Asm. Herb Conaway

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed child care centers in New Jersey to provide parents or guardians with 60 days' written notice before increasing tuition rates. Centers must send the notice via certified mail (with return receipt), first-class mail, or in-person delivery to the parent's last known address, and also post it on their website and display it prominently at the center. The notice requirement applies to all tuition rate changes occurring three months after the bill's enactment. This directly affects parents of children enrolled in licensed child care centers by giving them advance warning of fee changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds the right to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), to New Jersey's constitutional protections for reproductive choice. It explicitly expands existing rights - previously covering contraception, sterilization, and pregnancy decisions - to include choosing whether to use ART. The law states that any state, county, or local law limiting this right is invalid and unenforceable. It directly affects all New Jersey residents seeking or providing ART services, reinforcing access amid legal challenges in other states like Alabama. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates the production and sale of "intoxicating hemp products" by setting specific THC concentration limits and requiring licensing. It defines intoxicating hemp products as those containing more than 0.5 milligrams of total THC per serving or 2.5 milligrams per package, which exceeds the 0.3% THC limit allowed for standard hemp products. Businesses selling these products must be licensed by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, comply with product testing requirements, and cannot sell to anyone under 21 years old. Violations carry escalating fines: $100 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $10,000 for third and subsequent offenses. The bill directly affects businesses selling hemp-derived products with higher THC levels that could cause intoxication.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's "Design Professional Self-Certification Act" (A4360, now law as P.L.2024, c.58) creates a program allowing licensed architects and professional engineers to self-certify that certain construction projects comply with building codes. It directly affects qualified design professionals who can now submit construction permit applications with self-certification forms for eligible projects (like renovations under specific size limits for residential or commercial buildings), bypassing full code reviews by local agencies. Local building departments must then conduct a simple "supervisory check" to confirm all required documents are present and issue permits - same as before - within 1-5 days. This applies only to projects not excluded (e.g., structural alterations requiring special inspections, new kitchens, or electrical upgrades over 400 amps), with the Department of Community Affairs setting qualification rules.

Maddy summaryThe "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act" prevents credit reporting agencies from including paid medical debt or medical debt under $500 in credit reports, regardless of when the debt was incurred. It prohibits medical creditors and debt collectors from reporting medical debt to credit agencies for services provided after the law takes effect. The bill requires a 180-day waiting period before collection actions can begin and mandates a 30-day notice with a clear payment deadline before starting collections. Additionally, it protects patients by prohibiting debt collection during pending insurance appeals and requiring credit bureaus to remove debt information if an appeal is pending or the debt is paid.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3364) clarifies the fee cap for New Jersey's County Option Hospital Fee Program, directly affecting participating counties and hospitals within them. It specifies that county-imposed hospital fees must not exceed "the aggregate amount specified in 42 C.F.R. s.433.68(f)(3) minus one percent of total net patient revenues," removing prior ambiguity about the cap calculation. The bill requires counties to submit fee plans for commissioner review and approval before implementation, ensuring fees align with federal Medicaid rules. It does not change the program's purpose of funding hospitals serving low-income residents or the requirement for county commissioners to adopt ordinances for fee collection.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 138) symbolically designates June 2024 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey. It urges public officials and citizens to commemorate the month with appropriate activities, recognizing the contributions and struggles of LGBTQIA+ individuals (including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and non-binary people). The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the community's achievements and ongoing advocacy. It follows similar designations by federal and state governments, emphasizing visibility and equality.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates the sale of "intoxicating hemp products" in New Jersey by requiring sellers to be licensed by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. It defines intoxicating hemp products as those containing more than 0.5 milligrams of total THC per serving or 2.5 milligrams per package, prohibits sales to anyone under 21, and bans products not derived from naturally occurring biologically active chemical constituents. Violations carry escalating fines: $100 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $10,000 for third and subsequent offenses. The bill clarifies that hemp products meeting the THC limits (not more than 0.3% on dry weight basis) remain regulated under the Hemp Farming Act, while intoxicating products fall under cannabis regulations. It also requires the Cannabis Regulatory Commission to develop a public education program for businesses on these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $44.7 million Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to help eligible New Jersey school districts affected by state aid cuts in the 2024-2025 school year. It provides grants covering two-thirds of each district's state aid reduction (capped at 9.9% of their prior year's tax levy) and allows eligible districts to temporarily exceed normal tax increase limits to offset these cuts. Districts receiving aid must maintain staff levels from the previous year unless enrollment declines, requiring commissioner approval for reductions. The program specifically excludes SDA districts (special needs districts) from the tax levy exception but does not affect their existing tax authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain New Jersey school districts that will lose state aid to submit their budgets after the state's FY2025 budget is finalized. It specifically applies to districts where the state aid reduction exceeds their unused tax authority (known as "banked cap" under current law). The Commissioner of Education must permit these districts to submit budgets within five days after the FY2025 appropriations act is enacted, and may adjust the budget calendar to create a compressed timeline for approval. The change applies only to the 2024-2025 school year.