Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board from 14 to 17 members and creates a new "Problematic Sexual Behavior Program" to address youth-related sexual behaviors. It establishes an annual progress review program for child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams to maintain funding eligibility, requiring compliance with National Children's Alliance standards. The program specifically defines "problematic sexual behavior" to include developmentally inappropriate actions by youth under 18, such as sexting or exposure to explicit content. The expanded board will include specialized professionals like psychologists, pediatricians, and care coordinators to oversee these initiatives. The bill directly affects child advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams, and youth with problematic sexual behaviors in New Jersey.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey corporations with a tax credit equal to 15% of wages paid to qualified community health workers (up to $2,500 per worker) for both corporation business tax and gross income tax. To qualify, employers must apply to the Commissioner of Health for certification that an employee meets specific criteria: working at least 10 hours weekly, completing a state-approved training program, and not being an independent contractor. The credit is limited to 50% of tax liability per year and may be carried forward if unused. It directly affects New Jersey businesses hiring community health workers - professionals who connect underserved communities to healthcare resources and educate providers about access barriers.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Administrative Procedure Act to improve transparency in state agency rule-making. It requires agencies to publish key information - including organizational descriptions, rule-making schedules, public comments, and final decisions - on their websites. Agencies must also provide at least 60 days' notice for proposed rules (up from 30 days), maintain a quarterly calendar of upcoming rule-making activities, and wait 45 days before acting on new items added to the calendar. These changes directly affect all state agencies that create or modify rules, aiming to make the process more accessible to the public.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to exchange approximately 219 acres of State-owned land in Lacey and Stafford Townships (Ocean County) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for about 52 acres in Galloway Township (Atlantic County). The State-owned land being transferred will become part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, while the acquired land currently houses the Department of Environmental Protection’s Marine Resources Administration offices (occupied since 1964). The exchange allows the State to use its funds to construct new offices on the federal land, replacing aging facilities. The bill specifies that minor adjustments may be made to equalize the land values and exempts the transfer from certain state land sale regulations.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear standards for courts to determine if a rent increase is "unconscionable" (extremely unfair), considering factors like the rent amount, landlord expenses (e.g., maintenance, insurance), local market rates, tenant bargaining power, and property condition. Landlords must prove their increase isn't unconscionable, shifting the burden of proof from tenants. It also requires courts to keep eviction case records private if tenants win, unless landlords secure a possession judgment. The law excludes rent-controlled areas and regulated affordable housing programs from these standards. The main provisions take effect immediately, while the record privacy rule starts six months after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis resolution urges New Jersey school districts to establish concussion management teams. These teams - comprising school nurses, psychologists, athletic trainers, and other staff - would support students recovering from concussions by coordinating care, monitoring cognitive needs, and ensuring safe returns to both classroom and sports activities. The resolution highlights CDC data showing concussions are common in youth sports and emphasizes that such teams provide immediate, school-based expertise to complement existing district policies. It does not create new legal requirements but encourages districts to adopt this approach for student health and safety.
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 730, restructures New Jersey's electric and gas utility regulations by giving public utilities new choices regarding ownership and customer service. Electric utilities that own generation facilities must bundle rates and file updated tariffs with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), ending retail choice for customers. Gas utilities can choose to discontinue retail choice for residential customers, requiring BPU-approved tariff changes that bundle gas rates. The bill also requires BPU approval for utility ownership changes and new electric facility construction, ensuring rate adjustments and environmental considerations are reviewed before implementation. These changes directly affect utilities and residential customers who previously had options to choose suppliers.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 733 bans the sale and distribution of certain consumer products containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), directly affecting manufacturers and retailers selling these items within the state. The bill prohibits PFAS in specific products like apparel, carpets, cookware, cosmetics, food packaging, and juvenile products (e.g., baby items), but excludes FDA-approved medical products, food packaging regulated under federal law, and items required by other regulations. It defines "intentionally added PFAS" broadly to include both the substances themselves and their degradation byproducts used to provide functional properties like stain or water resistance. The law applies to products intended for personal or residential use, with exemptions covering industrial equipment, medical devices, and products certified by federal agencies.
Maddy summarySCR 20 is a symbolic concurrent resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of New Jersey's Jersey Fresh program, a state-sponsored agricultural branding initiative established in 1984. The resolution does not create new policies or affect any group; it solely honors the program's role in promoting locally grown produce through a distinctive label and quality standards. Jersey Fresh requires produce to meet U.S. No. 1 Fresh for Processing grade or better, guaranteeing freshness and quality while supporting family farms. The program, recognized nationally as a model, has expanded to over 2,000 locations across all 21 counties and inspired related initiatives like Jersey Grown and Jersey Seafood. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no binding effect on law or policy.
Maddy summaryThe "Patient and Provider Protection Act" regulates pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) in New Jersey, directly affecting PBMs, pharmacies (both contracted and independent), and patients who use prescription drugs. It requires PBMs to establish conflict-free committees managing drug formularies, ensures generic drugs are not disadvantaged over higher-cost alternatives, and bans commission-based PBM compensation in favor of flat fees. The bill mandates PBMs to prioritize long-term patient health outcomes, prohibits misleading marketing to steer patients to network pharmacies, and sets reimbursement rules: contracted pharmacies must be paid at least their acquisition cost, while independent pharmacies receive rates no more than 5% below the lowest contracted rate (but not below cost). It also bans contracts conditioning drug rebates on excluding generic drugs and prevents PBMs from restricting independent pharmacies from matching network prices and quantities.