Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryThis bill requires courts to ensure juvenile defendants (14+ years old, or under 14 for murder charges) who voluntarily choose to be tried as adults fully understand the differences in sentencing and consequences before proceeding. It mandates a court hearing to confirm the election is made knowingly, willingly, and voluntarily, explaining how adult convictions differ from juvenile dispositions. If a juvenile elects adult trial, the law presumes they will serve custodial sentences in juvenile facilities until age 21, with limited options for transfer to adult facilities. The bill also allows courts to remand cases back to juvenile court later if it serves the juvenile's best interests or public safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey health insurers to cover specific breast cancer detection services for all women with health insurance in the state. It mandates coverage for a baseline mammogram starting at age 18 (previously 40), annual mammograms for women 18 and older, and additional imaging like ultrasounds or MRIs when medically necessary due to dense breast tissue, abnormal results, family history, genetic factors, or other risk indicators. The coverage applies to all group and individual health insurance contracts and must be provided at the same level as other medical benefits. The bill updates existing law to expand access to early detection screenings based on current medical guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program enabling gas public utilities to invest in renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure and procure RNG. It directly affects gas utilities (like gas companies) and their ratepayers (customers who pay gas bills). Key provisions require the BPU to establish a ratemaking mechanism allowing utilities to recover all prudently incurred costs - such as capital investments in RNG infrastructure, operating expenses, and RNG procurement costs - from customers through regular rate adjustments. The BPU must approve both the program and cost recovery mechanism, ensuring rates reflect actual costs while protecting ratepayers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires juveniles accused of delinquency to appear in court in the county where the alleged incident occurred, rather than their county of residence. It directly affects juveniles facing delinquency charges in New Jersey. The key provision changes the court venue requirement, mandating that hearings occur where the incident happened, while also requiring courts to provide reasonable transportation to ensure juvenile attendance. This update modifies existing court rules to align with the location of the alleged offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows partnerships and joint ventures to bid on heavy infrastructure public works projects (like roads, bridges, water treatment facilities, and transit systems) if every individual party is independently registered with the state. It requires such partnerships to register with the Department of Labor, designate a primary contract manager, and holds all parties jointly responsible for contract performance. Current law only permitted single, registered contractors to bid on these projects. The bill was withdrawn after being approved as part of P.L.2025, c.242.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires underground structural assessments before starting public highway or transit projects near operating or retired mines in New Jersey. It directly affects transportation projects (like roads, bridges, or transit lines) in areas with known or potential mine hazards, particularly in northern and central counties. The key mechanism mandates the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to develop guidance on mine proximity risks and require assessments to prevent subsidence-related damage, with the Department of Transportation coordinating the process. The law aims to prevent infrastructure failures like recent sinkholes on I-80 by making safety evaluations mandatory before construction begins.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to prioritize green stormwater infrastructure - such as permeable pavement, rain gardens, and vegetated swales - in the design, construction, and repair of state highways funded by the Special Transportation Fund. It directly affects DOT projects on public highways, mandating they use methods that reduce stormwater runoff by treating it through soil or vegetation instead of traditional drainage. The DOT must establish a program to implement this prioritization "to the extent practicable," as determined by the Commissioner. The bill takes immediate effect and defines green infrastructure broadly to include practices that store, reuse, or treat stormwater naturally.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the state's Science, Innovation and Technology Commission, to study how artificial intelligence affects the state's economy. The study must examine AI's impact on high-skill professions (like doctors and data analysts), industries most affected, implications for workforce education, emerging new jobs, and AI's effect on productivity and economic growth. Within one year of the bill's effective date, the Commissioner must submit a written report to the Governor and specific legislative committees detailing these findings. The bill does not make policy changes but mandates this study to inform future decisions about workforce development and economic planning.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies licensing requirements for businesses that transport, broker, or process solid waste, soil, or fill recyclable materials in New Jersey. It requires applicants to submit detailed disclosure statements to the Attorney General, including personal information for owners and key employees, business history, past violations, and litigation related to waste handling. The changes aim to assess the competency, reliability, and integrity of applicants before issuing licenses. The bill was withdrawn after being approved as part of P.L.2025, c.330.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a mobile cancer screening program within 180 days of enactment. The program will use staffed mobile vehicles deployed across the state, each carrying at least one qualified healthcare professional to conduct screenings based on their expertise and available equipment. The state allocates $100,000 from the General Fund to implement this program, with DOH mandated to submit a report on its results and recommendations within two years. The initiative directly affects underserved communities by increasing access to cancer screenings through mobile services.