Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey solid waste management districts (including counties and the Hackensack Meadowlands District) to create a strategy reducing food waste by 50% by 2035 compared to 2022 levels. Districts must submit these strategies as amendments to their waste management plans, counting food donations, composting, and anaerobic digestion toward the goal. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must publish a list of actionable measures for districts (like donation programs, composting infrastructure, and public campaigns) and establish tiered regulations for composting facilities. The policy directly affects local waste management systems and aims to divert food waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires websites that distribute music or video content online to clearly display the owner's name, physical address, phone number, and email address in easily accessible sections like "Contact Us" or "About." It directly affects websites that handle third-party music or audiovisual content for New Jersey consumers. Copyright holders can sue violators after giving them 14 days to fix the issue, with courts able to order compliance and award legal fees. Violations are treated as consumer fraud, potentially leading to fines up to $20,000 per offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create rules for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), defined as reactors under 300 megawatts capacity requiring U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing. It authorizes the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to use 60% of funds from the Global Warming Solutions Fund to provide grants and financial incentives for the construction and operation of SMRs. The policy directly affects commercial entities building or operating these reactors, with funding prioritizing projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or energy demand. The bill establishes a concrete mechanism for state support of SMR development through EDA’s grant programs, without specifying project outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3902) prohibits New Jersey homeowners insurance companies from including "anti-concurrent causation" clauses in policies. These clauses currently allow insurers to deny coverage for damage caused by a mix of covered (e.g., wind) and uncovered (e.g., flood) perils, such as during hurricanes. The law makes any such clause void and unenforceable, requiring insurers to cover damage even if multiple causes are involved. It directly affects homeowners in New Jersey by preventing claim denials tied to these clauses, particularly for weather-related damage. The bill applies to all policies delivered, renewed, or approved after its effective date (90 days post-enactment).

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-2540, "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act") requires health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover specific cancer treatments without cost-sharing for patients with Stage III, IV, or terminal cancer. It mandates coverage for parenteral treatments (like IV medications), survivorship care plans, and other services determined by regulators. The bill also adds protections: mortgage lenders must pause foreclosure during active treatment, creditors cannot initiate collections, and tenants facing eviction can request a 45-day stay with physician certification. These provisions directly affect cancer patients and their families by removing financial barriers to care and preventing housing/financial instability during treatment. The bill is pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's bill A 3535 would allow developers to convert vacant office parks (50,000+ sq ft) and retail centers (15,000+ sq ft) with at least 40% vacancy into mixed-use developments (combining homes, shops, and offices) by temporarily overriding local zoning rules that prohibit such projects. It applies only to properties near transit, within designated planning areas, and not adjacent to hazardous sites or industrial zones. Developers must submit applications within 25 months of the bill's effective date to qualify for this zoning exemption. The bill aims to repurpose underused "stranded assets" without requiring special variances, focusing on properties meeting specific eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide a property tax rebate to disabled veterans who own or rent their primary residence in New Jersey. It directly affects disabled veterans, including those experiencing financial hardship due to high property taxes and rental costs, as highlighted by the bill's findings (73% of NJ veterans have disabilities, with 518 homeless veterans in the state). The rebate is intended to help prevent homelessness and reduce financial burdens for this group. The bill defines key terms like "homestead" and "disabled veterans" but does not specify the rebate amount or exact eligibility calculations in the provided text. It is currently pending before the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) for the Huntington's Disease Grant Program, increasing its total funding for fiscal year 2025 to $701,000 (from an estimated $201,000). The funds will support grants to New Jersey-based institutions of higher education, non-profits, and research organizations to provide pre-symptomatic testing, neurology/psychiatry services, treatment, disease management, and counseling. It directly affects approximately 900-1,200 New Jersey residents living with Huntington's disease and about 7,000 at-risk individuals. Huntington's disease is a fatal, inherited condition causing progressive neurological decline without a cure.

Maddy summaryACR 61 is a New Jersey legislative resolution urging Congress to provide emergency funds to modernize air traffic control infrastructure and increase staffing at facilities supporting Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). It directly addresses EWR's operational challenges, including system disruptions from outdated infrastructure (like aging copper lines), insufficient controller staffing at Philadelphia TRACON (only 22 certified controllers), and resulting flight delays, cancellations, and ground stops. The resolution emphasizes that EWR serves 50 million passengers annually and is vital to New Jersey's economy, with immediate action needed before a planned long-term FAA system upgrade completes. It does not create new law but formally requests federal funding and staffing adjustments to improve safety and efficiency.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities (including electricity, gas, water, sewer, and telecom providers) to notify municipalities 24 hours before work on poles or underground facilities in a single municipality, and to restore streets to their original condition after repairs using hot patch asphalt and repaving. It mandates paying prevailing wages for restoration work and imposes daily fines of up to $1,000 for failure to restore streets within 90 days, with exceptions for winter months (November-April) and emergencies. The law applies to all utilities operating in New Jersey, directly affecting how they coordinate with local governments during street repairs. Key provisions include mandatory municipal consent for pole placement in gas-lit areas and emergency exemptions for immediate safety threats.