Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez

Maddy summaryS 1051 requires plaintiffs in malpractice lawsuits against enrolled agents (federal tax professionals licensed by the IRS to represent taxpayers) to submit an affidavit from another qualified professional confirming negligence likely occurred. This bill adds enrolled agents to New Jersey’s existing list of professionals - including doctors, lawyers, and accountants - who must have such affidavits filed within 60 days of a lawsuit’s initiation. The requirement aims to prevent frivolous lawsuits by ensuring claims meet a basic standard of professional negligence before proceeding. The bill extends an existing legal protection already applied to other licensed practitioners.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Low Income Household Water Assistance Program to help eligible households pay water bills and prevent service disconnections. It directly affects low-income households earning at or below 60% of New Jersey’s median income, providing financial assistance for water service costs, debt relief on past bills, and support to prevent disconnections. Key mechanisms include direct grants to water systems for household assistance, short-term support for non-public water systems, and coordination with existing energy assistance programs. The program is funded with $25 million in state appropriations and aims to make water service affordable while tracking performance metrics by location.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 2484 clarifies procedures for drivers whose licenses were suspended, directly affecting individuals convicted of driving while suspended. The bill allows courts to waive jail time for certain violations if offenders prove they completed their suspension period and paid the required restoration fee (as outlined in P.L.1975, c.180). Key provisions specify that courts must waive imprisonment for first offenses under suspension, provided the person shows proof of fee payment and completed suspension. This change aims to reduce unnecessary incarceration for compliant drivers while maintaining penalties for repeat violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits fees healthcare providers in New Jersey can charge for appointment cancellations, rescheduling, or no-shows. It prohibits charging any fee for cancellations/rescheduling more than 24 hours in advance. For less than 24 hours, providers may charge up to $25 only if the patient was notified of the fee at booking time and has previously violated the 24-hour rule twice in six months. Violations carry fines up to $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for repeat violations. The bill directly affects patients scheduling healthcare appointments and the providers who manage those appointments.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's affordable housing law to provide municipalities with additional flexibility in meeting their fair share housing obligations. Specifically, it allows municipalities to count each housing unit occupied by a veteran (with active wartime service) as 1.5 units toward their requirement, instead of the standard 1 unit. It also permits municipalities to satisfy up to 35% of their affordable housing obligation by setting aside units specifically for veterans. The bill directly affects New Jersey municipalities required to provide affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary license pathway for spouses and dependents of active-duty U.S. military members who move to New Jersey due to military orders. It requires professional licensing boards to issue these temporary licenses if applicants hold current licenses in another state with equivalent requirements, have practiced for two of the past five years, and meet background and education criteria. The bill also eliminates application fees for these military family members and mandates that licensing forms include a checkbox for military status. These provisions aim to reduce barriers for military-connected individuals seeking to practice their professions in New Jersey while maintaining licensing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Department of Early Childhood within New Jersey's Executive Branch to consolidate early childhood services. It transfers specific responsibilities from the Department of Education (covering preschool-through-kindergarten programs like teacher licensing and Title I services) and the Department of Human Services (covering pregnancy-to-age-eight services like child care programs and the First Steps Initiative) to this new department. The bill defines the Commissioner as the head of the department, appointed by the Governor, and outlines the department's authority to manage these transferred programs, develop regulations, and coordinate services. This creates a single state agency responsible for early childhood education and care, directly affecting children aged birth through eight and the agencies currently managing these services.

Maddy summarySCR 27 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee all New Jersey residents a fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, including clean air, pure water, safe climate, and healthy habitats. It designates the State as the trustee of all natural resources (waters, air, lands, wildlife, and climate) for both current and future generations, requiring the state to conserve and maintain these resources for public benefit. The amendment would be self-executing, meaning courts could enforce it directly without new laws, and it explicitly states these rights are in addition to existing environmental protections. This change would apply to all New Jersey residents and require the state government to uphold these environmental rights through its actions and policies.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 1097 would allow municipalities to count each unit of transitional housing occupied by a veteran as 1.5 units toward their state-mandated affordable housing obligation. This applies to transitional housing with supportive services that helps veterans move to permanent housing within 24 months, requiring affordability for veterans for at least 10 years. The bill directly affects local governments (municipalities) by providing a new credit mechanism to meet housing requirements and veterans accessing transitional housing. It amends existing law (P.L.1985, c.222) to specifically include qualifying veteran housing in fair share calculations.

Maddy summaryS 2473 would prevent contractors from winning new New Jersey state contracts if they have an unresolved dispute over an existing state contract. Specifically, bidders would be ineligible if they failed to complete work (as determined by the State Contract Manager), if the current contract is incomplete or on hold, or if litigation involves their performance. The bill aims to ensure contractors resolve existing issues before securing new state projects. This applies to all state contracts governed by Chapter 34 of Title 52.