Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3835) prohibits requiring individuals to receive or disclose COVID-19 vaccination status as a condition for accessing services or rights. It bans asking about vaccination, mandating vaccines, or demanding proof for 15 specific areas, including employment, education (schools/universities), healthcare, business services, public spaces (parks, restaurants), and government activities. The law makes it unlawful to discriminate against unvaccinated people or those who refuse to disclose their status. Violators face civil penalties of $25,000 plus attorney fees in court, enforceable immediately upon passage. It directly affects all New Jersey residents interacting with businesses, schools, healthcare providers, or public venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey institutions of higher education from requiring students to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or provide proof of vaccination as a condition for enrollment, course attendance, or participation in campus programs. It directly affects colleges and universities in New Jersey and the students they serve. The law takes immediate effect, removing vaccination mandates for these educational activities without exceptions for health or safety reasons.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures children in New Jersey's NJ FamilyCare program (ages 21 and under) who transition from the child health program (EPSDT) to the long-term care program (MLTSS) automatically retain their previous weekly private duty nursing hours. It requires managed care organizations to continue nursing coverage during appeals of reduced services and extends the appeal filing window from 10 to 30 days. The bill also directs the state to review past transitions to identify beneficiaries eligible for increased nursing hours and removes the current 16-hour weekly cap on these services under MLTSS. These changes aim to prevent coverage gaps during program transitions and strengthen appeal rights for families relying on personal nursing care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies, corporations, manufacturers, and contract testing facilities in New Jersey that use cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing or research to assess these animals for adoption suitability after testing ends. If suitable, the animals must be offered to animal rescue organizations or private individuals for adoption. The bill establishes procedures for documenting assessments and dispositions, requiring facilities to register with the Department of Health and report details about animal use, suitability, and adoption outcomes. Noncompliance could result in civil penalties of $10,000 for a first offense, $50,000 for a second, and potential injunctions against conducting further animal testing for a third offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 in New Jersey. It changes the punishment for any trafficking of a child (for sexual activity or forced labor) from a minimum 20-year sentence to life imprisonment without parole. Convicted individuals must also pay fines of at least $25,000, which fund a survivor assistance program. The law applies to all forms of child trafficking, regardless of whether the perpetrator mistakenly believed the child was 18 or older.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the penalty for stealing catalytic converters by one degree in New Jersey's criminal classification system. For example, a theft that would normally be a fourth-degree offense (for property valued between $200-$500) becomes a third-degree offense if a catalytic converter is stolen. The change applies automatically to any theft of a catalytic converter, regardless of its value or the circumstances of the theft. It directly affects individuals convicted of stealing catalytic converters by increasing the severity of their criminal charge.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools to integrate age-appropriate lessons about the September 11, 2001 attacks into Social Studies curricula for elementary, middle, and high school students. It mandates coverage of six specific topics: historical context, the timeline of events, first responder heroism, humanitarian aid following the attacks, global counterterrorism responses, and strategies for promoting tolerance and diversity. Additionally, every public school must hold an annual commemorative event focused on conflict resolution, diversity, and cultural tolerance. The New Jersey Commissioner of Education will provide schools with sample lesson resources to support implementation.

Maddy summaryThe Manufacturing in Higher Education Act (A1828) creates a $10 million annual grant program to fund manufacturing education at New Jersey colleges and vocational schools. It requires state agencies to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and establishes a new Advanced Manufacturing Council to coordinate industry partnerships and workforce development. The grants will support new programs or expand existing ones in manufacturing fields, with 50% allocated to county colleges, 25% to four-year institutions, and 25% to vocational districts. Additionally, the bill designates a state liaison to assist manufacturing businesses with marketing, referrals, and workforce reskilling initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey dealers selling lithium-ion battery electric vehicles to provide buyers with a standardized disclosure statement. The statement must explain that lithium mining impacts ecosystems, known lithium reserves are scarce, and identify the specific lithium source used in the vehicle battery. Dealers must obtain a signed receipt from each buyer acknowledging receipt of this disclosure. Violations carry civil penalties of $150 for a first offense and $300 for repeat violations. The law takes effect 13 months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 77) is a symbolic statement of support for Ukraine and its citizens amid Russia's ongoing conflict. It condemns Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, 2022 invasion, and violations of international law, while expressing solidarity with Ukraine's sovereignty and democratic aspirations. The resolution requires sending copies to Ukraine's U.S. and U.N. ambassadors but does not create new laws or affect any specific group. It is a non-binding declaration reflecting New Jersey's position, not a policy change.