Maddy summaryThis bill establishes standardized food date labeling in New Jersey. It requires manufacturers to use "BEST if Used By" for quality dates (indicating potential quality decline, not safety risk) and "USE By" for elevated-risk dates on time/temperature control foods (like dairy or meat), which signal when food may become unsafe. Retailers cannot sell food past an "USE By" date or display confusing "sell-by" dates meant for stores, and they are protected from liability if manufacturers mislabel. The Commissioner of Health must create a public education program to clarify date label meanings and reduce consumer confusion between quality and safety dates. The bill excludes alcoholic beverages and amends existing milk labeling rules.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a requirement that public school employees (in school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects) must live in New Jersey. It applies for three years after the bill's effective date, allowing schools to hire out-of-state residents without requiring them to move to New Jersey. To qualify, the position must have been advertised to New Jersey residents for at least three months before hiring, and the employee cannot have been a New Jersey resident working in a school district within the past year. This change aims to help schools recruit staff with specialized skills who might otherwise be unavailable.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits licensed cannabis retailers in New Jersey from offering coupons, price reductions, or price rebates for recreational cannabis sales to consumers. It applies specifically to Class 5 cannabis retailers (under New Jersey's cannabis regulatory law) but excludes medical cannabis dispensaries selling to registered qualifying patients. Violations carry escalating civil penalties: $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for third or subsequent offenses, with penalties paid to the local municipality. Repeat violations may also lead to license suspension or revocation by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The bill explicitly excludes medical cannabis sales and news media advertising from these restrictions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects to install at least one exterior key box meeting UL 1037 or equivalent standards at every school building by June 30, 2027. The key boxes must contain all necessary keys/devices for emergency responders (including law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel) to access all building areas and be placed at locations determined with emergency services. Schools may seek exemption if they implement equivalent emergency access plans approved by the Commissioner of Education. The state will cover all installation costs and reimburse schools for compliant key boxes purchased after the bill's effective date.
Maddy summaryS 249 establishes a three-year oral health pilot program (the "MOM Project") in New Jersey's Department of Health, targeting low-income pregnant women and new mothers who live in medically underserved areas and are not enrolled in Medicaid. The program provides free oral health education (at least three hours covering hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention), followed by one year of dental care including cleanings, risk assessments, and necessary treatments through community health centers. It appropriates $4.15 million to fund outreach, education, and dental services, requiring participating centers to partner with nonprofit maternal health groups to develop personalized treatment plans. The initiative aims to improve oral health outcomes for mothers and infants while collecting data on the program's impact.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2582 establishes the Grow Your Own Teacher Loan Redemption Program through the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. It repays up to $10,000 annually in student loan principal and interest for teachers who work full-time for five years in school districts designated as having a teacher shortage, specifically in the district where they graduated high school or where they resided for over five years. Participants must have graduated from or lived in a shortage district, hold a teaching position there, and maintain student loan debt. The program limits annual state spending to $500,000 and caps total repayment at $50,000 per participant over five years.
Maddy summaryThis bill legalizes personal cultivation and possession of marijuana plants for adults aged 21 or older in New Jersey. It allows individuals to grow and possess up to six marijuana plants for recreational use (with a maximum of 12 plants per household), and qualifying medical patients or their designated caregivers to grow and possess up to 10 plants for medical use (also capped at 12 plants per household). The bill amends criminal law to remove penalties for these specific amounts, making such activity not a crime, offense, or civil violation. It applies only to personal use and does not authorize commercial sales or cultivation beyond these limits.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey colleges and universities from giving preferential treatment to applicants based on "legacy status" (having a parent or relative who attended the school) or familial ties to donors. It directly affects prospective students applying to higher education institutions in New Jersey, ensuring admissions decisions are not influenced by these factors. The law requires institutions to stop considering such connections during admissions, applying immediately upon enactment. The bill defines legacy status specifically as a familial relationship to an institution alumnus, banning any preferential consideration for this reason.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a single online pre-application system for New Jersey residents to apply for multiple affordable and senior housing options at once, including rental, for-sale, and temporary housing. It consolidates applications for 10 state and federal housing subsidy programs - such as Section 8 vouchers, rental assistance, and homelessness prevention programs - into one streamlined platform. The system serves only as an initial pre-eligibility check for waitlists, not a final approval, and allows users to select specific locations like municipalities or counties. It directly affects low-income residents, seniors, and individuals seeking housing assistance by simplifying access to multiple housing resources. The New Jersey Housing Agency must implement this by updating its website and adopting necessary rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 284) requires New Jersey Medicaid to cover self-administered hormonal contraceptives dispensed by pharmacists under a standing order. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who use hormonal contraceptives, expanding access by allowing pharmacists to provide these medications without a separate prescription for each use. The key mechanism is amending Medicaid rules to include contraceptives dispensed under a pre-approved standing order protocol, which streamlines access while maintaining medical oversight. This change aligns with existing Medicaid coverage for other prescription drugs and aims to reduce barriers to contraceptive care.