Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits developers of data centers from using non-disclosure agreements to hide details about their projects from the public or local officials. It declares such secrecy deals unenforceable and requires applicants to certify that no agreements were made to conceal development plans during property transactions. Local agencies must deny approval for any data center project where the developer violates these transparency rules. The law specifically targets data centers and does not apply to other types of construction.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands a pilot program into a statewide initiative, requiring the Office of the Public Defender to implement a team-based representation model across all regional offices. Under this new system, each client receives a team consisting of a staff attorney and a non-attorney client services specialist who work together to address both legal issues and underlying personal challenges. The client services specialist is tasked with connecting individuals to resources for mental health, substance abuse treatment, housing, employment, and other social needs while the attorney focuses on legal defense. By integrating social support directly into the legal process, the bill aims to provide more comprehensive assistance to people involved in the criminal justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a dedicated fund to manage money received from national opioid litigation settlements and appropriates up to $5 million annually for related state police initiatives. It designates the Department of Human Services as the lead agency responsible for distributing these funds to counties and municipalities while ensuring compliance with settlement terms. The legislation also creates a mechanism for the fund to earn interest and allows the department to adopt temporary regulations to oversee the allocation and reporting of these resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Nonprofit Security Grant Program to include funding for security-related training, planning, and intelligence gathering, in addition to existing support for security personnel and target-hardening equipment. It increases the maximum grant amounts to $50,000 for personnel/training and $150,000 for equipment/intelligence. The program, administered by the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, directly assists eligible nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attacks, domestic extremism, or violent acts. The bill also requires the program to request a minimum of $10 million annually in state funding (up from $2 million), with 5% of funds allocated for program administration.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes licensing and certification standards for tobacco treatment specialists in New Jersey. It creates two new credentials: "Certified tobacco treatment specialist" (requiring a high school diploma, 42-hour training, and experience) and "Licensed clinical tobacco treatment specialist" (requiring a master's degree, 18 graduate counseling hours, and a national exam). The law directly affects professionals providing tobacco/nicotine counseling by setting education, training, and examination requirements. It amends existing law to mirror standards already applied to alcohol/drug counselors, aiming to ensure qualified practitioners meet consistent standards for public safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's "Daniel's Law" to protect victim support advocates and victim support care providers by prohibiting the online disclosure of their home addresses and unpublished phone numbers. It creates a process where authorized representatives (like family members or legal agents) can request removal of this personal information from the internet. Violating this prohibition could result in criminal charges, ranging from a fourth-degree crime for reckless disclosure to a third-degree crime for intentional violations. The law directly affects professionals working with crime victims who face safety risks from public exposure of their personal contact details.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program allowing certain New Jersey state employees in the executive branch to work a four-day week. The program is voluntary for participating departments, which must use staggered schedules to ensure daily coverage and negotiate terms with unions if applicable. Employees will keep their current pay and benefits, but the state must ensure the program does not increase overall personnel costs or reduce service levels. Throughout the pilot, agencies will track employee satisfaction and operational metrics, with final results reported to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Kidney Disease Study Commission within New Jersey's Department of Health to investigate kidney disease disparities affecting minority and underserved populations. The nine-member commission will include state officials and six public appointees tasked with researching the causes of higher disease rates and lower transplant success in these communities, while also examining treatment patterns under Medicaid and private insurance. To carry out its work, the commission will hold public hearings, utilize state resources, and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing its findings and recommendations for future action.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to investigate complaints alleging that affordable housing rents are set excessively or discriminatorily. It defines excessive rent as charges that exceed legal limits, increase by more than 10 percent without justification, or conflict with approved rent schedules, and allows tenants or housing officials to report such issues. Upon receiving a complaint, the Division must investigate within 30 days and issue a determination within 90 days, while owners found guilty face escalating civil penalties and must provide restitution to affected tenants. The legislation also prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who file complaints and mandates the Division to submit an annual report on enforcement actions to state leaders.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a five-year pilot program to help young people aged 12 to 19 prepare for jobs through grants totaling $5 million. The funds will be given to nonprofit community groups that partner with local businesses and schools to offer training and career guidance during after-school and summer hours. These programs aim to teach youth the skills needed by employers while connecting them to future job opportunities. The initiative is designed to improve workforce quality and support economic mobility for young people in New Jersey.