Asm. Ellen Park

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates consumer legal funding companies in New Jersey by establishing requirements for contracts and company operations. It requires fully completed contracts with clear disclosures about fees and repayment terms, including a 5-day right to cancel without penalty, and prohibits companies from paying referral fees to attorneys or using funding to pay for court costs or attorney fees. The bill limits fees to 40% of the funded amount annually, requires companies to register with the Department of Banking and Insurance, and ensures consumers only repay if their legal claim results in proceeds. The law affects consumers with pending legal claims who seek funding and the companies that provide this service.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1868) would require most New Jersey residents to register existing body armor with the Attorney General within 90 days of the law taking effect and obtain a permit for new purchases. Eligibility for permits would be limited to law enforcement officers, active military personnel, individuals in high-risk jobs (as determined by the Attorney General), and licensed body armor dealers. Sellers must register each sale with the Attorney General within three business days and face civil penalties for noncompliance. Exceptions include government employees using body armor for work and licensed dealers who register with the Attorney General. Violating these rules would be a third-degree crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that when appointing members to state boards, commissions, or similar bodies established by law, the appointing official (such as the Governor, Senate President, or Assembly Speaker) must prioritize achieving racial and gender diversity that reflects New Jersey’s population. The goal of diversity becomes a primary consideration for all appointments made after the bill’s effective date, unless it conflicts with specific circumstances or the law creating the body. The bill defines "gender" to include gender identity and "race" as based on physical characteristics or shared ancestry. This policy change directly affects how officials select members for these state entities, aiming to improve representation without mandating specific quotas.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new public buildings or substantial renovations (costing $40,000 or more) to install induction loop listening systems, which transmit sound directly to hearing aids with a telecoil feature. It applies to spaces regularly open to the public, such as libraries, theaters, banks, medical waiting areas, and grocery checkouts. Building owners must post visible signage indicating the system’s availability and confirm its functionality every two years. Installation may be exempt if a local agency deems it impractical for the specific space.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a four-year "New Jersey STEM Scholars Grant Pilot Program" within the Department of Education to provide funding for schools. It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and "renaissance schools" (a New Jersey term for publicly funded alternative schools) seeking to expand STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education. The program awards competitive grants for three specific areas: project-based learning (student-led STEM projects), afterschool STEM (after-class programs like clubs), and out-of-school STEM (non-classroom activities like workshops). Grants must supplement, not replace, existing STEM funding, and schools must submit detailed plans for program design, student recruitment, teacher support, and long-term sustainability. Funding comes from annual state appropriations and private donations, administered through a new "STEM Scholars Grant Fund."

Maddy summaryThe Desegregate New Jersey Act (A2586) requires municipalities to permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs, like in-law apartments) on single-family lots without forcing them into affordable housing requirements. It also mandates that municipalities allow multifamily housing near transit hubs (within ½-mile) and along main street corridors (within ¼-mile), with minimum density of 15 units per acre and no minimum parking requirements. The bill restricts local rules that would block ADUs (e.g., requiring exterior doors, age limits, or separate utility billing) and sets a 65-day deadline for permit decisions. This directly affects homeowners seeking to add ADUs, developers building multifamily projects, and municipalities responsible for zoning enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1917) would make it a crime to solicit or phishing for personal identifying information, such as Social Security numbers, biometric data, or account details, with the intent to commit identity theft or fraud. It directly affects individuals or entities attempting to trick people into sharing sensitive data through deceptive means. The law defines "personal identifying information" broadly to include names, addresses, dates of birth, financial account numbers, and unique biometric identifiers. Violating this law would be a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The bill uses existing legal definitions from New Jersey's identity theft statutes to clarify prohibited conduct.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A856 establishes the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI) as a new principal department within the Executive Branch, replacing the current State Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The bill transfers existing diversity functions from the Department of Treasury and the Division on Civil Rights to the new department, requiring state agencies to develop annual diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility plans. It also mandates that entities receiving state development subsidies or financial assistance must create and implement strategic diversity plans detailing their efforts to promote diversity in hiring, procurement, and business opportunities. The commissioner of DDEI will oversee these requirements, coordinate statewide initiatives, and ensure compliance with diversity standards across state government and recipient entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Office of Financial Assistance within New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to help eligible small businesses access public financial assistance like grants, loans, and tax credits. It directly affects companies with fewer than 225 employees (75% working in New Jersey) operating in specified industries like biotechnology or renewable energy. The key mechanism requires the office to create a digital platform allowing these businesses to identify available programs, store application documents, submit multiple applications simultaneously, and track their status. State agencies offering such assistance must use this platform for all applications and ensure its information stays current.

Maddy summaryThe Immigrant Tenant Protection Act prohibits landlords from threatening to disclose or disclosing a tenant's immigration status to force them to leave, and from evicting tenants based solely or partially on that status (except when complying with federal rent assistance programs). Tenants who face such violations can sue for up to $2,000 per violation, attorney fees, and other remedies. The bill also makes immigration status irrelevant in housing rights cases, blocking courts from inquiring into it during legal proceedings unless directly contested by the tenant or required by federal law. It creates an affirmative defense for tenants in eviction cases where the action is based on immigration status or failure to provide documents like a social security number after the tenant was approved.