Asm. Melinda Kane

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's Secure Choice Savings Program, creating a new state-run retirement savings plan for workers. It establishes a Secure Choice Savings Board within the Treasury Department to design and operate the program, which would allow employees (18+ living in or working in NJ) at businesses without existing retirement plans to automatically enroll in payroll-deducted savings accounts. The program would use standard IRAs for investments, with employers (defined as those with fewer than 25 employees and no qualified retirement plan) facilitating payroll deductions. The bill was withdrawn in 2026 as it was superseded by an approved law (P.L.2025, c.379).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT), New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to install physical suicide prevention barriers on certain bridges and overpasses. Within one year of enactment, each agency must study bridges over State roads to identify those posing a significant suicide risk based on height, location, transportation hazards, and past suicide incidents. If barriers are feasible, agencies must install them; if not, they must implement alternatives like surveillance systems, emergency phones, or informational signs. The law applies only to bridges under their jurisdiction that carry State highways, not local or county structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates court filing fees for individuals defending against consumer debt lawsuits in New Jersey's Superior Court. It directly affects people sued for personal, family, or household debt - including medical and credit debt - as defined by current law. The bill removes fees for filing basic responses like answers, counterclaims, or appearances in the Special Civil Part or Civil Part of court. This aims to reduce financial barriers that often prevent defendants from responding to small debt claims (typically under $10,000), which frequently result in default judgments without defense.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pet shops in New Jersey from selling cats, dogs, or rabbits, directly affecting pet shops, breeders, brokers, and animal shelters/rescues. It requires pet shops to collaborate with shelters for adoption showcases (without payment), bans shelters from paying breeders for animals, and fines violators $1,000 per violation - with license revocation for three or more offenses. The law aims to disrupt the "puppy-mill-to-pet-store pipeline" by prioritizing adoption over commercial breeding sales. It does not affect pet shop sales of other animals or pet supplies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1640) creates a Grow NJ Kids Student Loan Voucher Program through New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. It provides eligible parents with monthly vouchers covering their student loan payments if they have a child enrolled in a Grow NJ Kids-rated child care program (minimum 3-star rating). To qualify, applicants must be New Jersey residents with household income under $150,000 annually, provide proof of their child's enrollment, and apply through the Authority. The state will fund these vouchers through appropriations, and participating child care providers must publicize the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as "Anthony's Legacy Act," modifies New Jersey's visitation rights law to provide special consideration for grandparents seeking visitation who are Gold Star family members (relatives of military service members who died in active duty). It requires courts to specifically weigh the grandparent's status as a Gold Star family member as part of the "best interests of the child" evaluation when reviewing visitation applications. The bill does not change the existing burden of proof or other factors courts consider, but adds this specific consideration to the list of factors under Section 1(b)(2). It directly affects grandparents in military-connected families seeking court-ordered visitation with their grandchildren. The policy change is limited to visitation proceedings and does not alter other aspects of family law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Community Affairs about affordable housing, senior citizen housing, and veteran housing units within their borders. The reports must include building addresses, management contacts, application status (including waitlists), and online application links. The state will compile this information into a public online directory on official housing websites (including the Department of Community Affairs, Housing Finance Agency, and Housing Resource Center) and mandate that municipalities link to these sites from their own websites. Municipalities will receive state reimbursement for costs related to gathering and submitting the data.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the minimum uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage required for transportation network company drivers (like Uber or Lyft drivers) and their companies when drivers are actively providing rides. It reduces the required coverage from $1.5 million to $25,000 per person (rising to $35,000 after 2026) for bodily injury, $50,000 (to $70,000 after 2026) for multiple people, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. The change applies to insurance policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2023, with gradual increases in the minimums after 2026. This directly affects ride-share drivers and companies by lowering their insurance cost requirements during active rides.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in New Jersey to report alleged sexual assaults involving consumers or employees to local law enforcement or county prosecutors within 24 hours. Employers who fail to report face a $10,000 civil penalty. The law also mandates that county prosecutors appoint a Sexual Assault Response Team advocate to inform victims about available services - including medical care, counseling, and legal options - during the employer’s investigation. It directly affects all employers (including corporations, partnerships, and supervisors) and ensures victims receive support while clarifying that employers may still conduct internal investigations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2529) amends New Jersey law to allow certain substitute teachers to enroll in the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF). Currently, TPAF eligibility typically applies to regular classroom teachers, but this bill expands it to include specific substitute educators who meet defined criteria. The key provision modifies eligibility rules under N.J.S.18A:66-2 to permit these substitute teachers to contribute to and eventually receive retirement benefits from the fund. It directly affects substitute teachers who qualify under the new enrollment rules, providing them access to a retirement savings system previously unavailable to them. The change focuses on concrete eligibility expansion without altering existing benefit calculations or funding mechanisms.