Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Workforce Housing Partnership Act provides financial assistance to help middle-income workers purchase homes by incentivizing employers to offer down payment assistance. It establishes a program that matches employer contributions (up to $10,000-$15,000 per employee) for down payments on workforce housing, provides low-interest mortgages, and offers tax credits to employers for these contributions. The bill requires that at least 20% of units in workforce housing projects be affordable for low- and moderate-income households (earning no more than 80% of area median income). It appropriates $55 million total ($50 million for the assistance program, $5 million for a relief program for long-term homeowners in affected areas). The legislation aims to address housing affordability challenges for workers in high-cost areas while encouraging private sector involvement in housing development.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Food is Medicine NJ Pilot Program" within New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) for three years, appropriating $5 million. It directly serves Medicaid recipients with qualifying diet-related chronic conditions (like diabetes, heart failure, or obesity-related illnesses) who are referred by healthcare providers. The program provides medically tailored meals to up to 3,000 participants and produce prescriptions with nutrition education to an additional 7,000 at-risk individuals. DHS must contract an evaluator to measure outcomes like reduced hospitalizations, improved health metrics (e.g., blood sugar levels), and cost savings to Medicaid, reporting findings at 18 months and upon program completion.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts, with parental agreement, to place up to 10% of a parent's child support payments into an irrevocable trust for the child. The child becomes the beneficiary and can access the funds at age 18 or as specified in the trust terms. Courts retain authority to adjust the trust percentage or appoint a new trustee if the current trustee isn't acting in the child's best interest. The parent's total child support obligation remains unchanged by this arrangement.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords from conducting hard credit inquiries (which can lower a tenant's credit score) when screening applicants for affordable housing. Landlords may only use soft credit inquiries (with applicant consent) for these applicants, as soft inquiries do not impact credit scores. The bill also requires credit agencies to count multiple hard credit inquiries for rental applications within one month as a single inquiry. Landlords violating these rules face $100 penalties for the first violation in a year, $100 for the second, and $200 for each subsequent violation in the same year, with the state required to post related information on its website within six months.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires homeschooled children in New Jersey and their parents or guardians to meet annually with a designated school district representative (a counselor, nurse, or social worker). The meeting serves two purposes: allowing parents to request support for their home education program and enabling the school staff to conduct a general health and wellness check of the child. It applies to all families using home education programs within a school district and takes effect in the first full school year after enactment. The bill does not mandate specific educational standards or funding but creates a structured annual check-in process.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1391 establishes a state program that allows certified first-time home buyers to open special savings accounts at participating banks or credit unions. These accounts offer gross income tax benefits on both contributions (up to $15,000 annually or $75,000 lifetime) and earnings, with assets capped at $150,000 per year. Withdrawals are tax-free only when used for qualified home purchase expenses like down payments, closing costs, or inspection fees. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency certifies eligible buyers and oversees the program, which requires financial institutions to partner with the agency to administer the accounts.
Maddy summaryS 3429 expands New Jersey's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students with children. It directly affects students enrolled in higher education programs who meet existing income, asset, and residency requirements. The bill amends eligibility rules to add these students to the program's qualifying categories, without changing other existing criteria. The legislation also requires the Department of Human Services to seek federal funding for these expanded services and update related regulations.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Rent Control Enforcement Unit (RCEU) within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to address violations of local rent control laws. It directly affects residential tenants who can petition the RCEU to investigate suspected illegal rent increases, and landlords who may face enforcement actions. The RCEU can order rent reductions (to the lowest rate in the past year), impose penalties up to four months' rent, or allow tenants to break leases early. The unit will also provide a dedicated helpline and online portal for reporting violations, with $3 million initially allocated from the General Fund to support its operations.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A4652) creates a new offense for "inciting a public brawl" when someone purposefully organizes or promotes a group of four or more people to engage in disorderly conduct. It upgrades penalties for disrupting public gatherings or events, making such conduct a "disorderly persons offense" (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine) instead of a lesser "petty disorderly persons offense." The bill also adds a provision penalizing people who conceal their identity during disorderly conduct to avoid arrest. These changes directly affect individuals organizing group disturbances or attempting to hide their identity at public events. The law amends New Jersey statutes N.J.S.2C:33-1 and N.J.S.2C:33-2.
Maddy summaryS 1408 allows municipalities to approve converting underused office parks (50,000+ sq ft) and retail centers (15,000+ sq ft) with high vacancy rates (25%+ for 18 months) or significant revenue losses into mixed-use developments. It requires such projects to include residential space (at least 20% reserved for affordable housing), avoid industrial uses, and meet specific zoning standards for the converted site. The bill directly affects developers seeking to redevelop these properties and municipalities that must streamline approvals under updated zoning rules. Key provisions include mandatory affordable housing quotas and relaxed height/setback requirements to facilitate the conversions. This aims to revitalize declining suburban properties by enabling walkable communities with housing, retail, and amenities.