Asm. Melinda Kane

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pet shops in New Jersey from selling cats, dogs, or rabbits, repealing the previous "Pet Purchase Protection Act." It establishes a $500 fine for violations and allows pet shops to sell other animals or pet supplies, while enabling collaboration with shelters to showcase adoptable animals without exchanging payment. The bill defines "unfit for purchase" for animals and specifies that an animal's death within 14 days of sale (except by accident) would be considered evidence of being unfit. It also prohibits animal rescue organizations, shelters, and pounds from obtaining animals from breeders or brokers in exchange for compensation. The law does not affect pet dealers (not pet shops) or consumer rights for animals purchased from them.

Maddy summaryThe "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey" requires all voting policies to be interpreted in ways that maximize voting access for all eligible voters, particularly members of racial, color, and language-minority groups. It prohibits voting practices that burden protected class members and mandates language assistance for limited English proficient voters. The bill creates a preclearance process for voting changes in jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations and establishes the New Jersey Voting and Elections Institute to maintain public voting data. These provisions aim to ensure equitable access to voting and protect against voter suppression and vote dilution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to submit quarterly data on affordable housing and senior citizen housing units to the Department of Community Affairs. The information includes building addresses, management contacts, application status, and online application links. This data will be published on state government websites (Community Affairs, Housing Finance Agency, and Housing Resource Center) and linked from municipal websites. The bill directly affects local governments by mandating data reporting and aims to make housing availability information more accessible to the public. It does not change housing eligibility or funding but creates a centralized public resource.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public school staff in New Jersey to complete training on caring for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders every two years. It directly affects school staff (including teachers, coaches, and support personnel) and students with these conditions. The training, provided through Department of Health-approved courses by nonprofit organizations, covers recognizing seizures, emergency response, and daily care. This update builds on existing law (P.L.2019, c.290) that already requires schools to develop individualized health plans for affected students but adds the mandatory biennial staff training requirement. The law applies to all school-sponsored activities, including those outside regular school hours.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1.5 million from New Jersey's General Fund to fund two specific programs run by the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers. It provides $1 million to the Department of Health for the "Pledge to Connect Program," which helps hospital patients with behavioral health needs access community-based care to reduce future emergency visits. It also allocates $500,000 to the Department of Community Affairs for the "Housing First Program," which provides permanent housing and support services to chronically homeless individuals in Camden. The funding restores state support for these programs, which had not received dedicated funding in the current fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Medical Examiners to allow physicians to count one optional continuing medical education (CME) credit toward their license renewal for training on menopause. The training covers menopause's physiological and psychological aspects, treatments, related health risks (like heart health and osteoporosis), and communication strategies. Physicians who complete this training would earn a credit that counts toward their required 100 CME hours for license renewal. The bill defines menopause as the natural process where a woman permanently stops having menstrual periods after 12 months without one. It does not mandate the training but offers it as an optional credit.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to create an automated online platform (the "State Smart Solar Permitting Platform") to speed up approval of residential solar energy system installations. It directly affects homeowners, solar installers, and local governments by replacing slow manual permitting with instant digital reviews. The platform must automatically check code compliance, issue permits within minutes, allow 24/7 applications, and support electronic signatures - handling 75% of standard residential systems. Local agencies must adopt the platform or an equivalent alternative within 18 months, with penalties for non-compliance to fund low-income energy assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include certain substitute teachers who were previously excluded. It amends the law to allow eligible substitutes - defined by specific criteria in the bill - to enroll in the retirement system, directly affecting their access to pension benefits. The key change modifies the definition of "member" in the pension law to include these substitute educators. This policy shift provides a concrete pathway for qualifying substitutes to build retirement savings through TPAF.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A6170 revises the membership structure of the State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. It reduces the number of public members from three to two and replaces the current requirement for a licensed school teacher with two new roles: one representing public school vocational programs and one representing private cosmetology schools. The bill also broadens the six licensed professional positions to include any licensed practitioner in cosmetology or hairstyling fields (without specifying exact titles like "beautician" or "barber"). The board will continue to have 13 members under these updated composition rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Gold Star Family Annuity Program" to provide annual financial support to eligible family members of New Jersey service members who died while on active duty. It creates a $600 annual payment (increasing yearly based on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pension adjustments, between 1%-4%) for New Jersey residents who are surviving spouses, parents, children, or legal guardians of deceased service members. Applications require proof of New Jersey residency and documentation of the relationship to the deceased service member, such as military casualty forms. The program is administered by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and will begin payments two years after the bill's effective date.