Asm. Roy Freiman

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey registrars to issue certified electronic copies of vital records - including birth, death, marriage, civil union, and domestic partnership certificates - alongside paper copies upon request. It requires the Commissioner of Health to establish security standards for electronic copies, including identity verification, data encryption, and privacy protections. The change applies to authorized requesters (such as individuals, family members, or government agencies) who already qualify for paper certified copies under current law. Electronic copies must be distinguishable from non-certified informational versions and maintain the same authentication requirements as paper records.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Non-Profit Loan Guarantee Pilot Program through the Economic Development Authority (EDA), providing loan guarantees to eligible non-profit organizations for constructing new facilities. To qualify, non-profits must be IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations with 10+ years of operation, prior state financial assistance, and must demonstrate plans to create 10+ full-time jobs and generate sufficient revenue (e.g., through ticket sales or donations) to repay loans. The EDA will use a dedicated fund - financed by the Economic Recovery Fund, loan repayments, and other EDA funds - to guarantee loans up to $15 million per organization for up to 20 years, with participating banks providing the actual financing. The EDA must report annually on program demand, effectiveness, and recommendations for improvement.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Ticket Consumer Choice Act requires ticket issuers (like venues, promoters, and teams) to offer consumers the option to purchase transferable tickets at the time of initial sale, allowing reselling or gifting without restrictions or requiring use of a specific platform. Exceptions permit non-transferable tickets for targeted promotions (e.g., group discounts for disability organizations) if clearly marked and not sold to the general public. The bill prohibits penalties or discrimination against ticket holders who resell tickets or use particular resale platforms and removes existing statutory caps on ticket resale prices. This law applies immediately to all ticket sales in New Jersey, affecting both consumers and event operators.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover insulin without deductibles and limits patient copayments or coinsurance for insulin to $50 per 30-day supply. It applies to all health insurance plans covering diabetes treatment, including individual, group, and employer-sponsored plans. The bill also mandates insulin manufacturers to submit annual reports to the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance detailing pricing, sales, and research costs. These provisions aim to reduce financial barriers to insulin access for New Jersey residents with diabetes.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2819 prohibits creating or sharing deceptive audio or visual media ("deepfakes") that falsely depict someone's speech or conduct using technical means, targeting individuals who generate or distribute such media for unlawful purposes. Creating deepfakes for offenses like harassment, theft by deception, or invasion of privacy would be a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months jail or $10,000 fine), while sharing unmarked deepfakes knowing they violate the law would be a third-degree crime (up to 5 years jail or $30,000 fine). Victims could sue for $1,000 per violation plus damages, attorney fees, and other remedies, with the civil action separate from criminal penalties. News media are exempt unless they knowingly share unmarked deceptive content created in violation of the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's alcohol licensing law to allow certain beverage producers to sell each other's products on their licensed premises. Specifically, it permits limited breweries, plenary wineries producing under 250,000 gallons annually, farm wineries, cideries, meaderies, and craft distilleries to sell each other's products for off-premises consumption. Previously, these businesses could only sell their own products, but this change expands the range of products available at these licensed facilities. The policy applies only to products from producers with specific licensing types and production limits as defined in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey county clerks to provide accessible mail-in ballots to voters with disabilities who request them, delivered electronically to the voter's specified contact method. The accessible ballot must include features like audio guidance, braille compatibility, electronic marking, and the ability to print or return the ballot electronically for eligible voters. Eligible voters for electronic return include those who are blind, have visual impairments preventing standard ballot reading, or have physical disabilities affecting ballot handling. The Secretary of State must issue uniform guidelines for election officials to implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "State House Flag Program," allowing New Jersey legislators to request that a New Jersey State flag be flown over the State House to honor an individual, group, or organization. For each request, the State Capitol Joint Management Commission’s Building Management office will provide a certificate detailing the date and recipient, then mail the flag and certificate to the honoree. The program is funded through a one-time appropriation from the General Fund, with the Director of Public Information required to publicize the program to the Legislature and public.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to track and publicly report natural disaster-related spending by state and local governments, including counties, municipalities, school districts, fire districts, and local authorities. DCA must categorize spending into four clear types: preparedness (planning and training), mitigation (reducing disaster risks), response (immediate actions after a disaster), and recovery (rebuilding communities), while showing funding sources and reimbursement details. The DCA will publish an annual plain-language summary of this data on the state website, making it easily accessible to the public. Local governments and school districts must include this information in their existing annual budget summaries, which will also be made publicly available online.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey mail-in voters to correct their ballot if they forget to include the required "Certificate of Mail-in Voter" on their ballot envelope. County election boards must send a "cure letter" with a simple form within 24 hours of rejecting a ballot for a missing certificate, giving voters up to 48 hours before election results are certified to fix the error. Voters can verify their identity using a New Jersey driver's license number, last four Social Security digits, or a utility bill - without needing to swear an affidavit or submit hard-copy ID. The bill ensures mail-in ballots won't be rejected solely for minor signature variations and requires county boards to process these corrections weekly before elections.