Asm. Margie Donlon

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts from motor vehicle registration fees certain vehicles owned by nonprofit organizations that provide essential community services in New Jersey. Specifically, it covers local Meals on Wheels programs for seniors (as Meals on Wheels America members) and nonprofits focused on social services like addiction treatment, mental health care, and support for individuals with developmental disabilities. The exemption applies only to vehicles not used for pleasure or commercial hire, and these vehicles must still be registered with special certificates or plates instead of standard fees. This change directly affects qualifying nonprofits by reducing their operational costs for necessary transportation services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2001 bill prohibits the sale, distribution, or manufacturing of crayon or chalk products containing lead that are intended for children under six years old. It requires immediate recalls by manufacturers/distributors if lead is detected, mandates retailers to remove recalled products within 48 hours, and requires return of inventory within 14 business days. Manufacturers must destroy recalled products within 60 days, with violations carrying penalties including fines up to $150,000 or imprisonment for repeat offenses. The law directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of children's art supplies sold in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A668) requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a water safety fact sheet for schools. The fact sheet must include practical tips for parents to prevent child drowning, highlight the importance of swimming lessons, and list free/reduced-cost water safety courses by county. Public school districts must distribute this fact sheet to parents when a child is first enrolled, while nonpublic schools are encouraged but not required to do the same. It directly affects parents of newly enrolled students in New Jersey schools and aims to improve access to water safety resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill, A300, requires New Jersey hospitals to allow patients with developmental disabilities to have a designated caregiver - such as a family member, guardian, or direct support professional - accompany them throughout their entire hospital stay, except during active surgery where safety concerns arise. Hospitals must provide patients or their guardians an opportunity to choose this caregiver at admission, document the choice (or refusal) in medical records, and permit the designated person to stay with the patient. It clarifies that the designated caregiver is not obligated to provide care during the stay or after discharge. The bill applies specifically to patients with developmental disabilities admitted to licensed general hospitals in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A3010 requires businesses and public buildings to install diaper changing stations in designated public restrooms. It applies to "Group A or M occupancy" venues (like restaurants, stores, libraries, and schools) during new construction or renovations costing over $5,000, and mandates stations in both men’s and women’s restrooms (or a dedicated family restroom) with clear signage. Public buildings, including K-12 schools (which need only one station per campus), must comply within 37 months of enactment, with $500,000 appropriated for reimbursement of installation costs. The bill does not apply to casinos, nightclubs, or bars, as these venues typically lack young children.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that mail-in ballot application forms, which voters return by mail, include prepaid postage paid by the State. It directly affects voters who apply for mail-in ballots using the physical form (as opposed to the electronic option starting in 2026) by eliminating the need for them to purchase postage. The key mechanism mandates that the Secretary of State’s application forms must include prepaid postage, ensuring voters can return their applications without cost. This change streamlines the process for mail-in ballot applicants without altering eligibility or voting procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A936) establishes a four-year grant program to expand career and technical education (CTE) opportunities in New Jersey. It provides funding to county vocational school districts and other school districts with approved CTE programs to partner with urban districts, colleges, or other entities, creating new CTE programs in existing facilities they don’t own or lease. School districts must submit detailed applications outlining partnerships, student capacity, facility use, costs, and long-term sustainability plans. After four years, the Commissioner of Education must report to the legislature on outcomes and recommend whether to make the program permanent, including funding sources. The program directly affects school districts, students seeking career training, and local employers supporting curriculum development.

Maddy summary"Madalyn's Law" requires New Jersey school districts to teach students in grades 4-12 about toxic shock syndrome (TSS) as part of health education, including causes, symptoms, and risk reduction. It also mandates that public restrooms with two or more toilets (excluding elementary schools' lower grades) display signs about TSS warning signs, causes, and dangers, placed near tampon dispensers or in prominent locations. Owners of affected facilities face $100 penalties per violation for non-compliance. The state Department of Health must create signage standards and provide public informational materials about TSS online. The law applies to all school districts and public restrooms meeting the specified criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a working group to help New Jersey coastal communities identify and safely remove abandoned vessels, and establishes a $25 million fund to reimburse municipalities for these removal costs. The working group, consisting of 21 members including federal and state agency representatives, must report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of formation and annually thereafter. Municipalities must adopt vessel registration ordinances for vessels in municipal waterways to qualify for reimbursement, and the fund will be supported by $25 million in state appropriations plus civil penalties collected from vessel abandonment violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands liability for housing, building, and health code violations by holding certain individuals personally responsible when their commercial entity (like a corporation or limited liability company) acts as a residential landlord. Specifically, it allows courts to hold members of member-managed LLCs with at least 10% ownership, managers of manager-managed LLCs, and corporate directors/officers jointly and severally liable for unpaid code charges, provided there are at least three unpaid charges after 13 months, proper notice was given to relevant parties, and the individual doesn't successfully claim they couldn't ensure payment. The bill also updates landlord registration requirements to require commercial landlords to provide detailed information about associated individuals when registering. This affects commercial entities that own residential rental properties and their associated individuals, making those individuals potentially personally responsible for code violations that remain unpaid for over a year.