Maddy summaryS 2242 establishes the CreateNJ Center at Thomas Edison State University to help nontraditional students and workers convert learning experiences into recognized academic credits, career credentials, and apprenticeship training. The center will create a "CreateNJ Workforce Transcript" that validates skills and knowledge, serving as New Jersey’s central resource for translating education and work experience into formal credentials. It will maintain a voluntary database of credentialed skills from participating colleges and operate through a 12-member steering committee including state education officials, business leaders, and college representatives. The center may charge fees to fund its operations and accept grants, but participation in the database remains voluntary for individuals and institutions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2219) requires all colleges and universities receiving state student aid funds to adopt specific policies addressing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. It mandates an "affirmative consent" standard - requiring clear, ongoing agreement for sexual activity, not just absence of resistance - and prohibits excuses like intoxication or failing to verify consent. Institutions must also use a "more likely than not" standard in disciplinary cases, provide victim-centered support including privacy protections, and implement campus-wide prevention programs and trauma-informed staff training. These requirements apply directly to higher education institutions seeking state financial aid for student programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey correctional facilities to provide female inmates with a single dose of emergency contraception (Levonorgestrel, commonly known as Plan B) upon request, without needing a prescription. It allows inmates to consult with medical professionals about the medication and mandates using generic versions when possible. The policy directly affects female inmates in state correctional facilities by ensuring access to pregnancy prevention within 72 hours after unprotected sex or birth control failure. The bill takes effect three months after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Fair Appraisals Act," prohibits licensed real estate appraisers in New Jersey from discriminating in property valuations based on race, gender identity, disability, or other protected characteristics. It directly affects appraisers by requiring them to avoid bias in their work and imposing penalties for violations, including restitution for affected property owners, mandatory anti-bias training, license suspension for repeat offenses, and civil fines up to $50,000. Appraisers must also inform property owners about how to report discrimination, and the Division on Civil Rights will collect demographic data on complaints to monitor patterns. The law aims to ensure fair property valuations and strengthen enforcement against discriminatory practices in housing.
Maddy summaryS 1968 creates automatic eligibility for subsidized child care services in New Jersey for qualifying child care workers, regardless of their family income. It defines a "qualifying child care worker" as someone employed at least 20 hours weekly by a licensed child care center or registered provider. The bill requires the Human Services Commissioner to verify employment eligibility and secure necessary federal funding waivers to maintain program access. This directly affects child care staff seeking subsidized care for their own children, removing income barriers that previously applied. The policy change takes effect after implementation steps are completed.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey state program to reimburse full-time public school teachers for classroom supply expenses up to $250 per school year. School districts receive funding based on the number of full-time teachers ($250 per teacher), and teachers submit receipts to request reimbursement for approved supplies like books or computer equipment. Any remaining funds after initial reimbursements cover teachers who spent over $250, with unused funds rolling over to the next school year. The program is funded entirely through federal pandemic relief funds (like the ARP Act), not state money.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Emerging Technology Urban Grant Program through New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), providing grants to cover cloud computing service costs for qualifying technology businesses. Eligible businesses must be located in designated urban technology zones (specific cities meeting population and economic criteria), commit to keeping their U.S. headquarters in those zones for five years total, employ 100 or fewer full-time workers, and demonstrate 20% growth in staff or revenue over the past year. The program aims to attract high-growth tech companies to urban cores, creating jobs and stimulating local economies through financial incentives for cloud service usage. Grants are limited to the actual cost of cloud computing services used, with applications due by June 30, 2022.
Maddy summaryS 2238 requires New Jersey school districts receiving state preschool funding to place at least half of preschool students in licensed child care centers, with the remainder in district-run programs or Head Start. This directly affects school districts that receive preschool education aid under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. Districts may apply for a waiver from this requirement if licensed child care spots are unavailable within their area, providing justification to the Department of Education. The law would take effect in the first full school year after enactment.
Maddy summaryS 85 establishes a new Division of Minority and Women Business Development within New Jersey’s Department of the Treasury, led by a State Chief Disparity Officer. This officer will monitor state contracting data to track how many and how much money in state contracts go to minority-owned and women-owned businesses, then report findings to the Governor and Legislature. The bill requires all state agencies to appoint a liaison officer to assist this effort and mandates full implementation of existing certification rules for these businesses (banning self-certification). It also specifies that small business set-aside contracts under $2,000 (the current threshold for public building projects) must be negotiated competitively without public bidding. The bill codifies an existing 2006 executive order, formalizing the division’s structure and duties.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1699 requires manufacturers and retailers of hemp-derived cannabinoid products (like Delta-8-THC edibles, cosmetics, and inhalables) to register with the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, undergo mandatory safety testing, and provide clear labeling about content. The bill targets products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids with more than 0.1% concentration, aiming to address safety concerns as independent tests found some products contain unsafe THC levels or unknown compounds. Key provisions include mandatory registration, product testing for contaminants, and standardized labeling to ensure transparency for consumers. This regulation applies directly to businesses selling these products in New Jersey, moving them under the state's existing cannabis regulatory framework.