Maddy summaryS 3623 requires all candidate nominating petitions for New Jersey elections to be posted online by election officials (like county clerks) within specific deadlines, such as by 4:00 p.m. on the second day after filing for general election petitions. It also mandates that appeals challenging these petitions must be heard by a Superior Court judge with sufficient expertise in election law, as determined by the assignment judge. These provisions directly affect candidates who file petitions, election officials managing petition submissions, and courts reviewing challenges. The bill aims to increase public access to petition information and ensure disputes are resolved by judges with relevant experience, without changing the core petition filing process.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3632) requires New Jersey to cover high school equivalency exam fees for low-income residents. It defines "low-income" as individuals in households earning ≤185% of federal poverty guidelines and limits fee coverage to one exam per person. The state would fund this through a 5% allocation from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund. The State Board of Education must establish the program within six months of the bill's effective date.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of parking structures in New Jersey to hire a licensed professional engineer every five years to inspect the structure's safety and submit a report to the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) within 14 days. Owners must ensure inspections meet the structure's original design loads and uses, with the DCA empowered to order closures for non-compliance or failed inspections. The DCA will identify affected structures, notify non-compliant owners, and allow a 30-day grace period to submit reports before enforcement. It directly affects owners of all parking structures, including those in commercial buildings, apartment complexes, and public facilities. The law takes effect four months after enactment, with the DCA required to adopt implementing rules.
Maddy summaryS 3622 requires undergraduate students at New Jersey colleges to file a degree plan with their institution by specific credit milestones: 60 credits for four-year schools (or during the second semester for transfer students with 45+ credits), and 30 credits for community colleges or proprietary institutions. It mandates colleges to develop structured "pathway systems" that set graduation progress benchmarks for each major, require first-time students to take credit-bearing math and English courses within their first 24 credits, and ensure students in remedial courses enroll in the corresponding credit-bearing course immediately after. Institutions must also notify students changing majors to update their degree plan and provide academic advising for students falling behind on progress benchmarks. The degree plan must be created with an academic advisor and follow the institution's established pathway to graduation.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to offer professional licensing examinations in English and the four most commonly spoken languages in the state (other than English), instead of only English with optional Spanish for practicing licensees. It mandates the Division of Consumers Affairs to post these four languages on its website and update the list every five years based on current language usage. The change applies to both new applicants and practicing licensees seeking renewal or additional certifications. The bill modifies existing law to expand language access for exam-takers without altering the requirement for practical and written exam components.
Maddy summaryS 3633 requires New Jersey counties and municipalities to use a computerized system (approved by the Secretary of State with safeguards) to randomly determine the order of candidate names on primary and general election ballots, replacing the current manual "drawing lots" process. It eliminates the practice of grouping candidates for different offices ("bracketing") and mandates that the computerized drawing be viewable both in person and electronically by any legal voter. This bill directly affects county clerks, municipal clerks, and voters who may observe the ballot-positioning process. The key change is standardizing ballot ordering through a transparent, technology-based system to limit potential outside influence. The bill amends New Jersey election law sections 19:14-12, 19:23-24, and 19:49-2.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires six New Jersey authorities - NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA - to consider and prioritize minorities and women in hiring decisions and contract awards. It mandates these entities to publish quarterly reports on employee and contractor demographics, including gender, race, ethnicity, and average salaries or contract amounts. The law defines "minority" to include Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian or Alaskan Native individuals, and specifies criteria for "minority businesses" and "women's businesses." The provisions for PANYNJ and DRPA will only take effect if New York and Pennsylvania enact similar laws. The bill aims to increase diversity in employment and contracting within these major state authorities.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3625 establishes the Office of Voting Rights within the Office of the Public Defender to provide free legal assistance to voters facing issues on election day. The office will help residents with problems like unclear voter registration status, challenges from election challengers, or harassment at polling places. It will operate under the Public Defender's supervision, with staff appointed to handle cases based on complexity, and will coordinate with state agencies for support. All New Jersey residents will be eligible for these services at no cost.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in New Jersey to provide written disclosure about an applicant's eligibility for family, medical, and disability leave benefits at the time of a job offer. It covers state and federal leave programs, including family leave, medical leave, and disability benefits. If an applicant would be ineligible for any of these benefits, employers must explain the reason for ineligibility and provide information about the state's leave benefits webpage. Employers who fail to provide this disclosure face a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3621 bars colleges and degree-granting institutions from asking about applicants' criminal history in admission applications, except for serious crimes like homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, human trafficking, or certain violent offenses. It creates a 24-member task force to develop a standard college application that eliminates criminal history questions, enabling students to apply to multiple institutions with one form. After admission, colleges may still consider criminal history for counseling services or decisions about campus activities (like housing), but cannot deny admission solely based on it. Law schools are exempt from these requirements.