Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill makes doxxing a crime in New Jersey by criminalizing the intentional disclosure of personal identifying information without consent, with the purpose of causing fear, violence, stalking, or mental anguish. The crime applies when such disclosure creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury, stalking, or inflicts mental anguish that places the person or their "close relation" in reasonable fear of physical harm. The bill broadly defines "close relation" to include family members, household members, and significant personal or professional relationships. Exceptions exist for good-faith disclosures to the public about unlawful conduct or to law enforcement, with penalties ranging from up to 18 months in prison (fourth degree) to 3-5 years (third degree) if serious harm occurs.

Maddy summaryThe "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey" requires all voting policies to be interpreted in ways that maximize voting access for all eligible voters, particularly members of racial, color, and language-minority groups. It prohibits voting practices that burden protected class members and mandates language assistance for limited English proficient voters. The bill creates a preclearance process for voting changes in jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations and establishes the New Jersey Voting and Elections Institute to maintain public voting data. These provisions aim to ensure equitable access to voting and protect against voter suppression and vote dilution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to create a public awareness campaign about doulas. It mandates the campaign to explain doulas' roles before, during, and after pregnancy; detail their services and research-supported benefits; and list free or low-cost doula resources. The campaign must provide materials in the top 10 languages spoken in New Jersey, available online and distributed through health clinics, WIC offices, Planned Parenthood locations, pharmacies, and community organizations. The goal is to increase public understanding and access to doula services for pregnant and postpartum individuals statewide.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4848) requires doctors and nurses to screen pregnant patients for lead exposure if they identify risk factors - such as living in older housing - based on CDC and medical guidelines. It mandates one lead screening per pregnancy for at-risk patients, with providers notifying patients of elevated lead levels and ensuring children under six in the household are screened. Patients can refuse testing in writing, and labs must report results to health departments within five business days. The law applies to all pregnant individuals in New Jersey receiving care from covered healthcare providers, aiming to prevent lead poisoning during pregnancy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4193) requires licensed healthcare providers offering prenatal care in New Jersey to offer and provide, upon request, screening for postpartum depression to pregnant patients with a history of depression. It directly affects pregnant patients who have experienced depression and the healthcare professionals treating them. The key provision adds a new requirement to existing law, mandating that providers screen these specific patients during prenatal visits when requested. This expands current policies that already require education about postpartum depression and postnatal screenings for all new mothers. The law aims to improve early detection and support for at-risk patients.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The program must develop public campaigns about symptoms, early detection, and safety; create accessible educational materials for health providers; and train emergency responders, judicial staff, and social services personnel. DHS must consult with the Alzheimer's Association and make materials available online in English and Spanish. The initiative is subject to available funding and aims to improve community understanding and response to Alzheimer's disease.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting kidnapping and human trafficking crimes in New Jersey, meaning prosecutors can file charges at any time regardless of when the offense occurred. For civil cases, it extends the deadline for victims to sue perpetrators from 5 to 10 years, with options to file within 10 years of turning 18 (if a minor at the time), within two years of discovering the injury, or after a trafficking pattern ends. The bill also pauses the clock during periods of victim disability (e.g., mental illness or intellectual disability) and blocks defendants from using the statute as a defense if they caused delays through threats or fraud. These changes aim to provide victims more time to pursue justice in both criminal and civil courts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Access Link paratransit vehicle operators in New Jersey to announce every scheduled stop, either verbally or via a recording system. It directly affects passengers using Access Link (a paratransit service for people with disabilities under the ADA) and the drivers or operators of those vehicles. Currently, only fixed-route transit operators must announce stops, but Access Link paratransit services are not subject to this requirement. The bill would mandate stop announcements for all Access Link routes, improving accessibility for riders who cannot see route information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires restaurants in New Jersey to clearly disclose any mandatory gratuity charge to customers through multiple prominent methods: on menus, at the restaurant entrance, on the customer's bill, and on the restaurant's website (if applicable). It directly affects restaurants that impose mandatory service charges, making failure to disclose a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act. Violations carry penalties of up to $10,000 for a first offense and $20,000 for repeat offenses, plus potential cease-and-desist orders, punitive damages, and triple damages for affected patrons. The law takes effect three months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5852) would require New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to regulate scrap metal facilities as recycling centers rather than treating them as exempt from recycling center regulations. Scrap metal facility owners and operators would need to register with the DEP within one year of the bill's effective date, pay a $700 registration fee, and renew annually. Facilities operating shredders would require individual recycling center permits and must implement specific safety measures including fire prevention systems, stormwater controls, and dust management. The DEP would have 18 months to establish a regulatory program for these facilities, including hiring additional staff and requesting necessary funding in its annual budget.