Maddy summaryThis bill allows construction companies, contractors, and subcontractors in New Jersey to sue other firms in the industry for specific wrongful acts such as wage theft, employee misclassification, tax or insurance fraud, and bid manipulation. The law requires the company filing the lawsuit to provide at least 30 days' notice to the accused party and to notify the Department of Labor and Workforce Development before initiating legal action. If a company wins the lawsuit, the court must award them reasonable attorney fees and costs, including expenses for expert witnesses. These provisions aim to create a legal mechanism for private enforcement of construction industry standards while ensuring transparency through mandatory notifications.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Family Development to create a registration system for people applying for the state's child care assistance program. The system will maintain a waiting list, notify applicants when they can apply, and use contracted agencies to help people complete their applications. Additionally, the division must publish semi-annual reports with non-identifying data on application numbers, waitlist lengths, and reasons for ineligibility to improve transparency and inform future policy decisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an automated "Clean Slate" expungement process in New Jersey to help individuals with criminal records clear their histories more easily. It allows people to petition for expungement even if they do not meet standard eligibility criteria, provided they have waited the required amount of time after their conviction and paid any associated court fines or fees. The law includes specific provisions for cases where financial obligations are delayed due to reasons other than intentional nonpayment, as well as exceptions for those who have substantially complied with payment plans despite facing difficult circumstances. By streamlining these procedures, the legislation aims to reduce the administrative burden on courts while offering a pathway for record clearance to eligible residents.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Targeted Midwifery Workforce Development Act to address racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes in New Jersey. It allocates $12 million to expand training and support for midwives, aiming to increase access to culturally competent care for Black communities who currently face higher risks of pregnancy-related death and infant mortality. The legislation directly affects healthcare providers, educational institutions, and state agencies involved in workforce development and maternal health services. By investing in midwifery education and addressing systemic inequities, the bill seeks to improve birth outcomes and reduce the gap between Black and white residents in the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Employment First Commission within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to improve job opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The commission will consist of 17 members, including state officials and representatives from disability advocacy groups, who will work to analyze data and provide input on employment policies. Its main duties include gathering information on service needs, coordinating efforts across different state agencies, and developing a dedicated webpage to share employment resources. The commission will meet regularly to ensure that competitive, integrated employment remains a priority in public services for people with disabilities.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $12 million program to fund community-led initiatives aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes for Black families in New Jersey. The funding is directed toward underserved urban areas, including Newark, Trenton, and Atlantic City, to support culturally congruent care provided by Black medical professionals, midwives, and doulas. By creating resource centers that address systemic barriers and provide holistic support, the legislation seeks to reduce the state's high rates of preventable pregnancy-related deaths and infant mortality among Black women. The initiative specifically targets regions with significant health disparities to ensure equitable access to prenatal care and wellness services.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries with brain injuries. It requires these rates to match the average reimbursement for Day Habilitation Services (Tiers D and E) under the Division of Developmental Disabilities program, raising payments from $3.65 to $9.09 per 15-minute service unit. The policy directly affects approved brain injury service providers and beneficiaries receiving structured day care for traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries. It expands existing Medicaid reimbursement rules, which previously only covered community residential services for brain injury care.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual funding for cancer research in New Jersey by directing $10 million in cigarette and tobacco tax revenues to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR), up from the current $1 million. It establishes a permanent, non-lapsing "Cancer Research Fund" in the state Treasury, ensuring these funds cannot be diverted to other state budgets. The fund must allocate at least $5 million annually to general cancer research and at least $5 million specifically to pediatric cancer research, with all spending requiring approval by the NJCCR. The State Treasurer manages the fund, and any interest earned is reinvested into the fund for ongoing research support.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires stores authorized to accept SNAP benefits in New Jersey to install security features on their payment terminals to prevent card skimming, a fraud method that steals data from payment cards. Starting in January 2027, the state Department of Human Services will have the power to inspect these retailers to ensure they are following the new safety rules. If a store violates the law, it faces fines ranging from $1,000 for a first offense up to $5,000 for each subsequent violation, and a retailer could be banned from the SNAP program after four or more infractions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires that individuals receiving benefits from the Work First New Jersey program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program receive written instructions on how to lock and unlock their replacement benefit cards. The law aims to help recipients safeguard their accounts against unauthorized use by ensuring they understand the security protocols for their electronic cards at the time of issuance. Currently, while replacement cards are issued, there is no mandate to provide these specific security instructions to the cardholders. This change applies to all adult recipients in New Jersey who are issued new benefit cards under the state's electronic benefit distribution system.