Sen. Troy Singleton

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's early intervention services program to cover children with developmental delays or disabilities from birth through age five, rather than the current limit of birth to age two. It directly affects eligible children aged three to five who require support in areas like communication, social skills, or physical development. The key mechanism requires the Department of Health to seek federal funding waivers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to finance this expanded service coverage. The bill amends existing law (P.L.1993, c.309) to formally extend the age range and secure necessary federal financial participation.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Works Act allows businesses to receive tax credits for funding pre-employment training programs developed in partnership with schools, nonprofits, or educational institutions. These programs must provide at least 12 weeks of paid training at minimum wage, covering skills like math, communication, job readiness, and critical thinking, and must target low- and moderate-income individuals. Businesses can claim tax credits equal to 100% of their financial assistance, with a maximum of $12 million in tax credits available statewide each fiscal year. Approved programs must be reviewed and approved by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and must offer participants employment with the funding business upon completion. The bill requires participating institutions to report on program outcomes, including completion rates and employment data for participants.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3742 requires all companies selling, developing, or deploying artificial intelligence technology in the state to conduct annual safety tests on their AI products and submit detailed reports to the Office of Information Technology. The safety tests must assess cybersecurity risks, potential biases, data inaccuracies, and legal compliance (including copyright or patent issues), with reports including a list of tested technologies, test descriptions, third-party testers used, and results. This directly affects all private and public entities offering AI technology within New Jersey, mandating transparency about their products' safety. The Office of Information Technology will review these annual reports to ensure compliance with established safety standards.

Maddy summaryS 3744 expands competitive contracting options for local governments, school boards, and county colleges by allowing them to bypass public bidding for certain specialized services. Local contracting units and school boards can now use competitive contracting for services including proprietary software, recreation facility management, data processing, and renewable energy projects. County colleges are newly permitted to use competitive contracting for maintenance, custodial services, grant writing, and renewable energy initiatives. The bill establishes procedures for the competitive contracting process, including request for proposals requirements and evaluation criteria, with contracts limited to five years. This change streamlines procurement for specialized services while maintaining oversight through established processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows funds from New Jersey's Affordable Housing Trust Fund and municipal development fee trust funds to be used for planning and construction of licensed childcare centers. The childcare centers must be co-located with low- or moderate-income housing, meaning they must be in the same building, on the same site, or adjacent to the building or site providing the affordable housing. The bill amends existing laws (P.L.1985, c.222 and P.L.2008, c.46) to specifically include childcare centers as an eligible use for these funds. This policy change directly affects municipalities that collect development fees and the Department of Community Affairs, which administers these trust funds. It enables communities to integrate childcare services with affordable housing developments, potentially improving access to childcare for low- and moderate-income families.

Maddy summaryS 2860 establishes a two-year Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program administered by New Jersey's Commissioner of Education. The program awards grants to six selected school districts to provide students with sports equipment and resources for school athletic programs, prioritizing geographic diversity (southern, central, northern regions) and representation across urban, suburban, and rural areas. School districts must apply with evidence of need and current equipment quality, and each participating district must report student participation details and program effectiveness to the Commissioner. The program's success will inform future decisions about expanding the initiative statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates an additional $20 million for Summer Tuition Aid Grants in New Jersey's fiscal year 2025, specifically to fund summer 2025 semester aid. It directly affects eligible New Jersey college students who received tuition aid in the prior fall or spring semester, are enrolled in at least six credits during summer 2025, and continue in the same undergraduate program. The key provision requires that these students receive 75 percent of the maximum grant amount for which they qualify under current law (instead of the current 50% for 6-8 credits). The funds are allocated to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to administer these grants for the summer 2025 term.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to review administrative rules every seven years to determine if they remain effective and if their benefits outweigh their costs and burdens. Agencies must assess whether rules have become outdated or could be improved through this review process. The findings must be reported to the Governor, Legislature, and made public through the New Jersey Register. This applies to all state agencies that create and maintain administrative rules and regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for New Jersey's small employer health benefits plans to include volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders (like first aid, rescue, or ambulance squad members) who serve their municipalities. It directly affects these volunteer emergency personnel by allowing them to enroll in the same group health insurance plans available to full-time municipal employees. The key change updates the definition of "eligible employee" in existing law to specifically include these volunteers, removing barriers they previously faced. This ensures they can access affordable health coverage through their municipal employer's plan, similar to paid municipal staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act" to protect immigrants interacting with state and local government agencies. It prohibits public agencies, including law enforcement, schools, hospitals, and shelters, from collecting immigration status information unless strictly necessary for service eligibility. The bill bans state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities with detainers, notification requests, or transfers, and requires adoption of policies ensuring sensitive locations remain accessible to all residents regardless of immigration status. It mandates training for law enforcement officials and public awareness campaigns about these protections, with annual reporting requirements for agencies interacting with federal immigration authorities.