Asm. Andrea Katz

Maddy summaryThis bill allows bingo halls, raffle organizers, and penny auction operators in New Jersey to accept credit cards, debit cards, or other electronic payments for tickets or shares. It requires the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to create regulations enabling these electronic payment methods, which are currently prohibited under existing law. The change directly affects licensed operators of these games and their customers, who will now have more payment options. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1714) requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to offer same-day issuance of 12 specific documents during in-person appointments. It directly affects customers seeking standard driver's licenses, permits, identification cards, or vehicle registrations who have completed applications and paid fees. The MVC must provide cameras and printers at all locations to enable immediate document production before customers leave. This policy change replaces current practices where customers typically wait for mailed documents.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1407) upgrades penalties for prostitution-related offenses in New Jersey and creates two new specific crimes: "leader of a prostitution network" and "participant in a prostitution network." It directly affects individuals involved in organizing or participating in commercial sex operations, including those who manage or facilitate such networks. Key mechanisms include classifying leadership roles as first-degree crimes (with mandatory prison terms) and participants as second-degree crimes (also with mandatory minimum sentences), while strengthening existing penalties for promoting prostitution involving minors or vulnerable individuals. The bill also modifies definitions of "prostitution" and "house of prostitution" to clarify these new offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes mandatory annual payments from solid waste facility operators to municipalities where facilities are located. It requires landfills to pay at least $1.00 per ton of waste accepted (and transfer stations $0.50 per ton), with payments structured as cash, tax exemptions, or other agreed benefits. The law creates a 180-day negotiation window between municipalities and operators, followed by a mandatory 45-day public comment period before finalizing payments. Residents can also petition the state to establish or adjust these payments if they believe current benefits are unreasonable.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 2513 requires school meal providers (including school districts and contracted food service companies) to prioritize purchasing food from farms or food producers located within New Jersey state borders or within 100 miles of the school. This applies to all schools participating in federal school meal programs like the National School Lunch Program. The law mandates that at least 20% of food purchased for school meals must come from these local sources, aiming to support regional agriculture. The bill amends existing school meal procurement rules to establish this geographic preference requirement.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2716) sets new standards for annual health screenings in public schools for students in grades K-12, requiring schools to screen for height, weight, and blood pressure. It mandates that screenings be conducted by school physicians or nurses, one class at a time with physical privacy barriers, and must not rely solely on BMI - instead, weight evaluations must consider factors like access to healthy food, exercise opportunities, and other lifestyle barriers. Schools must also hold age-appropriate pre-screening discussions to explain the purpose and reduce student anxiety. The State Board of Education must create regulations including additional health markers (such as age, gender, race, and genetic history) for weight assessments. The bill takes effect for the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2761) requires the Division of Parole to establish statewide residency restrictions for high-risk sex offenders. It prohibits these offenders - specifically those sentenced to life parole for crimes involving minors under 18 - from living within 500 feet of schools, child care centers, or playgrounds. Exceptions apply if the offender is in a correctional facility, receiving mental health treatment, had an existing residence before the law, or if a parole board or court grants a specific exemption. Parole officers must enforce these restrictions when approving residences for these offenders.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the statewide high school graduation proficiency test requirement for all New Jersey students. It directly affects every high school student in the state by removing a mandated test as a condition for earning a diploma. The key mechanism deletes references to the "Statewide proficiency test" from existing graduation statutes (including sections of P.L.1979, c.241), shifting responsibility to local school districts to set their own graduation standards. This change means students will no longer need to pass a state-administered test to graduate, though local districts must still establish and monitor proficiency requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of members in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It directly affects current and future retirees who are members of this system, restoring annual benefit increases tied to inflation. The key provision amends existing law to allow the retirement system's board of trustees to reinstate these automatic COLAs without requiring additional contributions from members, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't harm the fund's long-term stability. The bill does not create new benefits but returns a previously reduced feature of the retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes restrictions on the number of plenary retail distribution licenses (for selling alcohol) that businesses can hold, specifically for two types of stores. It allows up to four licenses for stores where groceries are the primary business (accounting for at least 65% of annual sales) or where alcohol sales are primary (at least 90% of annual sales), increasing to six licenses after 73 months. Licensees must prove these sales percentages during renewal applications. The change applies only to existing stores meeting these criteria, does not create new licenses in municipalities with existing limits, and excludes stores in urban food deserts from these rules.