Maddy summaryBill S 3906 revises New Jersey's Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act to add clear enforcement tools and penalty provisions. It allows the Board of Tree Experts or the Department of Environmental Protection to issue compliance orders, pursue civil actions for damages, and impose fines of $1,000 for a first violation or $2,500 for repeat violations (with each day of violation counting as a separate offense). Before levying fines, agencies must provide written notice detailing the violation and penalty, and give violators 20 days to request a hearing. This directly affects licensed tree care professionals by increasing accountability for non-compliance while giving enforcement agencies stronger authority to address violations.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (A4374) makes two specific violations of New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act criminal offenses. It targets employers who knowingly falsify payroll records for public construction projects or submit false information on contractor registration forms. Currently, these violations result in fines up to $25,000 and disqualification from public work; the bill upgrades them to a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to $10,000 in fines, 18 months in jail, or both. The law applies directly to employers working on state or local public construction projects requiring prevailing wage compliance.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Real Estate Appraiser Board to adopt the Appraisal Qualifications Board's "Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal" (PAREA) program as an alternative way for prospective appraisers to gain required experience. Currently, applicants must find a licensed appraiser to supervise their on-the-job training, which is often difficult with no formal support system. Under the bill, the PAREA program would allow applicants to fulfill all experience requirements through virtual simulations of real-world appraisal work, guided by mentors. This change directly affects individuals seeking real estate appraiser licenses or certifications in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to share eligibility data for certain low-income assistance programs (like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, SNAP, and Supplemental Security Income) with agencies managing energy assistance programs. It mandates that those agencies automatically enroll eligible households into utility bill payment assistance or energy efficiency programs without requiring separate applications. The policy directly affects households already receiving federal or state needs-based aid, streamlining access to energy help. Key provisions include data-sharing agreements between state departments and automatic enrollment for qualifying individuals, as permitted by federal law. The bill takes effect six months after enactment.
Maddy summaryS 3187 makes it a fourth-degree crime for employers to knowingly falsify payroll records required under New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act or to make false statements on public works contractor registration forms. Currently, such violations carry civil penalties like fines ($2,500-$25,000) and disqualification from public work, but this bill adds criminal penalties including up to 18 months in jail and fines up to $10,000 - applied in addition to existing penalties. The bill also requires county prosecutors or the Labor Commissioner to notify the Attorney General about violations, allowing the Attorney General to decide whether to prosecute directly or refer the case to local authorities. It directly affects employers working on public construction projects in New Jersey who must comply with prevailing wage requirements.
Maddy summarySJR 96 permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in New Jersey to honor the state's over 40,000 nonprofit organizations. The resolution requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public recognition of nonprofits, which employ 330,000 New Jersey residents and contribute $5.3 billion annually to the state's economy through services like food assistance and education. This symbolic resolution aligns New Jersey with a national observance recognizing nonprofits' community impact.
Maddy summaryThis bill exempts minors under 16 who are featured in family-run vlogs (not creating their own content) from standard child labor restrictions. It defines a "vlogger" as a caregiver or family member creating compensated video content featuring a minor, excluding minors under 16 who produce their own vlogs. The exemption applies when a minor meets specific criteria over a 12-month period, allowing them to work as a vlog subject without needing a theatrical permit. This directly affects minors working in family vlog content creation and their caregivers. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Budget Committee after passing the Assembly.
Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the employee threshold for New Jersey's Secure Choice Savings Program, requiring all employers with at least one employee to participate - previously, only businesses with 25 or more employees were subject to this requirement. It removes the "small employer" exemption, meaning even the smallest businesses must automatically enroll eligible employees in the retirement savings program unless employees opt out. Employers must establish payroll deduction arrangements within nine months of the program's launch, with employees able to choose contribution levels (starting at 3% of wages) and investment options. The change directly affects all New Jersey employers, expanding participation from larger businesses to all workplaces with employees.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Garden State Preservation Trust to conduct a comprehensive audit of New Jersey's land preservation programs, including Green Acres, Blue Acres, farmland preservation, and historic property preservation. The audit must identify inefficiencies and recommend fund reallocations. It authorizes local governments and nonprofit organizations using constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for farmland preservation to use up to 3% of the value of development easements or fee simple titles for administrative expenses. The bill also requires unspent funds allocated to local governments for farmland preservation to be returned to the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund after 18 months if not committed to an active project. It appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to support the audit implementation.
Maddy summaryS 3800 amends New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly protect current military service members and veterans from discrimination. The bill broadens existing protections by adding "service in the Armed Forces of the United States" as a protected class, covering both active duty personnel and those who have been discharged. It makes it unlawful for employers to deny reemployment to employees who take leave for military service, aligning with federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The bill also updates gendered language in the law to be more inclusive and clarifies that only unlawful discrimination is prohibited under the law.