Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3970) requires New Jersey public entities (like state agencies, counties, municipalities, and school districts) to include project labor agreements for public construction projects costing $3 million or more. A project labor agreement is a pre-hire agreement between a public entity and labor organizations covering terms like wages and safety for a specific project. The bill lowers the cost threshold from $5 million (under current law) to $3 million, mandating that public entities either negotiate such agreements directly or require contractors to do so. This affects all large public construction projects subject to New Jersey's prevailing wage law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1408) amends New Jersey law to require human trafficking awareness signs at specific establishments - including massage businesses, hotels, airports, hospitals, and transportation hubs - to include Chinese and Korean translations, in addition to English and Spanish. The signs must be at least 8.5x11 inches, printed in 16-point font, and displayed in visible locations like restrooms and dressing rooms. Businesses failing to comply face civil penalties of $300 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations. The change responds directly to a 2024 Commission of Investigation report on human trafficking in New Jersey’s massage industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill, now law as P.L.2025, c.272, provides employment protections for New Jersey paid first responders (including police, firefighters, EMTs, and 9-1-1 dispatchers) diagnosed with work-related PTSD. It prohibits employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against employees who take leave for qualifying PTSD treatment, requiring reinstatement to their previous position after documented recovery. Employers violating these protections face civil fines ($5,000 for first violation, $10,000 for subsequent), court-ordered reinstatement, lost wages, and attorney fees. The law applies only when PTSD arises from on-the-job trauma or vicarious trauma experienced during official duties.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A 3924 establishes a 15-member task force to study transitioning the state's Executive Branch to a paperless system. The task force, including state officials and appointed experts in technology, cybersecurity, and elections, will examine technology options, cybersecurity needs, cost-benefit analyses, legal changes required, and potential benefits. It must issue an interim report within six months and a final report within one year to the Governor and Legislature, detailing feasibility and recommendations. The bill does not implement paperless systems but creates a process to evaluate them. (This is a procedural study bill, so the summary is concise.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover medically necessary speech therapy for stuttering, including both habilitative (helping develop speech skills) and rehabilitative (helping regain lost skills) therapy. It applies to all health insurance policies sold in New Jersey, including individual, group, and hospital service contracts, and mandates coverage whether therapy is provided in-person or via telehealth. Insurers must cover these services at the same level as other medical treatments, without additional restrictions. The law directly affects residents with stuttering who rely on insurance for speech therapy, ensuring they receive consistent coverage for this specific treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act (A-1400), prohibits state and local government agencies - including law enforcement, schools, and hospitals - from cooperating with federal immigration authorities on immigration detainer requests that lack judicial warrants. It directly affects immigrants and their families by ensuring they can access public services like healthcare and education without fear of deportation. Key provisions ban agencies from holding individuals beyond their release date based on federal immigration detainers (like I-247 forms) and require them to prioritize local safety over federal immigration enforcement. The law aims to prevent unconstitutional detentions and maintain community trust in public services, as federal detainers have been found to violate constitutional rights in multiple courts.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey counties from using any school or schoolhouse as a polling place for any election. It amends election law to explicitly ban schools from being designated as voting locations, removing a previous allowance that permitted their use under certain conditions. County election boards must now select alternative sites, such as other public buildings or commercial spaces, while still ensuring polling places meet accessibility requirements for voters with disabilities and the elderly. The ban takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience Financing Program within the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. It would impose a per-kilowatt-hour charge on all electricity consumption in the state, added to utility bills for residential, commercial, and industrial consumers. The collected funds would finance projects like flood-resistant infrastructure, coastal protection, and other climate resilience initiatives. The program aims to address climate impacts through targeted infrastructure investments, funded directly by electricity users.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state officials and employees from accepting virtual currency (like Bitcoin) or non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as gifts. It amends existing ethics laws to explicitly define "gift" as including these digital assets, covering all state officers and employees as defined in the statute. The key change adds virtual currency and NFTs to the list of items banned from being accepted as gifts to prevent potential conflicts of interest. This applies to all state agencies, departments, and elected officials, excluding members of the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill increases tax credits for corporations conducting research. It raises the credit rate from 10% to 15% for businesses primarily operating in targeted industries like clean energy, life sciences, and advanced technology. It also increases the basic research payment credit rate to 15% and allows the total credit to be refundable (meaning businesses can receive cash payments even if they owe no tax). The law applies to corporations in industries identified by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, including innovation-focused sectors such as autonomous vehicles, hemp processing, and digital media.