Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez

Maddy summaryS 1579 establishes a tax credit program for New Jersey employers hiring eligible military spouses. It provides credits equal to 15% of wages for spouses working 120-400 hours annually or 25% for 400+ hours, capped at $2,400 per employee per year. The credit applies to employers who hire nonresident military spouses legally domiciled in New Jersey or relocated due to a permanent military move. Administered by the Labor Department, the credit reduces corporate business tax or gross income tax. This policy directly incentivizes employers to hire military spouses whose careers are disrupted by frequent relocations.

Maddy summaryS 2367 helps military spouses who relocate to New Jersey due to a military transfer by streamlining their path to teaching certification. It extends the validity of a temporary teaching certificate from 180 to 365 days (with a possible 365-day extension) and eliminates all fees for both temporary and full instructional certificates. The bill also requires the state to expedite processing of full certification applications. These changes directly affect nonresident military spouses holding valid teaching licenses from another state who meet New Jersey's competency standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 789) expands New Jersey's existing affordable housing preference for veterans to include certain South Korean veterans who served as U.S. allies in the Vietnam War. It amends definitions to include South Korean veterans who are New Jersey residents, citizens, and have a disability recognized by South Korea's equivalent of the U.S. Veterans Administration. These veterans will now qualify for the same housing preference priority as other disabled veterans - ranking second behind homeless veterans - under existing state housing programs. Applicants must still meet standard income requirements for each housing project, and the bill does not create new housing but extends current eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program to reimburse counties for providing transportation to disabled veterans traveling to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical appointments in New Jersey or neighboring states. It removes previous restrictions that limited veterans to only specific transportation methods, allowing counties to use public transit, private vehicles, or county-owned services for reimbursement. The program directly affects disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities and participating county governments. It appropriates $2 million from the state General Fund to fund this transportation assistance, effective six months after enactment. The law amends existing provisions to expand access for veterans who cannot use existing state or federal travel programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes an existing exception allowing smoking in casinos and simulcasting facilities under New Jersey's smoke-free law. It eliminates the specific exemption that previously permitted smoking in casinos with at least 150 slot machines or 10 table games, and in simulcasting facilities with dedicated seating for 50+ patrons. As a result, smoking will now be banned in these venues, aligning them with the general smoking restrictions in public places. The change directly affects all New Jersey casinos and simulcasting facilities operating under the state's regulations.

Maddy summaryS 2408 requires New Jersey to appropriate up to $200,000 annually from the General Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (DMVA) to help preserve military installations if the federal government pursues base realignment or closure. The bill mandates that the DMVA submit a public annual report by July 15th detailing all expenditures from these funds, including receipts and vendor information, which must be posted online. It also requires competitive bidding every two years for any contracts involving lobbyists or governmental affairs agents related to installation preservation. This bill directly affects the DMVA and military installations in New Jersey, with no substantive policy changes beyond funding and transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 781, would allow registered nurses in New Jersey to apply for special vehicle license plates displaying the caduceus symbol and the words "Registered Nurse." Nurses would pay a $50 application fee (plus a $10 annual renewal fee) to the Motor Vehicle Commission, which would design the plates and manage the program. The state must first secure funding to cover initial costs before implementation, and the program could end if annual plate costs exceed fees for two consecutive years. The bill directly affects licensed nurses seeking to display their profession on their vehicles, with no changes to existing vehicle registration requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to maintain specific staffing ratios for certified school library media specialists based on student enrollment. Schools with fewer than 300 students must have at least a half-time specialist, those with 300-1,499 students must have one full-time specialist, and schools with 1,500+ students must have two full-time specialists. Additionally, schools with 500 or more students must employ at least one full-time library clerk, plus one additional clerk for every 500 students beyond 500. The bill includes limited waivers for schools unable to hire certified staff and specifies minimum daily time specialists must dedicate to library work based on school size. It applies to all public schools in New Jersey starting with the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 117 prevents the removal of criminal records for convictions of carjacking and promoting prostitution of a child. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of these specific crimes, as they will be ineligible to clear their records through New Jersey's expungement process. The law amends the state's expungement statute to explicitly exclude these offenses from eligibility. Consequently, these convictions will remain visible on public criminal records permanently.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1568 expands the state's child tax credit to cover children ages six to 11 (previously only children under six) and increases credit amounts over two years. It provides cash payments for eligible parents with children under 12, with credit amounts ranging from $100 to $1,000 per child depending on household income (capped at $80,000 annual taxable income). For 2023-2024, parents with a child aged 6-11 earning under $30,000 receive $500 per child, rising to $600 starting in 2025. The credit phases out gradually as income exceeds $30,000 and is fully eliminated above $80,000.