Asm. Luanne Peterpaul

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5078 prohibits the farming (aquaculture) of any octopus species for human consumption within the state. It also bans businesses from selling, possessing, or transporting octopus products resulting from aquaculture. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, with each continuing day treated as a separate offense. The law specifically excludes wild-caught octopus and research-related activities. This directly affects commercial aquaculture operations and food businesses handling farmed octopus.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's invasion of privacy law to clarify that consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in a sexual manner does not automatically cover consent for disclosing the image. It requires that any consent for sharing such images must be explicit, specific to the purpose given, and not implied by prior consent for taking the image. The law treats the act of capturing the image and the act of disclosing it as separate offenses, each needing distinct permission. This directly affects individuals whose intimate images are taken without consent and then shared without their explicit agreement for that sharing.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Family Leave Act and Temporary Disability Benefits Law to provide protected bereavement leave for employees experiencing the death of a child, miscarriage, stillbirth, unsuccessful adoption, or failed fertility treatments. It allows up to 21 days of leave for circumstances where employees wouldn't otherwise qualify for leave or benefits, or up to 7 days for circumstances where they would qualify for other leave. The leave is available to employees who are biological parents, adoptive parents, or parents through a gestational carrier agreement, as well as to their spouses, domestic partners, or civil union partners. Employers with 30 or more employees must provide this leave under the amended laws, which applies to all eligible employees in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow restaurants and licensed alcoholic beverage retailers (including bars, wineries, breweries, and distilleries) to operate in designated outdoor spaces adjacent to their business premises, including on public sidewalks. It creates a "premises expansion permit" process requiring applications to either the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (for licensed businesses) or municipal zoning officers (for restaurants without alcohol licenses), with requirements for security plans and property descriptions. Municipalities may regulate hours of operation but must allow outdoor service outside specific hours (10pm-11am on Sundays-Wednesdays, and 12am-11am on Thurs-Sat), and cannot prohibit outdoor service for businesses already operating under legal or disciplinary restrictions. The bill specifies that State-owned rights-of-way require separate approval from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, with setback requirements for roads intersecting state highways.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2652 revises laws to better protect children from sexual exploitation. It creates a civil right for victims (or their guardians/advocacy groups) to sue perpetrators for three times the profits gained from distributing child sexual abuse material, holding both individuals and corporate employees personally liable. The bill also expands sex offender registration requirements to include anyone working with children in schools or jobs for over 14 consecutive days, clarifies which offenses trigger registration (like creating or sharing exploitative material), and adds a limited exception for juvenile-created nude photos under strict conditions. These changes directly affect victims of child exploitation, perpetrators, and institutions that facilitate such abuse. The law passed unanimously in 2024 (P.L.2024, c.92).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare providers to help pregnant patients create personalized postpartum care plans during prenatal visits. It mandates that plans include specific elements like care team contacts, breastfeeding guidance, mental health support for postpartum depression, and management strategies for physical complications. Hospitals must also provide standardized discharge information covering warning signs of postpartum complications (such as severe bleeding, high blood pressure, and infection) before patients leave after childbirth, pregnancy loss, or stillbirth. The law directly affects pregnant people in New Jersey receiving maternity care, aiming to address preventable maternal health issues and reduce disparities in maternal mortality rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers, making it a second-degree crime when bodily injury occurs (previously a third-degree crime). It expands protection to include firefighters and emergency medical personnel who are assaulted while performing their duties. The bill requires offenders to provide a blood or biological sample for testing for communicable diseases, with any positive results shared with the victim. It also prohibits plea bargains for assault on law enforcement officers and prevents convictions from merging with other offenses. The bill takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryA4903 updates New Jersey's occupational therapy licensure requirements by requiring licensed occupational therapists and assistants to meet continuing competence and professional development standards for license renewal. The bill removes the need for applicants to submit proof of fieldwork completion, updates examination requirements to be administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), and expands the definition of occupational therapy services to include areas like LGBTQIA+ health, pelvic health, and environmental sustainability. It also revises council membership rules, allowing members to serve a maximum of three consecutive terms and requiring the council to meet at least four times annually. These changes will directly affect current and future occupational therapists and assistants seeking licensure or renewal in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Stay NJ property tax credit program, providing eligible senior citizens (65+ years old) with a property tax credit equal to 50% of their property tax bill, up to a maximum of $6,500 for tax year 2026 (with annual adjustments based on property tax increases). The program targets New Jersey residents with annual income under $500,000 who own or rent their principal residence as a homestead. Eligible claimants will receive the greater of the Stay NJ credit or the combined ANCHOR rebate and homestead property tax reimbursement, with a single application process to replace current multiple programs. The credit will be implemented starting in 2026, with applications accepted February 1 through October 31 each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow healthcare practitioners (like doctors) to refer patients to pharmacies where they or their immediate family have an existing financial stake - specifically, pharmacies that had approved permits before a prior law took effect. It requires practitioners to provide written disclosure to patients about this financial interest before making such referrals. The change aims to support continuity of care for medication management, such as refills and adherence, by enabling existing practitioner-pharmacy relationships. It does not apply to new pharmacy ownership but focuses on preserving established collaborations.