Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's emergency assistance program to expand temporary rental assistance for individuals facing homelessness, domestic violence, or extreme hardship. It allows recipients to receive up to 24 cumulative months of emergency assistance (extending the previous 12-month limit) under specific conditions, such as for families with dependent children in extreme hardship, disabled individuals, seniors over 60, or those providing full-time care for disabled dependents. Key provisions include mandatory monthly case reviews for extended assistance, requiring case management services focused on housing stability, and creating a new tracking system to report assistance usage annually to the legislature. The bill directly affects low-income residents receiving emergency aid through Work First New Jersey or Supplemental Security Income who face urgent housing crises.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 2453, the "Welcome Home Veterans Act," requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide veteran benefit information packets to veterans when issuing or renewing a license or ID card that includes a veteran designation. The MVC must provide both hardcopy and digital versions of specific materials, including the state Veterans’ Benefits Guide and the federal VA booklet on available benefits. This applies directly to New Jersey veterans who have a veteran designation on their license or ID card, ensuring they receive standardized information about state and federal benefits at the point of service. The bill mandates these packets be available at all MVC locations and online, with no additional requirements beyond the specified guides and contact information.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey optometrists' scope of practice to include administering vaccines for coronaviruses, influenza, and shingles (for patients 18+), prescribing certain medications (including controlled substances under specific conditions), and performing limited eye procedures like laser treatments and minor surgeries. It requires optometrists to follow CDC vaccine guidelines, report immunizations to the state system, and avoid invasive surgeries or general anesthesia. The changes clarify that optometrists must adhere to medical standards for pharmaceutical use and cannot perform procedures requiring full-thickness eye incisions or orbital surgery. This modernizes optometric care while maintaining safety boundaries for patient treatment.
Maddy summaryS 1459 would provide a property tax rebate to disabled veterans in New Jersey who own or occupy a primary residence as their main home. The bill defines eligibility to include veterans living in various housing types like condominiums, cooperatives, or manufactured homes, as long as they meet the state's "homestead" criteria for primary residence. This rebate would reduce the property tax burden for qualifying veterans on their eligible home. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires scrap processing facilities that handle automotive shredder residue (ASR) - the non-recyclable material left after shredding cars and metal scrap - to obtain a permit from New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It explicitly defines ASR as "hazardous waste," meaning facilities must follow DEP-set limits on storage volume, height, and duration, and cannot store ASR near homes or critical infrastructure. The law amends existing waste management statutes to include these requirements and mandates the DEP to create rules for implementation. It directly affects scrap processing facilities statewide that currently handle ASR without permitting.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed adult day health facilities in New Jersey to provide their full range of services remotely to enrolled individuals who cannot or will not attend in person. It requires facilities to offer all in-person services remotely if safe and effective, including telehealth wellness checks (screening for food insecurity, medication needs, health status), access to health professionals (nursing, therapy, social work), meal delivery, activity materials, and medical appointment coordination. Remote services must be billed at the same rate as in-person services with proper documentation, and facilities cannot exceed their authorized capacity. The bill formalizes remote service authorization that was temporarily allowed during the pandemic to address barriers like health concerns, transportation issues, or social distancing needs.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey would join a multi-state agreement allowing licensed dentists and dental hygienists to practice across state lines without reapplying for separate licenses. This compact creates a streamlined "compact privilege" for professionals licensed in participating states, reducing administrative barriers for cross-state work. It aims to improve access to dental services in underserved areas while requiring states to share disciplinary records and maintain their own licensing standards. The agreement does not alter existing state licensure requirements but facilitates mobility for licensed professionals, including military families relocating between states.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's "College Ready Students Program," providing tuition-free dual enrollment at county colleges for eligible public high school students. It directly affects 11th and 12th graders who meet financial need criteria (matching NJ Educational Opportunity Fund standards) and maintain a minimum C average in college courses. Students may earn up to 6 tuition-free credits per school year (3 per semester), with school districts required to have dual enrollment agreements with county colleges. The state covers all tuition costs, and the Commissioner of Education must annually report program metrics like participation rates and student outcomes to the Governor and Legislature.
Maddy summaryThis bill sets a minimum payment rate for out-of-state hospitals that serve significant numbers of NJ pediatric Medicaid patients. Specifically, hospitals providing care to 10,000+ unique NJ FamilyCare pediatric beneficiaries annually must receive at least 125% of the Medicaid fee-for-service rate from the state where they are licensed. It directly affects qualifying out-of-state hospitals, ensuring they are compensated fairly for services to NJ's pediatric Medicaid enrollees. The change aims to maintain access to care by preventing underpayment that could reduce hospital participation in the program.
Maddy summaryS 1060 requires state agencies to include software in information technology contracts exceeding $100,000 that verifies all computer-based work hours billed by contractors. The software must automatically capture real-time activity (including screenshots every 3 minutes, keystroke tracking, and task costs) and provide this data to the state agency. Contractors must store all verified data for seven years after payment and cannot charge the state for software access or data retrieval. This applies to Executive Branch agencies and independent state authorities contracting for IT services like software development, data processing, or website work. The bill mandates that state agencies will not pay for unverifiable computer work time under these contracts.