Asm. Lou Greenwald

Maddy summaryThis bill allows county improvement authorities in New Jersey to create loan programs that help people refinance their student loans. It directly affects residents of counties that have these public bodies, which typically manage infrastructure projects like waste disposal and redevelopment. The legislation amends existing state laws to add new definitions and clarify the financial powers of these authorities, enabling them to issue bonds and manage funds for student loan refinancing. By expanding the scope of what these authorities can do, the bill provides a new way for local governments to offer financial assistance to students without creating new state-level programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a four-year pilot program allowing low-income tenants in subsidized housing to build credit by reporting rent payments to credit bureaus. Landlords who volunteer must report tenants' rent payments (on-time, late, or missed) to approved agencies, with tenants paying a $10 monthly fee max for this service. Tenants can voluntarily join or leave the program, but must wait six months to rejoin after opting out. The program will be evaluated after two years to assess participation, tenant demographics, credit impacts, and costs before determining if it continues.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 3567 requires municipalities to adopt state-approved land use regulations that allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary homes on the same lot as a primary residence - within single-family and two-family zones. The bill mandates that local zoning rules must align with state model ordinances, ensuring property owners can develop ADUs without restrictive barriers. It directly affects homeowners seeking to add ADUs for rental income or family housing, as well as municipalities responsible for updating zoning codes. The bill, pending before the legislature, aims to expand housing supply by streamlining ADU development while maintaining neighborhood character.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's Deepfake Technology Unit within the Division of Criminal Justice to combat AI-generated deceptive media (deepfakes). The unit will provide law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts with technical expertise, training, and evidence analysis to detect and investigate deepfakes - defined as AI-manipulated videos, audio, or images that falsely depict people or events. It requires the unit to issue annual reports on detection methods, technological advances, and policy recommendations, and appropriates $2 million from the General Fund to cover operational costs. The unit directly supports state and local agencies in addressing a growing threat to public safety and legal integrity.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3592) would allow NJ FamilyCare to reimburse for multiple specialty medical visits at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) on the same day for enrollees, under specific conditions. It requires the referring provider to document medical necessity for each visit and mandates that each visit be with a different specialty provider. The change would directly affect NJ FamilyCare enrollees needing multiple same-day specialty appointments and the FQHCs serving them. The bill explicitly states it cannot override federal Medicaid rules, and currently, NJ FamilyCare typically limits coverage to one FQHC visit per day unless special circumstances apply.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a competitive grant program to fund organizations recruiting teachers for underserved New Jersey school districts. It appropriates $6 million from the General Fund to provide grants equal to private contributions raised by eligible organizations (up to $1 million annually per organization for three years). Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt, place new teachers in underserved districts, and commit to long-term teacher retention. An "underserved district" is defined as one where at least 40% of students qualify for free/reduced meals and faces a teacher shortage, as determined by the Commissioner of Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "restricted distillery license" for craft distillers in New Jersey. It allows license holders to operate a restaurant on their licensed premises only if the restaurant shares identical ownership and is immediately adjacent to the distillery (which must already hold a separate "plenary retail consumption license" for restaurant operations). The license limits annual production to 10,000 barrels, with fees starting at $1,250 for up to 1,000 barrels and $250 for each additional 1,000 barrels. A maximum of 10 such licenses may be issued to any single entity holding the required restaurant license.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all general hospitals licensed in New Jersey to create at least one private bereavement area within their facilities. The designated space must be available for family members who receive distressing news about a loved one being treated at the hospital, including news of death. The Commissioner of Health will enforce this requirement, which takes effect 180 days after the bill is signed into law. It directly affects hospitals under New Jersey's health licensing regulations (P.L.1971, c.136) and provides a private, supportive environment for families during difficult moments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey county clerks to provide accessible mail-in ballots to voters with disabilities who request them. It mandates that these ballots include specific accessibility features, such as electronic delivery, audio prompts for blind voters, compatibility with braille displays, and the ability to mark selections electronically. Voters who qualify as "electronic return eligible" (due to blindness, visual impairment, or physical disability preventing ballot handling) may return completed ballots electronically. The bill ensures voters can independently complete, verify, and submit their ballots, with printed materials provided unless electronic return is used, and sets uniform guidelines for election officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a 1% tax on purchasers buying controlling interests in Class 4A commercial properties (income-producing real estate like offices or retail space, excluding residential, farm, or industrial properties) when the transfer value exceeds $1 million. It directly affects commercial real estate buyers and sellers involved in large transactions of qualifying properties. The bill repeals the specific tax provision (previously called the "controlling interest transfer tax") but does not affect existing tax liabilities or audits for transactions that occurred before the repeal. This change simplifies the tax code for high-value commercial property transfers without altering other property tax rules.