Asm. Margie Donlon

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3848) amends New Jersey law to change how alcoholic beverage licenses work for sporting facilities. It removes two current restrictions: the rule limiting all-inclusive areas to one per game/event and the 500-person capacity cap for those areas. The bill clarifies that "sporting facility" includes all areas up to the security perimeter, and allows venues to establish unlimited all-inclusive zones of any size or number. This directly affects stadiums, arenas, and similar venues holding sporting facility licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear timeframes for negotiating host community benefits between municipalities and solid waste facilities (sanitary landfills and transfer stations), requiring negotiations to be completed within 180 days (with possible 180-day extension) and mandating a 45-day public comment period on proposed agreements before submission to state agencies. It authorizes residents to petition state agencies (DEP or BPU) for benefit adjustments and gives these agencies authority to establish benefits if negotiations fail due to bad faith or lack of agreement. The bill aims to increase transparency and public input in the negotiation process while ensuring municipalities receive fair compensation for hosting waste facilities. It directly affects municipalities, waste facility operators, and residents in communities with solid waste facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success, a new 25-member body within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (though independent of it), to develop a statewide initiative focused on preventing family crises and promoting well-being for infants, children, youth, and families. The Council will identify gaps in current services, recommend policies to shift focus from crisis response to prevention, and coordinate with state departments and community organizations across New Jersey. It will create county-level councils to assess local needs and develop preventive services, and will receive $4 million in state funding to implement these efforts over three years. The initiative aims to improve outcomes through four pillars: positive family relationships, financial security, quality education, and health. The Council must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations for improving family support services.

Maddy summaryThe "Climate Superfund Act" would hold fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and are responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and the bill's effective date. The bill establishes a program through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to collect these payments and distribute funds for climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would pay their proportional share of damages over nine years, with options for installment payments, and the collected funds would specifically support projects that help communities prepare for climate impacts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1445 requires public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who withdrew due to military service (including active duty, National Guard, or Reserve service). Schools must reinstate students with their exact academic standing from before their service interruption. Students must submit a written request for the next available semester, and institutions cannot charge application or processing fees for these requests. The law applies starting the first full academic year after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create and distribute educational materials about cardiomyopathy and related heart conditions to school staff, coaches, families, and health professionals within 18 months. The materials will cover symptoms, risk factors, AED placement guidelines, CPR training, and cardiac emergency response plans for schools. The DOH must also develop a public cardiomyopathy risk assessment tool, submit annual reports on prevalence and emergency visits, and coordinate with schools to implement AED/CPR programs through a $300,000 state appropriation. The grant program allows schools to apply for funds to purchase AEDs, train staff, and develop emergency response plans, prioritizing existing federal funding before state funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 5303) requires New Jersey's Attorney General to review and update the statewide policy for investigating human trafficking. It directs the AG to specifically consider: (1) using audio/video recordings in undercover operations to protect investigations and victims, (2) strict rules for sharing such recordings, (3) involving county prosecutors early in investigations, and (4) other relevant areas. The review responds to a 2024 Commission report on human trafficking in the massage industry. This policy update will affect law enforcement agencies conducting human trafficking investigations statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows pharmacists in New Jersey to transfer Schedule II prescription medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between pharmacies, rather than requiring patients to obtain a new prescription from their doctor. Currently, Schedule II prescriptions (like ADHD medications) cannot be transferred between pharmacies, forcing patients to seek new prescriptions when their preferred pharmacy is out of stock. The bill specifically permits these transfers for ADHD prescriptions only, while requiring compliance with federal regulations. This change aims to provide greater convenience for patients who need ADHD medication but cannot fill their prescription at their usual pharmacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey electric and gas utilities using smart meters to create an "Energy Bill Watch" program for customers. It mandates utilities to notify smart meter customers on the 10th and 20th days of each billing cycle if their usage exceeds their previous cycle's average, allow customers to set dollar-based usage alerts, and provide monthly cost and consumption data in notifications. Utilities must automatically enroll smart meter customers (with opt-out options), advertise the program via email, social media, websites, and bills, and include specific billing details - previous cycle cost, current cycle cost, and the difference - on all customer bills. The program applies only to utilities using smart meters and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5007) amends New Jersey's alcoholic beverage licensing law to clarify and expand the ability of sporting facilities to sell alcohol. It removes previous restrictions that limited all-inclusive alcohol areas to one per event with a 500-person maximum capacity, now allowing unlimited number, size, and capacity of such areas within sporting venues. The bill also clarifies that "sporting facility" premises include all areas up to the security perimeter, not just the main venue. This affects stadiums, arenas, and training facilities that serve alcohol, with license fees varying based on venue capacity from $2,500 to $10,000.