Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill mandates that health insurance plans cover early-stage kidney disease screening without requiring patients to pay deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. It applies to individuals whose doctors determine the screening is medically necessary based on guidelines from the National Kidney Foundation. The law specifically requires coverage for two types of tests: a blood test to measure kidney function and a urine test to check for protein. Insurance companies must treat these screenings the same as other medical conditions, ensuring patients can access them without out-of-pocket costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Whole-Home Repairs Program within the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to provide financial assistance for home improvements. It targets low-income homeowners and small landlords by offering grants to owners and forgivable loans to landlords who agree to limit rent increases for at least two years. The program specifically funds repairs for accessibility, safety, energy efficiency, and weatherization, with priority given to seniors, people with disabilities, and those facing immediate health risks. A total of $25 million is appropriated from the state's General Fund to support these efforts while ensuring that construction work pays prevailing wages.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill creates a new criminal offense for landlords who harass residential tenants with the goal of forcing them to leave their homes. It defines harassment to include actions such as cutting off essential services, threatening violence, repeatedly entering the property, and filing frivolous eviction cases. The law also expands liability for members of limited liability companies that own rental properties, ensuring they can be held personally responsible for such conduct. Additionally, the bill allows victims to seek civil penalties and damages, while offering prosecutors a brief window to let landlords fix minor violations before charges proceed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts that receive specific state preschool funding to partner with licensed child care providers and Head Start programs to offer free preschool education. Under the new rules, districts receiving these grants cannot use state funds to operate more than two preschool classrooms in a single school building, forcing them to contract with external providers to meet demand. To ensure quality and fairness, the legislation mandates that districts use competitive contracting to select partners and must publicly disclose which providers are chosen or rejected. Additionally, the Department of Education will offer technical assistance and establish a grant program to help these external providers meet high-quality standards, with priority given to those serving underserved communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's anti-discrimination law to explicitly include labor organizations as protected categories, ensuring that individuals cannot face discrimination based on their membership in such groups. By updating the legal definition of "labor organization," the legislation clarifies that this protection covers unions and other employee representation committees formed for collective bargaining or addressing employment conditions. The changes directly affect employers, hiring entities, and employment agencies by prohibiting them from treating job applicants or employees differently because of their union status. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "employer" to ensure these protections apply broadly across private and public sectors.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Fresh Start Program to allow nonprofit organizations to receive payment forgiveness for unpaid electric and gas bills. To implement this change, the state's Board of Public Utilities must update its rules to include these organizations as eligible recipients of the assistance. Additionally, utility companies are required to automatically review their customer accounts and enroll qualifying nonprofits in the program without waiting for an application. The program specifically targets small, tax-exempt nonprofits with annual budgets of $500,000 or less that are currently behind on their utility payments.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires owners of multiple dwelling buildings to notify tenants and tenant associations before selling the property. It specifically mandates notice for sales to affiliates, short sales, or deeds in lieu of foreclosure, ensuring residents are informed of these transactions. If at least 51% of the occupied units are represented by a tenant association, the group gains the right of first refusal to purchase the building. The law also defines how tenant associations can form successor entities, such as cooperatives or joint ventures, to facilitate the acquisition and maintain affordable housing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows homeowners in New Jersey whose primary residences are located in Governor-declared disaster areas to pause their mortgage payments for up to 180 days. To qualify, a borrower must request this forbearance from their lender, who is required to approve the request within 15 business days. During the pause period, lenders cannot charge penalties, fees, or interest, and borrowers have the option to extend the pause for another 180 days. After the forbearance ends, the missed payments must be repaid through loan extension, loan modification, or a deferred payment due at the end of the loan term.

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 strengthens enforcement of local rent control laws in New Jersey by creating a new Rent Control Ombudsman within the Department of Community Affairs and providing $4 million in funding. It requires municipalities with rent control ordinances to establish clear complaint procedures and strict response timelines, while also allowing tenants to sue in court if their complaints are ignored for over 30 days. Additionally, the law authorizes the Attorney General to intervene and appoint a special master if a city shows a pattern of willful non-enforcement, and it permits tenant groups to represent multiple residents in legal actions.