Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey businesses with tax credits for hiring and retaining neurodiverse individuals in qualifying STEM or AI roles. Businesses receive credits of up to $7,000 (full-time) or $4,500 (part-time) in the first year, increasing to $8,000 or $4,500 in the second year, and $9,000 or $4,500 for each subsequent year of employment. To claim credits, businesses must get certification from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services confirming an employee meets the definition of a "qualified neurodiverse employee" (working in STEM/AI fields at minimum wage, with neurodiversity verified via director guidelines). The credits apply against corporate business tax and individual gross income tax, with unused credits potentially carried forward for up to seven years.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill allows owners of guide or service dogs in New Jersey to obtain free identification cards from their municipality when applying for or renewing their dog's license. The cards, developed by the Department of Health, serve as proof that the dog is trained as a guide or service dog and do not expire. Owners must provide a written statement affirming the dog's training, with a $500 penalty for false claims. The $100,000 appropriation funds the Department of Health to create and distribute these cards, and the system applies to all municipalities. Dogs in formal training foster programs remain exempt from standard licensing requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a statewide Animal Cruelty Offender Registry for individuals convicted of animal cruelty offenses in New Jersey. Registered offenders must provide personal information including a photograph and verify their address annually. The bill prohibits registered offenders from adopting, purchasing, or breeding animals, and requires law enforcement to notify communities based on the offender's assessed risk of re-offense. Publicly available information on the registry will include basic identifying details and risk level, but not exact addresses for low-risk offenders. The registry will remain accessible to law enforcement and the public for public safety purposes, with strict provisions against misuse of the information.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4445) requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a public awareness campaign and develop policies for recognizing and treating perinatal anxiety. It mandates that healthcare providers screen pregnant patients for perinatal anxiety at least once per trimester, screen new mothers before hospital discharge and at early postnatal visits, and provide information about symptoms and treatment resources to patients and their families. Birthing facilities must also distribute this information to new parents and family members upon discharge. The screening must use the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) or an approved alternative. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals, new mothers, healthcare providers, birthing facilities, and family members involved in perinatal care.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits nine specific substances - including preservatives like propylparaben and food dyes like Red 3, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 - from commercial food sold, distributed, or manufactured in New Jersey within two years. It immediately bans those same dyes in all school food, including meals, snacks, vending machines, and after-school programs on school property before the end of the school day. The law applies to food manufacturers, distributors, and schools, with violations punishable by fines of $50-$1,000 per offense. It amends existing food safety laws to add these substances to the list of "adulterated" foods and updates school nutrition rules to exclude the banned dyes.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey - including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, individual policies, group plans, and state/school employee health programs - to cover diagnosis and treatment for PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). It mandates coverage for specific treatments like antibiotics, behavioral therapy, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and IV immunoglobulin therapy when prescribed by a physician. Coverage must be provided at the same level as for other medical conditions under the plan. The requirement applies to all relevant insurance contracts delivered, issued, or renewed on or after the effective date.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes county vocational school districts with existing automotive programs to create electric vehicle (EV) certification programs. It allows these schools to partner with private companies to develop training for EV-related careers - including automotive technology, engineering, and maintenance - and issue certifications to students who complete the programs. The bill requires schools to identify needed skills, develop training curricula, and may consult national industry standards or the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities during program design. The certification directly benefits students seeking career opportunities in the growing EV industry.
Maddy summarySenate Bill S 3905 requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to create and maintain a free, statewide online database for local government legal notices. This bill directly affects municipalities, counties, and other local government units by allowing them to submit required legal notices electronically to DCA instead of publishing them in newspapers. The key mechanism enables local governments to fulfill their legal advertising requirements by delivering notices (or links) to DCA for inclusion in the centralized database, which the public can access online. The database will serve as a single public portal for all legally required local government notices, replacing the traditional newspaper publication method for those choosing this option.
Maddy summaryS 4362 requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to reformat the MyNJHelps online platform into a single centralized system for all state public assistance programs within 365 days. It mandates that applicants can access information about, apply for, and track the status of all programs - including SNAP (food benefits), WFNJ (work program), and NJFamilyCare (healthcare) - through one unified application. The bill does not change which agency administers each program but requires DHS to establish data-sharing agreements with other agencies to share applicant information securely. This affects low-income New Jersey residents seeking benefits like food, healthcare, housing, or cash assistance, and all state agencies managing these programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover screening for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders for individuals aged 65 or older. It applies to individual policies, group plans, health maintenance organizations, and state/school employee health programs. The screening must be covered at the same level as other medical conditions, with "Alzheimer's and related disorders" defined as dementia causing significant impairment in daily functioning. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment, applying to new or renewed contracts on or after that date.