Maddy summaryThis bill creates a certification program for nonprofits that facilitate affordable housing construction where future residents contribute labor (sweat equity) toward building or rehabilitating their homes. Certified nonprofits must demonstrate experience in sweat equity housing, maintain affordability controls for low- and moderate-income households, and promote diversity in their programs. For housing built through this program, standard adaptable construction requirements and affirmative marketing rules for affordable housing do not apply, and certified nonprofits can access advance funding from the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The bill aims to streamline the process for creating affordable housing by involving future residents in construction while ensuring these units remain accessible to low- and moderate-income households.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SR 112) expresses legislative support for the "Breakfast Bowl" football game between Montclair State University and Rowan University. It recognizes both institutions' food insecurity initiatives, including Montclair's Red Hawk Pantry and campus garden, and Rowan's SHOP food pantry and Fresh For All partnerships. The resolution highlights how the annual game raises awareness about food insecurity while allowing the winning team to determine New Jersey's breakfast meat name ("Pork Roll" or "Taylor Ham") until the next matchup. The resolution formally acknowledges these universities' contributions to higher education, community development, and food security efforts.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific contracting goals for New Jersey State agencies to increase participation by minority and women-owned businesses in state contracts. It sets detailed percentage targets (ranging from 3.95% to 37.59%) for different contract types and business categories based on a 2024 disparity study, including 24.26% for construction contracts with women-owned businesses and 10.14% for Hispanic American-owned businesses in construction. State agencies must develop annual plans to meet these goals, make a "good faith effort" to achieve them, and submit reports to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. If agencies fail to make a good faith effort, they must submit a remedial plan, and the Chief Diversity Officer can require their procurement be managed by another agency. Prime contractors are also required to make good faith efforts to meet subcontractor goals for these businesses.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for New Jersey homeowners who received federal disaster assistance after Hurricane Ida damaged their primary residence in September 2021. It requires mortgage servicers to grant a one-year payment pause (forbearance) without fees, penalties, or credit reporting, retroactive to payments missed since September 1, 2021. Homeowners must meet income limits (≤150% of area median income) and asset thresholds (less than six months of income in bank accounts), and submit a written request. The relief ends either after one year or July 1, 2024, whichever comes first, and does not apply to federally-backed loans like FHA or VA mortgages.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires criminal history background checks for individuals applying for or renewing licenses in specific health care professions, specifically adding applied behavior analysts, creative arts therapists, and dietitians to the list of professions requiring these checks. Background checks must be conducted as part of the licensing application process, and licensing boards may deny or revoke licenses based on criminal history that meets existing standards. The requirement does not apply to nurse aides, personal care assistants, or homemaker-home health aides, who are already covered by other background check laws. This change expands existing background check rules to new health care fields without altering current exemptions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey volunteer firefighters to receive free, periodic cancer screenings every three years (starting after three years of service) for 11 specific cancers, including colon, lung, breast, and prostate. It mandates that State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) physicians and approved providers offer these screenings without any co-payments, deductibles, or out-of-pocket costs for the firefighter. The state will reimburse participating providers up to $1,250 per firefighter per three-year period, and fire districts must maintain records to facilitate payment. The bill extends existing benefits currently available to paid firefighters under state law to volunteer firefighters serving in fire districts, departments, or companies across New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $5 million grant program to expand dual enrollment opportunities in career and technical education (CTE) for high school students. Public colleges and universities in New Jersey can apply for grants to offer college-level CTE courses on campus or in high schools, allowing students to earn college credits while still in high school. To qualify, institutions must submit detailed plans including program capacity, expected student participation, and sustainability beyond the grant period, with funding awarded competitively. The program requires annual reporting on student participation, workforce impact, and recommendations for future funding.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits real estate appraisers in New Jersey from considering protected characteristics - including race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or national origin - when valuing properties. It directly affects licensed and certified real estate appraisers by banning these discriminatory factors from appraisal analysis. The key mechanism requires appraisers to complete a mandatory fair housing and appraisal bias training course (approved by the Appraisal Qualifications Board) as part of their continuing education for license renewal. The law codifies existing anti-discrimination protections and aligns with national standards for appraisal practice.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to provide reading intervention programs for kindergarten through third-grade students who show reading deficiencies, as identified by approved assessments. The programs must use a data-driven, multi-tiered system of supports to deliver explicit instruction in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension while monitoring student progress throughout the year. School districts must adopt scientifically based instructional materials, and the Department of Education must provide age-appropriate resources and develop an evaluation process for the program. The law takes effect immediately for the first full school year after enactment.
Maddy summaryS 3432 establishes the "Next New Jersey Program Act," creating tax credits for businesses investing in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers within New Jersey. The program directly affects eligible businesses (including corporations, LLCs, and cooperatives) that build or upgrade facilities specifically for AI workloads, such as machine learning and data processing. Key mechanisms include tax credits based on qualifying capital investments (like construction and equipment) and requirements for hiring full-time employees earning at least 120% of the county median salary with health benefits. Businesses must meet these criteria during a five-year eligibility period to claim credits, with the program administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The bill passed both legislative chambers in June 2024 and was signed into law as P.L.2024, c.49.