Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez

Maddy summaryS 1099 creates a state incentive fund providing school districts an additional 10 cents per breakfast for participating in the federal school breakfast program while serving "breakfast after the bell" to 20-100% of students eligible for free or reduced meals. The fund supplements existing federal reimbursements to help districts cover costs of expanding breakfast access. The Department of Agriculture and Education will administer the program, provide school support, and issue annual reports on costs and participation. The Legislature must annually appropriate funds to implement the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals New Jersey's optional will registry law (P.L.2005, c.97), which allowed individuals or their attorneys to register basic will location details (name, date, location) with the Secretary of State. The registry did not store will copies and was intended to help locate wills after death. Sponsors argue the law creates unnecessary work for surrogates without significant benefit, so this repeal eliminates the registry system. The change directly affects people creating wills, their attorneys, and court surrogates who previously handled registry requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover community violence prevention services for eligible recipients. It adds these services to Medicaid coverage under existing "preventative and rehabilitative services" (Section 12 of the amended law), directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries and violence prevention providers. The bill also establishes a state training and certification program for professionals working in violence prevention. This creates a new pathway for Medicaid reimbursement for evidence-based community violence intervention programs. The legislation is currently pending in the Senate Health Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to reimburse county governments for providing transportation services to disabled veterans traveling to medical appointments at Veterans Affairs facilities in New Jersey or neighboring states. It removes a previous restriction requiring appointments to be specifically for service-connected conditions, expanding eligibility to all VA medical appointments. The bill appropriates $2 million from the state budget to fund this program through the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. It directly affects disabled veterans (defined as those with a VA-certified service-connected disability) and county governments offering transportation services.

Maddy summaryS 506 requires public school students in New Jersey who sustain a concussion to receive an evaluation and written clearance from a physician or licensed health care provider trained in concussion management before returning to school or participating in any physical activity at school (including recess, physical education, or sports). The bill mandates that school districts implement any restrictions recommended by the physician through their 504 team and notify all relevant staff. It prohibits students from engaging in physical activities until they have the required clearance. This bill directly affects all public school students in New Jersey who experience concussions and requires school districts to follow specific health protocols.

Maddy summaryS 310 requires scrap metal businesses in New Jersey to verify the identity of sellers using photo ID and record their information for all transactions. It mandates that sellers disclose in writing whether scrap metal contains a propulsion battery (like those from vehicles), and businesses must inspect the metal if the seller claims it has no battery. Businesses must maintain detailed records of these disclosures and inspections for five years and provide them to law enforcement upon request. This law directly affects scrap metal businesses and individuals selling scrap metal, aiming to prevent theft and environmental risks from improper battery handling.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's SCR 25 is a non-binding resolution urging Congress and the President to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from the Jones Act's shipping restrictions. The bill targets provisions requiring goods shipped between U.S. ports to use U.S.-flagged vessels built, owned, and crewed by Americans. Puerto Rico, as an unincorporated U.S. territory, faces higher shipping costs under these rules - impacting hurricane recovery efforts like Hurricane Maria's aftermath and Puerto Rico's ongoing economic crisis. A permanent exemption would allow cheaper foreign shipping for consumer goods (excluding defense-related items), aiming to lower costs for residents and speed economic recovery. The resolution cites the 2017 hurricane and Puerto Rico's $74 billion debt as key reasons for the change.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 317, authorizes New Jersey counties to create mentoring programs where experienced farmers provide guidance to beginning farmers (defined as those with 10 years or less farming experience in the state or first-time farmers under federal rules). It also allows counties to resell farmland preserved through state programs to beginning farmers at prices below what the county originally paid, while maintaining agricultural deed restrictions. Proceeds from these sales would be returned to the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund for future land conservation. The bill directly affects beginning farmers and county agricultural development boards by lowering barriers to accessing preserved farmland.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2490 establishes a 12-member "Substance Use Disorder and Addiction Treatment Best Practices Task Force" within the Department of Health to address fragmentation in the state's addiction treatment system. The task force will evaluate whether a single oversight agency should replace current fragmented responsibilities (held by multiple departments), develop best practices for outpatient treatment centers and sober homes, and recommend regulations for businesses owning both services. Composed of legislative leaders, agency officials, and industry representatives (including treatment center owners and peer recovery specialists), it must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within two years. This bill directly affects how New Jersey regulates addiction treatment providers and coordinates services across state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "Garden State Corporation" status for New Jersey manufacturing companies. To qualify, businesses must operate primarily in New Jersey, elect half their board members from employees (with equal voting rights), and include specific terms like "Garden State" in their name. Qualifying corporations receive significant tax credits: up to 60% off state corporate tax for the first five years if also certified as a benefit corporation, decreasing to 30% over nine years. The bill directly affects manufacturers choosing this status and aims to incentivize local job retention and worker representation.