Asm. Lou Greenwald

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to follow specific steps when a student's meal bill is unpaid. Districts must first try to enroll students in free or reduced-price meal programs before notifying parents, and include meal program applications with any notice. It prohibits schools from shaming students (e.g., making them wait in line) or threatening child protective services over unpaid bills. Districts must report twice a year on how many students are denied meals due to unpaid bills.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2761) requires New Jersey's Division of Taxation to obtain new state legislation - approved by both the legislature and governor - to terminate reciprocal tax agreements with other states. Previously, the director could end such agreements without new laws, but this bill restricts that authority. The key provision amends N.J.S.54A:9-7 to state that agreements "shall not be terminated unless the termination is by enactment of a law directing the director." It applies to all existing and future reciprocal tax agreements, including those dating back to 1977. The bill takes effect immediately and is retroactive to the start of New Jersey's first such agreement with Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey county clerks to provide accessible mail-in ballots to voters with disabilities who request them, delivered electronically to the voter's specified contact method. The accessible ballot must include features like audio guidance, braille compatibility, electronic marking, and the ability to print or return the ballot electronically for eligible voters. Eligible voters for electronic return include those who are blind, have visual impairments preventing standard ballot reading, or have physical disabilities affecting ballot handling. The Secretary of State must issue uniform guidelines for election officials to implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2773 requires domestic violence offenders to surrender firearms and have their firearm permits revoked upon conviction or when a restraining order is issued. It mandates courts to order immediate firearm surrender within 5 business days, allowing 10 days for licensed dealers to take possession of surrendered firearms. Law enforcement must properly store surrendered firearms and may charge defendants for storage costs. The bill also requires courts to search domestic violence records before issuing restraining orders to check for firearm ownership and ensures records are cross-referenced to prevent offenders from retaining firearms.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create standardized protocols for hospitals and licensed birthing centers to collect de-identified maternity care data. It mandates tracking specific metrics including maternal demographics, complications (like preeclampsia or hemorrhage), delivery methods (inductions, C-sections), infant outcomes (birth weight, birth defects), and gestational age. The DOH must analyze this data annually to identify quality improvements, establish statewide benchmarks for care, and compare hospital performance against those standards. The DOH will report findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of enactment and annually thereafter.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey high schools to include instruction on tuition assistance programs (like grants and scholarships) and student loan debt in their financial literacy curriculum for graduation. It affects all high school students by mandating that they meet with a guidance counselor during their 10th or 11th grade year to discuss financing options for college, including available aid and dual enrollment programs that allow earning college credit while still in high school. The curriculum must cover repayment requirements and consequences of unpaid student debt. The law takes effect immediately for all public high schools in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes developers to convert vacant office parks (50,000+ sq ft, 40% vacancy) and retail centers (15,000+ sq ft, 40% vacancy) in designated suburban areas into mixed-use developments without needing local zoning variances. It creates a two-year window for applications, requiring projects to reuse existing building footprints (or enhance stormwater management/tree canopy if expanding) and include 20% affordable housing units. The bill also mandates improved multimodal transportation access and directs the Department of Community Affairs to inventory these properties and report annually. It directly affects property owners and developers seeking to repurpose underutilized suburban sites while maintaining local control over parking, design, and other standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3043) reduces required parking spaces for new residential developments in New Jersey based on proximity to public transportation. It mandates a 20% reduction for developments ½ to 1 mile from transit, 30% for ¼ to ½ mile, and 50% within ¼ mile of rail stations, bus routes (with 5+ regular routes or 15+ bus stops), or ferry terminals. The policy directly affects residential developers by lowering parking requirements in areas with better transit access. The Commissioner of Community Affairs must implement these changes through regulations, aiming to encourage transit-oriented development. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-person partial care and intensive outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services for adults aged 21 and older. It raises provider payments by 35% for these services and sets a minimum $10 reimbursement per one-way trip for transportation to or from treatment. The changes apply to both Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care systems, affecting clinics, treatment centers, and adult Medicaid beneficiaries. These rate adjustments aim to improve access to community-based care by ensuring providers are adequately compensated.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual income limit for New Jersey seniors (65+) and disabled residents to qualify for a $250 property tax deduction, raising it from $10,000 to $20,000 starting in 2014. Future income limits will automatically adjust each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to account for inflation, rounded to the nearest $100. The $250 deduction amount itself remains unchanged. The bill requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment before it can take effect, as it modifies an existing tax provision.