Asm. Lisa Swain

Maddy summaryThis bill allows limited liability companies in New Jersey to officially stop using alternate names before their five-year registration period ends, but only if the company does not operate as a residential landlord. Under current rules, these companies must wait until the full five years are up to cancel an alternate name, even if they no longer use it. The legislation introduces a new process for filing a termination certificate to formally end the use of an alternate name early, while still requiring the company to pay any owed fees for past usage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Task Force within the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for aging in New Jersey. The group will consist of 27 members, including state officials, medical experts, and community representatives appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders. Its main job is to coordinate public and private resources to better support the needs of the state's growing population of older adults. The task force will meet at least three times a year to provide advice to government agencies and conduct necessary research.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3577) requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to collect specific data on professional and occupational license applications and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within six months. The report must include details like the number of pending applications, average processing times, common errors in incomplete applications, call volume categories from applicants, and funding for staff and technology. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Attorney General develop profession-specific training for new employees processing license applications and review outsourcing phone call handling. The law directly affects license applicants by requiring the state to track and report on application processing efficiency and support for the licensing division.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 3108 requires the Department of Agriculture to promote community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. Within 180 days of enactment, the Department must create a public website listing all CSA farms and enabling online subscriptions, run statewide advertising campaigns highlighting CSA benefits, and develop promotional labels for CSA-marketed products (using "Jersey Fresh" branding where appropriate). The bill also establishes an annual "Community Supported Agriculture Week" in February to showcase local farm-to-table connections through events in schools, markets, and community venues. This directly affects New Jersey farms participating in CSAs and consumers seeking locally sourced seasonal food through subscription programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey state law to officially change the professional title from "physician assistant" to "physician associate" in various statutes. The primary mechanism involves updating specific legal definitions and references throughout existing acts related to medical practice and assisted reproduction. While the bill's main purpose is this nomenclature update, it also modifies definitions for roles such as advanced practice nurses and certified nurse midwives within the context of reproductive technology laws. The changes apply to all licensed medical professionals and legal documents currently using the term "physician assistant" in the specified areas.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits contracts between public libraries and publishers from including clauses that restrict how libraries manage or lend electronic books and audiobooks. The legislation specifically bans provisions that limit a library's ability to make preservation copies, use interlibrary loan systems, set loan periods, or charge fees based on how many times a book is borrowed. Additionally, the bill prevents contracts from stopping libraries from sharing contract terms with other libraries or the state government, and it treats violations as unfair business practices under state consumer fraud laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey laws regarding speech-language services in public schools to ensure these specialists are included in child study teams for students with communication impairments. It mandates that the classification of a child with a communication impairment be made with the consultation of the basic child study team, replacing previous rules that excluded such input. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that school districts may only contract with private agencies for speech-language services to fill temporary staffing gaps when they cannot hire enough qualified staff. The act also modernizes terminology by replacing the outdated term "speech correctionist" with "speech-language specialist" or "speech-language pathologist" throughout relevant statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the cure period for small businesses facing certain non-criminal violations by 30 days, adding to the existing 60-day period. It applies to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees for first-time violations that don’t threaten public safety, employee income, or the environment. State agencies may grant this additional 30-day extension only if they determine denying it would conflict with equity and good conscience. The bill does not apply to labor law violations, criminal matters, or cases where federal rules require penalties. It also requires agencies to publicly report waived violations annually.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires licensed healthcare providers (including doctors, nurses, and midwives) to conduct regular, private screenings for intimate partner violence during patient visits, using evidence-based guidelines. If a provider identifies potential abuse, they must document findings, provide immediate resources for victims (like local support services), and ensure patients can revoke access to their medical records for alleged abusers under federal privacy laws. The bill mandates that healthcare professionals advise victims during the same visit about removing perpetrators from their authorized medical record access list. The state departments of Children and Families and Health must maintain and update a biennial resource list for providers on victim support services. It directly affects healthcare providers and patients experiencing abuse by current or former intimate partners.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey healthcare providers to refer pregnant people or new mothers diagnosed with preeclampsia who later show endometriosis symptoms for evaluation. It mandates obstetric care providers to educate patients about endometriosis, explain evaluation benefits, and either conduct the evaluation or refer for one (with a written refusal option). The Commissioner of Health must develop patient education materials on endometriosis symptoms and warning signs, in consultation with advocacy groups. If diagnosed, providers must create a treatment plan to minimize endometriosis risks. The bill is pending in committee and would take effect 180 days after enactment.