Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create and annually update an informational pamphlet about operating low-speed electric bicycles and scooters. The pamphlet must cover current laws, penalties for violations, and include a notice about distribution requirements. Food delivery companies that use these vehicles for deliveries must distribute the pamphlet to all their delivery drivers within 30 days of receiving it from the MVC and include it in hiring paperwork. The MVC must publish the pamphlet online with translations into at least five languages (including Spanish) and send two copies to each qualifying food delivery company within 60 days of development. It directly affects MVC, food delivery companies, and their drivers who use low-speed e-bikes/scooters for deliveries.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 3715 requires New Jersey public school districts to mandate that students found responsible for bias incidents meet weekly with a State-certified school psychologist for at least nine months. This applies to students engaging in conduct motivated by protected characteristics (such as race, religion, or sexual orientation) that creates a hostile school environment, including verbal slurs, hate symbols, or biased graffiti. The bill replaces punitive measures with structured counseling to address underlying causes, emphasizing education and support over discipline. It directly affects students who commit bias incidents in K-12 schools, requiring districts to employ psychologists trained in implicit bias and cultural equity. The law aims to reduce repeat incidents by focusing on intervention, aligning with New Jersey’s goal of maintaining safe, nondiscriminatory learning environments.
Maddy summaryS 1803 expands financing options for affordable housing projects in New Jersey by broadening the definition of "eligible loans" to cover a wider range of housing types, including multi-family units, boarding houses (with specific exclusions), continuing-care retirement communities, assisted living, and mobile homes. It explicitly allows loans to finance related services like parking, utilities, community facilities, and life safety improvements in boarding houses, certified by the Department of Community Affairs. This bill directly affects low and moderate-income housing sponsors (developers, nonprofits, or for-profit entities) seeking funding for projects that provide residential housing. The key change is streamlining access to financing for diverse affordable housing models through the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows religious and nonprofit organizations to convert their nonresidential properties into housing developments that include affordable units, directly affecting these organizations and local municipalities. It requires municipal planning boards to approve such conversions without needing special variances, provided at least 20% of residential units are reserved as very-low, low-, or moderate-income housing, with specific sub-requirements for income tiers. The bill also permits increased density (up to 40 units per acre) and building height (one story above standard limits) for these projects and makes them eligible for long-term tax exemptions under New Jersey’s tax law. These changes aim to streamline the creation of affordable housing on properties owned by qualifying organizations while maintaining state affordability standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends existing New Jersey laws regarding classroom placement for twins and higher-order multiples to include public preschool programs. It allows parents to request that their multiples be placed in the same or separate classrooms, with the school principal making the final decision based on available space and educational needs. Additionally, the bill requires that when preschool seats are awarded through a lottery or open enrollment system, these siblings must be treated as a single unit to ensure they attend the same program. If one child requires special education services, the placement must align with that child's individualized education plan, and parents may be responsible for any extra transportation costs resulting from the requested arrangement.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands registration requirements for residential landlords in New Jersey and increases the penalties for non-compliance. It mandates that landlords of single-family rentals, duplexes, and larger apartment buildings file detailed certificates with local officials, which must include owner information, contact details for maintenance staff, emergency representatives, and proof of insurance. Additionally, the bill requires landlords to complete approved training on tenant rights and housing safety standards, with specific certification deadlines for different property types. Violations of these new rules could result in fines of up to $500 per offense and the potential revocation of the landlord's registration certificate.
Maddy summaryThis bill protects tenants in New Jersey from having their water or wastewater service shut off due to unpaid bills by the property owner. It requires utility companies to give tenants 30 days of written notice before any service interruption and prohibits shutting off service if the tenant is not the official bill payer or lives in a multi-unit building with a single water connection. Under this law, utility companies must pursue outstanding payments from the property owner rather than the tenant, and the owner cannot legally charge the tenant for these past debts. The bill applies to both municipal water utilities and public utilities serving residential rental properties across the state.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill mandates that courts must appoint a receiver to manage buildings that meet specific safety or maintenance criteria, rather than leaving such decisions to the court's discretion. A receiver will be required if a building has serious health and safety violations lasting at least 90 days or has a documented pattern of recurrent code violations over the past two years. The law also clarifies that courts must select a qualified entity, such as a mortgageholder or lienholder, to act as the receiver and allows for dismissal of complaints if the owner proves repairs were made or violations are minor. Additionally, the bill introduces stricter requirements for dismissing complaints, including a rule that plaintiffs must file a notice of lis pendens within 10 days of filing.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows for-profit movie theaters in New Jersey to obtain a special license to sell alcoholic beverages on their premises. Under the new rules, theaters can serve alcohol during scheduled showings and for two hours before a first-run movie begins. The license is tied specifically to the theater and cannot be transferred, with an annual application fee of $210,000 that is reduced to $150,000 if the venue sources at least 10% of its drinks from local small-scale producers. Additionally, this new license does not count toward the state's existing limit on how many such licenses a municipality can issue based on its population.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates May 25, 2026, as "Missing Children's Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about missing children and honor the efforts of families, law enforcement, and support organizations. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a commemorative observance to highlight the risks children face when they go missing and the importance of quick reporting. It recognizes that missing children represent a significant portion of missing persons cases and aims to promote community vigilance and support for those affected by child disappearances.