) and law enforcement agencies that issue parking tickets. It modifies existing law to add mail as a valid service method, streamlining enforcement while requiring municipal authorization for remote monitoring systems.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2897) requires construction industry employers to inform workers about key workplace rights, including unemployment benefits, minimum wage, overtime pay, and protections against retaliation. Employers must conspicuously post multilingual notices (in English, Spanish, and other languages based on workforce needs) in accessible locations and provide written copies at hiring or upon request. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $1,500 for a first offense and $5,000 for repeat violations within five years. The bill directly affects construction employers and their employees, supplementing existing protections under the Construction Industry Independent Contractor Act (P.L.2007, c.114).

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 765) ensures patients can be billed directly by dentists when insurance won't pay for covered services, under specific conditions. Dentists must first provide written notice about payment responsibility, explain alternative options, get written patient consent, and accept the insurance-set payment amount. If a dentist charges more than the insurance-covered amount, they must refund the difference to the patient. The bill also prohibits insurance companies from using "down-coding" (reducing payment codes) or improper bundling of services to prevent dentists from collecting full fees, protecting both patients and providers from unexpected costs.