Asm. Andrea Katz

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day" to raise awareness about the challenges faced by widows. It requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day through activities that highlight widows' experiences. The bill does not create new policies, funding, or legal changes - it serves solely as a symbolic recognition of widows' issues, citing statistics like 260 million widows globally and 1 million U.S. widows annually. It passed unanimously in the New Jersey Assembly and became law (P.L.2025, JR-10).

Maddy summaryThis bill dedicates a portion of wine sales tax revenue to the "Jersey Fresh Program Fund." Specifically, it requires the State Treasurer to deposit $0.21875 per gallon from wine, vermouth, and sparkling wine sales by licensed wineries into the fund, equaling 25% of that tax. The money will fund the Jersey Fresh branding program, which promotes locally grown New Jersey agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, seafood, and processed foods through advertising and marketing. This expands the fund's current sources, which previously relied on voluntary contributions via income tax returns.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed breweries, wineries, and distilleries in New Jersey to sell "Jersey Fresh" alcoholic beverages, which are defined as alcoholic beverages licensed by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture under the Jersey Fresh program. Specifically, holders of limited brewery, farm brewery, plenary winery, farm winery, cidery and meadery, and craft distillery licenses can now sell these products at retail for on-premises or off-premises consumption and offer samples. The Jersey Fresh program, established in 1984 to promote New Jersey-grown produce, now extends to alcoholic beverages made from New Jersey farm products. This change does not alter existing licensing requirements but adds a new sales authorization for qualifying license holders. The bill aims to increase consumer awareness about locally produced alcoholic beverages and support New Jersey's agricultural industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey hospitals with inpatient maternity services and licensed birthing centers to provide lactation counseling to people who have given birth before their discharge. Specifically, facilities must offer either an in-person one-on-one consultation with a certified lactation specialist or a remote consultation via live voice if requested. The counseling must include breastfeeding education, support, care planning, instruction on breastfeeding techniques, recommendations for assistive devices, and health benefit information. The bill ensures lactation specialists cannot be reassigned to non-lactation duties during their shifts and defines "lactation consultant" and "lactation counselor" by specific certification standards.

Maddy summaryAJR 45 designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day" in New Jersey. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the day through appropriate activities. The resolution highlights that nearly one million U.S. women become widowed annually, with 70% of married women experiencing widowhood in their lifetime, and many facing ongoing financial, legal, and health challenges. This is a symbolic designation without new legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires specific groups to complete human trafficking training as a condition for their licenses or employment. Law enforcement officers who handle domestic violence or sexual assault cases must finish a state-approved training course. Hotels, motels, and healthcare facilities must provide one-time training to designated staff, with proof of completion required for license renewals. The training covers identifying and responding to human trafficking, and must be reviewed every two years. The Department of Community Affairs, Health, and Police Training Commission oversee implementation with timelines for current and new staff.

Maddy summaryThe "New Jersey Loves New Jersey Farmers Act" provides tax credits to commercial farm operators who experience price loss on New Jersey-grown farm products. The tax credits equal the difference between actual receipts farmers received for their products and "baseline receipts" calculated using monthly reference prices set by the Secretary of Agriculture. To qualify, farmers must obtain certification of their price loss from the Secretary of Agriculture based on business records showing actual sales versus the calculated baseline. The credits can be applied against corporation business tax or gross income tax, and farmers may also transfer unused credits to other taxpayers for use over several tax periods.

Maddy summaryAJR 227 designates every May as "Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The resolution aims to increase public awareness of these genetic connective tissue disorders, which cause symptoms like joint hypermobility, chronic pain, fragile skin, and fatigue. It encourages research and support for affected individuals by formally recognizing the condition during this designated month. The bill does not create new laws but promotes community education and resource connection.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures that certain regional school districts (those with more than seven constituent districts) receive state school aid in the 2025-2026 school year that is at least equal to their total state aid from the 2024-2025 school year. It creates "regional stabilization aid" that calculates the greater of: (1) the district’s current state aid under existing law, or (2) the sum of their 2024-2025 aid including equalization, special education, security, transportation, adjustment, and Stabilized School Budget grants. The aid directly affects eligible regional districts to prevent funding cuts. It takes effect immediately, with the first distribution for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill, A5686, authorizes New Jersey's Division of Rate Counsel to deny public utility rate increase requests if the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (measuring inflation for all items) exceeded 2% in any of the four quarters before the utility filed its petition. It directly affects public utilities (such as electricity, gas, and water providers) seeking rate hikes and the consumers who pay their bills. The key provision requires Rate Counsel to block such rate increases during periods of elevated inflation, preventing utilities from raising prices when overall costs are rising sharply. The law takes immediate effect and defines "public utility" per existing state law.