Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that substance use disorder is included in New Jersey's legal definition of "mental illness" when it causes a person to be dangerous to themselves or others. It directly affects individuals with substance use disorders who meet the "dangerous" standard, allowing them to be subject to involuntary treatment requirements under the same rules as other mental health conditions. The key change explicitly adds substance use disorder to the definition of mental illness for commitment purposes, ensuring it is covered when the dangerous standard is met. This update does not lower the standard for requiring treatment but ensures substance use disorders are treated equally under the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies and research facilities in New Jersey that use cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing or research to assess these animals for adoption suitability after testing ends. If deemed suitable, they must offer the animals to animal rescue organizations or private individuals for adoption, following specific procedures. Facilities must report details like animal numbers, assessment results, and adoption outcomes to the Department of Health, with penalties of up to $50,000 for noncompliance. The law directly affects testing facilities, research institutions, and animal rescue organizations, aiming to provide a pathway for animals used in testing to find new homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals and clinical laboratories in New Jersey to offer hepatitis C screening tests to patients born between 1945 and 1965 during outpatient visits. It mandates that staff provide a written CDC policy statement about the testing and obtain patient consent before administering the test. The bill also ensures insurance coverage for the test at in-network rates (with no patient billing beyond standard copays), and excludes patients who have already been tested. This directly affects approximately 75% of the state’s estimated 3.2 million hepatitis C patients, targeting a high-risk age group identified by the CDC.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit program for small private businesses in New Jersey (with ≤100 average full-time employees) that hire unemployed workers. Employers qualify for a credit equal to their payroll taxes paid for each new full-time hire who was unemployed for at least 30 days prior to being hired. The credit is capped at the net increase in full-time staff compared to the year before April 2021. Businesses must apply for the credit, and the state must report annually on program costs, jobs created, and economic impacts through 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year "Security Deposit Assistance Pilot Program" in eight New Jersey counties (Passaic, Union, Essex, Hudson, Gloucester, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Mercer) to help low-income renters. It provides a program where eligible households (qualifying for "very low income housing" under the Fair Housing Act) pay 1/12 of their security deposit monthly for the first year, with the state reimbursing landlords if tenants violate leases (up to the unpaid deposit amount). The program requires landlords to accept the state-issued "letter of security deposit commitment" instead of full payment, prohibiting discrimination against participants. It appropriates $450,000 from the General Fund to operate the pilot and requires a legislative report evaluating its effectiveness after three years.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 115) removes a requirement that New Jersey National Guard members must serve in federal active duty to qualify for a $6,000 annual gross income tax deduction. It directly affects honorably discharged New Jersey National Guard members who previously needed federal active duty service to claim this deduction. The key change amends the tax code (N.J.S.54A:3-1) to make the deduction available regardless of whether a servicemember was ever called to federal active duty. The policy change ensures all qualifying National Guard members receive the same tax relief as veterans of other military branches, without requiring federal service status. The bill applies to taxable years beginning after its enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for businesses and property owners who construct or retrofit buildings meeting specific green building standards. Taxpayers receive a credit equal to 4% of eligible construction costs plus an additional 0.5% to 2.0% based on the building's LEED certification level (Certified to Platinum). Eligible costs include construction, materials, and professional fees, but exclude computers, solar panels, and exceed $280 per square foot. The credit applies against several New Jersey business taxes and requires certification through the LEED system or similar standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Department of Education from administering PARCC standardized tests after the 2015-2016 school year. It requires the state to develop and implement a new statewide assessment program - including graduation tests - by the 2016-2017 school year, replacing PARCC with a different system. The law directly affects New Jersey public schools and students who would have taken PARCC tests. The key provision is a mandatory phaseout of PARCC assessments and a deadline for adopting a new testing framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by raising the state's matching percentage of the federal credit from current rates up to 45% for tax years starting in 2026. It directly affects low-income New Jersey residents, particularly single adults without children who were previously ineligible due to age requirements but meet federal EITC criteria. Key provisions include expanding eligibility to residents aged 18+ without qualifying children and allowing those filing separately due to domestic abuse to claim the credit. The changes apply to tax years beginning in 2022 and later, with benefit calculations tied to the federal credit amount for each filing status.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies to include a specific software verification tool in all information technology contracts exceeding $100,000. It directly affects IT contractors working on state projects by mandating software that automatically documents computer-based work hours through real-time screenshots, keystroke tracking, and task cost monitoring. The software must provide immediate data access to agencies, track eligibility of billable hours, and retain all verified data for seven years after payment. Contractors cannot charge the state for using this verification software or accessing the collected data.