Asm. Lou Greenwald

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public database managed by the NJ Business Action Center (Department of State) listing vacant commercial spaces available for lease or purchase by small businesses. It requires commercial property owners to report vacancies or occupancy changes monthly, with the database including details like square footage, capital equipment, and building systems (e.g., HVAC, security). The database will be updated monthly using data from property owners, realtors, and municipalities, and made accessible online with targeted outreach to business associations and chambers of commerce. The goal is to reduce the time and cost for small businesses to find suitable commercial space by centralizing vacancy information.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey counties to establish regional authorities to develop and operate rehabilitation and reentry centers. Participating counties would create these authorities through inter-county agreements, with the authority having the power to issue bonds for construction and operations. The centers would be designated as public property serving public health and welfare, with the authority exempt from taxes and special assessments. Counties would fund their proportional share based on inmate population, and the authority would be required to conduct annual audits.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the daily surcharge for rental motor vehicles in New Jersey from $5 to $2 per day. It directly affects rental car companies and drivers who rent vehicles in the state, lowering rental costs by $3 per day for each rental period. The $2 daily fee will continue to be collected and deposited into the New Jersey Domestic Security Account, which funds emergency medical disaster preparedness, security at nuclear facilities, State Police security services, and counter-terrorism programs. The legislation reverses a 2006 increase that raised the fee to $5 per day while maintaining the dedicated funding for security initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A951) requires all New Jersey law enforcement agencies to use standardized procedures when activating domestic violence crisis teams for incidents involving domestic violence, elder abuse, or disability neglect. It mandates that teams - composed of trained professionals like social workers or clergy - must be activated for most domestic violence calls, with limited exceptions (e.g., if a victim is intoxicated or if sexual assault protocols apply). The Division of Criminal Justice will oversee training for law enforcement officers and ensure consistent implementation statewide, replacing inconsistent local practices. The bill directly affects victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, and disability neglect, as well as law enforcement agencies and crisis team members.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey professional licensing boards (e.g., for nursing, engineering, or cosmetology) to track how long other states take to approve initial license applications. Boards must calculate a national average approval time based on data from other states and adopt it as their official timeline for processing new licenses. If a board misses this average, it must use licensing fees to hire experts who identify efficiency improvements to meet the standard. The Division of Consumer Affairs reviews compliance annually, with boards retaining fee revenue until they meet the national average timeline.