Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5372 permits individuals to collect wild fruits, fungi, nuts, and plants from state parks and forests for personal consumption by themselves, family, or friends - banning any sale or barter. The bill prohibits foraging protected species (listed by the Department of Environmental Protection as threatened, endangered, rare, or vulnerable) and requires foragers to act responsibly without endangering wildlife or ecosystems. Foragers assume all risks, with the state explicitly disclaiming liability for safety, consumption, or sharing of foraged items. The Department of Environmental Protection may restrict foraging in specific areas for environmental safety (e.g., protecting nesting birds or preventing erosion) and can impose fines up to $500 for negligent foraging of protected species.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill would extend the early voting period for primary elections to begin 7 days before the election (currently 4 days for non-presidential primaries and 6 days for presidential primaries), creating a 6-day voting window. It also extends the deadline for appointing election challengers from the second to the third Tuesday before an election. The bill appropriates $6 million from the General Fund to support these changes, requiring county boards to adjust early voting locations based on population size. These changes would directly affect voters participating in primary elections and county election officials responsible for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for retail theft offenses based on the value of stolen goods, with shoplifting over $500 becoming a third-degree crime. It creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales) and upgrades penalties for "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime. The bill establishes a retail theft unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, and includes new requirements for gift card retailers to prevent fraud through packaging standards and third-party reseller record-keeping. It also creates extended prison terms for repeat retail theft offenders and increases penalties for tax evasion related to retail theft.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the threshold for local public contracts requiring competitive bidding from $17,500 to $22,000. Local governments (such as towns, cities, and counties) can now award contracts under $22,000 without public advertising, using a designated employee or purchasing agent. The Governor will adjust this threshold every five years for inflation to maintain its real value. This change simplifies procurement for smaller contracts while keeping oversight for larger purchases.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A919 establishes standards for public service privatization contracts, requiring state and local agencies to demonstrate actual cost savings for taxpayers before outsourcing services. The bill mandates competitive bidding, ensures services maintain current quality and pricing for the public, and requires contractors to pay wages and benefits equal to those of displaced public employees. Agencies must provide detailed cost analyses, allow union input on cost estimates, and submit quarterly reports on contractor compliance. The Office of the State Comptroller reviews contracts for compliance, and the State Auditor conducts annual post-audits to verify savings and prevent service degradation or underpayment of workers.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A5341 (introduced February 2025) requires all health insurance plans sold in the state - including hospital service corporations, HMOs, individual/group policies, and state/school employee health plans - to cover screening for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders for members aged 65 or older. The bill mandates that this coverage must be provided "to the same extent as for any other condition" under the plan, without additional cost to the patient. It defines "Alzheimer's disease and related disorders" as dementia causing significant impairment in social or occupational functioning. The requirement applies to all contracts delivered, issued, or renewed 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4979) requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to complete mandatory training on identifying machine gun conversion devices. It amends existing law to specify that all officers must receive periodic training covering these devices - components that convert semiautomatic firearms to shoot multiple rounds per trigger pull - as part of their required continuing education. The training must be approved by the Police Training Commission and documented by officers and their departments. This policy change directly affects all active law enforcement officers in New Jersey by adding a specific, practical skill requirement to their existing training obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide heat stress standard to protect workers from heat-related illness and injury in New Jersey. It requires most employers to develop and implement heat-related illness and injury prevention plans that include monitoring heat exposure, providing cool or cold potable water, offering paid rest breaks with access to shade or climate-controlled spaces, implementing emergency response procedures, and conducting employee training. Commercial farms have a separate prevention plan developed by the Department of Agriculture, while amusement parks and certain emergency operations (like firefighting and law enforcement) are exempt. Employers must conduct annual reviews of their plans, maintain records for three years, and face penalties for violations or retaliation against employees who report heat-related concerns. The bill takes effect immediately, with the Department of Labor required to adopt implementing rules by June 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades the offense of purchasing sexual services (prostitution as a patron) from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree for first offenses, with higher penalties for repeat violations. It requires convicted patrons to participate in a mandatory education program about human trafficking and pay a $500 fee. All fines and fees collected from these offenses are directed to the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund," which provides services to trafficking victims and supports educational programs about human trafficking. The fund was established by prior legislation to assist survivors and combat human trafficking through prevention and awareness efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 17-member Task Force on Aging within New Jersey's Department of Health. The task force will study state resources and services for older residents, review policies affecting seniors, examine support for family caregivers, and evaluate long-term care quality. It must issue an initial report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 18 months, followed by biennial updates. The task force includes government officials, aging advocacy representatives, senior citizens (including those in care facilities), and healthcare professionals specializing in geriatrics. Its work aims to improve services supporting aging residents' dignity and independence, without creating new laws or funding.