Asm. Balvir Singh

Maddy summaryThis bill would have established criminal penalties (fourth-degree crimes) for employers who knowingly falsify payroll records required under New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act or make false statements on public works contractor registration forms. It directly affects employers working on public construction projects subject to prevailing wage requirements. Currently, such violations are punishable only as minor offenses (up to 90 days in jail), but this bill would have increased penalties to up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fines. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was approved as part of P.L.2025, c.356, meaning the changes are now law.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes an exemption in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that previously allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, these venues could permit smoking in areas used for gambling (like slot machine rooms or table games), but the bill would eliminate that exception. After passage, all indoor areas of casinos and simulcasting facilities open to the public for gambling would be required to be smoke-free. This change aligns these venues with the state's general indoor smoking ban, which applies to most public workplaces and spaces.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to study how law enforcement agencies use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate police reports and issue a report to the Governor and Legislature within six months. The report must assess available AI technology, summarize current statewide usage by police departments, and recommend a statewide policy for AI use in reports. The policy must include a requirement for officers to review all AI-generated report content for accuracy and completeness before issuing it. The bill does not mandate AI use but sets a framework for evaluating its safety and effectiveness in law enforcement documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to reimburse volunteer firefighters for covered cancer screenings - such as for colon, lung, skin, and prostate cancers - every three years after five years of service, with no out-of-pocket costs. It treats volunteer firefighting service as a pre-existing condition for coverage, capping reimbursement at $1,250 per three-year period (adjusted for inflation). The program is funded by a 0.1% increase in the tax on fire insurance premiums, with dedicated revenue flowing into a non-lapsing state fund. It directly affects all volunteer firefighters in New Jersey who meet the service duration requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $10 million grant program for New Jersey counties to improve paper ballot counting, specifically for vote-by-mail and provisional ballots. The Secretary of State must survey counties about 2020 election counting issues, develop a plan to address problems, and establish grant application guidelines. County election boards would apply for funds to upgrade their counting processes, with recipients required to report on fund usage. The program expires after the Secretary submits a report on its effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature within three years.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $3 million from the General Fund to provide one-time bonus awards to members of Local 195 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers who worked as frontline state employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be distributed by state agencies to eligible union members who provided essential emergency workplace service. The bonus amount is determined per agency through consultation between the Division of Budget and Accounting and the union president. This supplemental appropriation directly affects approximately 3,000 Local 195 members across state departments, as specified in the bill text. It does not create new policy but provides targeted financial recognition for pandemic-era service.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's child care subsidy program to cover families with annual incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level (currently $83,250 for a family of four), directly affecting working parents of children under age 13. It establishes four income tiers for eligibility and sliding-scale payments to licensed child care providers, ensuring subsidies don't drop below pandemic-era rates. The bill appropriates state funds for implementation and requires the state to seek federal matching funds. It replaces the previous 200% income cap, significantly broadening access to subsidized care for middle-income families.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to offer driver's license knowledge tests in Punjabi, alongside English and the three most commonly spoken non-English languages in the state. It directly affects non-English speaking residents, particularly Punjabi speakers, who must pass the written knowledge test to obtain a license. The key provision mandates the MVC to provide tests in these languages and update the list of top non-English languages every five years. The bill amends existing law to expand language accessibility for applicants, ensuring they can take the test in a language they understand. This is a concrete policy change focused on improving access to driver's license exams.

Maddy summaryAR 51 is a New Jersey Assembly Resolution urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to declare any Salmonella strain causing human illness an "adulterant" in meat, poultry, and egg products. This would require the USDA to treat such strains as unsafe in the food supply, aligning with current USDA standards for E. coli in ground beef and Salmonella in certain chicken products. The resolution does not create new laws but seeks to strengthen existing food safety policies to reduce illness risks.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to better serve residents of long-term care facilities, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. It directly affects long-term care residents (including those in nursing homes, dementia care facilities, assisted living communities, and retirement communities) by strengthening their ability to report complaints about facility conditions, abuse, or rights violations. Key provisions update definitions to include new facility types, clarify the ombudsman’s authority to investigate complaints, and require the office to resolve issues affecting residents’ safety and civil rights. The $1 million appropriation ensures the office has resources to expand its staff and services statewide.