Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Minority and Women-Owned Businesses State Contractor Remedies Act" to address ongoing disparities in state contracting. It requires New Jersey state agencies and prime contractors to make a "good faith effort" to increase participation by minority and women-owned businesses, specifically Black, Asian, and Hispanic American-owned businesses and women-owned businesses, based on a 2024 state disparity study showing persistent statistical gaps in contract awards. The law defines key terms like "Black American-owned business" and "Asian American-owned business" with specific ownership criteria (51% ownership by the group) and directs the Department of the Treasury's Chief Diversity Officer to oversee implementation. It does not set fixed percentage goals but mandates evidence of good-faith efforts to meet the needs identified in the disparity study.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires data center owners or operators in New Jersey to submit quarterly water and energy usage reports to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The reports must include specific metrics like total energy consumption, water sources, renewable energy usage, waste heat reuse, and efficiency indicators such as power usage effectiveness. Data centers operating for at least one year must submit their first report within three months of enactment, while newer centers have six months. The BPU would publish all submitted data online within 30 days, making it publicly accessible.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to create and maintain a public list of textbook vendors whose materials include "inclusive content" - defined as accurate portrayals of diversity in areas like race, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. School districts must select new textbooks only from vendors on this DOE-listed roster when purchasing for the first time. Exceptions allow districts to request commissioner approval for non-listed vendors, and the rule doesn't apply to textbooks from the state's existing textbook bank or for damaged/lost books needing replacement. The policy directly affects all New Jersey public school districts purchasing new textbooks.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires presidents and vice-presidents of New Jersey's major teachers' unions (NJEA and AFT-NJ, including local leaders for K-12 teachers) to sign an acknowledgement of their legal duty to report child abuse under existing state law before taking office. It also mandates that these union officers complete training on the specific requirements for school employees to notify authorities about suspected child abuse, neglect, or missing children. The bill does not change current reporting laws but ensures union leaders understand and commit to these obligations. It applies directly to union leadership roles representing K-12 teachers in New Jersey. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's SNAP program to provide bilingual materials and interpreters in specific areas where certain language thresholds are met. It directly affects SNAP applicants and beneficiaries in counties or service areas with a significant number of "single-language minority" households - defined as groups where all members speak one non-English language and no adults speak English. The law mandates bilingual services when at least 100 households (in smaller areas) or 5% of low-income households (in larger areas) share the same non-English language, including during seasonal influxes of non-English speakers. Materials can be printed bilingually or include English summaries with language-specific contact information.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals, birthing centers, and healthcare providers in New Jersey to screen pregnant people or those who recently gave birth (within six weeks) for endometriosis if they were diagnosed with preeclampsia and later show symptoms. Providers must first give patients education about endometriosis and its warning signs, then obtain written consent for screening (or document a written refusal using a standardized form). If screening is positive, providers must discuss results and develop a treatment plan to manage endometriosis risks. The Commissioner of Health will create the educational program and screening guidelines in consultation with the Endometriosis Foundation of America.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes an existing exception in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, the law permits smoking in areas of casinos with at least 150 slot machines or 10 table games, and in simulcasting facilities with dedicated seating for 50+ patrons. The bill deletes this exception from the statute, meaning smoking would be prohibited in all indoor public areas of these facilities under the general smoke-free law. It directly affects casinos and simulcasting venues that currently operate under the smoking exemption.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1209, the "Prohibition Against Gender-Based Pricing Discrimination Act," bans businesses from charging different prices for substantially similar products or services based on gender. It specifically prohibits price differences for items like clothing or personal care products where the only difference is marketing toward a gender (e.g., women's vs. men's versions of identical items), excluding minor differences in color or packaging. The bill requires salons, tailors, and dry cleaners to clearly display pricing in 14-point bold text and provide written price lists upon request, along with a visible 24-point sign stating the law. It explicitly allows price differences for gender-neutral reasons like material costs or tariffs. The law applies to all businesses selling goods or services in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) program providing grants and loans to support urban farming. It directly affects urban farming operations in cities (defined as neighborhoods in cities of any class or eligible municipalities) that grow fresh produce for public school cafeterias. Key provisions require applicants to secure contracts with school districts, demonstrate farming experience, and commit to supplying schools with produce. The program excludes marijuana cultivation and aims to help acquire, maintain, and supply urban farming sites to public schools.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover prescription drugs for "serious mental illness" (including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and PTSD) without prior authorization or step therapy protocols. It directly affects individuals with these diagnoses who rely on insurance for mental health medications. Key provisions ban insurers from forcing patients to try lower-cost treatments first (step therapy) or requiring pre-approval for covered medications. The bill also mandates insurers to report how they apply medical necessity standards for mental health coverage to ensure parity with physical health benefits. This creates immediate, concrete changes to medication access for covered mental health conditions.