Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the civil service classification for State Investigators working in New Jersey's Division of Criminal Justice. Currently classified as unclassified employees (without full civil service protections), they will now be moved to a classified title under the civil service system. This change grants them standard job security, fair hiring processes, and grievance rights under state civil service rules. The bill applies to all current and future State Investigators in this role, effective immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a system where municipalities that update their zoning regulations to allow for more housing options receive priority for state funding. Municipalities that adopt specific housing strategies - such as permitting accessory dwelling units, reducing parking requirements, or allowing multi-unit developments in commercial zones - can qualify for preference in state grants, including the Main Street New Jersey Program and Neighborhood Preservation Program. School districts in these municipalities may also receive up to a 10% increase in state aid for school construction projects. The bill requires municipalities to review and potentially amend their master plans and zoning regulations to incorporate these housing strategies, with planning boards required to report findings and recommend changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create and maintain a free, public online registry of tutors and organizations offering free supplemental tutoring to students. It allows certified teachers, retired teachers, college students, industry professionals, and relevant organizations to register, providing details like contact information and subject expertise. All registrants must undergo criminal background checks (except certified teachers with prior checks), and the registry explicitly states it does not endorse or verify the quality of services offered. The registry will be accessible to all New Jersey residents via the DOE website.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Early Language Access Program within New Jersey's Department of Health to provide free language instruction services to deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children under age 5 and their families. The program matches families with interprofessional teams (including ASL interpreters, speech therapists, and audiologists) who deliver up to 25 hours per week of tailored instruction - using the family's preferred communication method (like ASL, spoken language, or multimodal approaches) - in settings such as homes, childcare centers, and preschools. It also covers support services like hearing device assistance, provider training, and case management. Eligibility requires proof of the child’s hearing loss, age, and New Jersey residency. The bill codifies and permanently authorizes this existing early intervention service.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act," protects paid first responders (including police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and 9-1-1 dispatchers) diagnosed with work-related PTSD. It prohibits employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against these employees for taking leave related to a qualifying PTSD diagnosis, which must be linked to a traumatic event experienced during their duties or vicarious trauma from their job. Employers must reinstate employees to their prior position after leave, and violations allow employees to sue for remedies including $5,000 fines for first violations, reinstatement, back pay, and attorney fees. The civil action must be filed within one year of the alleged violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school staff (including those in after-school programs) to complete epilepsy and seizure disorder care training every five years. It directly affects school boards, administrators, and all school personnel who interact with students. The key provision mandates that training must be provided through a Department of Health-approved course from a nonprofit epilepsy support organization. This ensures staff can recognize seizures, provide appropriate care, and know when to seek help, as outlined in individualized health plans developed with parent input and physician guidance. The law applies to all schools in the state and takes effect at the start of the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Landscape Irrigation Contractor Certification Act to allow local municipalities and counties to enforce the law by inspecting job sites and issuing penalties for violations, expanding enforcement beyond the current state-level authority. It increases civil penalties to up to $5,000 for the first offense, $10,000 for the second, and $15,000 for subsequent offenses. The bill specifies that 30% of penalty revenue will go to the State General Fund, while 70% will remain with the local municipality or county where the violation occurred. It directly affects landscape irrigation contractors who must be certified to perform work, aiming to address staffing limitations at the state level by enabling local enforcement of licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill A3036, the "SAFER APP" program, authorizes the Attorney General to order navigation app providers (like Google Maps or Waze) to reroute traffic during declared emergency conditions. Municipalities can request an investigation into traffic emergencies - such as highway congestion, emergency vehicle delays, or accident hotspots - by adopting a resolution approved by the Transportation Commissioner within 90 days. If an emergency is confirmed, the Attorney General can mandate navigation systems to divert traffic, with non-compliant providers facing daily fines up to $5,000 payable to the affected municipality. The bill directly affects navigation service companies and aims to improve emergency response by reducing traffic barriers.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires all subscription service providers (such as streaming platforms, gym memberships, or recurring payment services) to give customers an easy way to cancel their subscriptions using the same method they signed up (e.g., online, by phone, or in person). It also mandates that providers using "negative option" features (where silence or inaction is treated as acceptance) must clearly disclose terms, obtain explicit consent before charging, and provide a simple cancellation mechanism. Violations can result in fines up to $20,000 per offense, expanding previous rules that only applied to health clubs to cover all subscription services.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to promote state-produced aquaculture products (farm-raised fish and shellfish) through the existing Jersey Fresh Program. It requires an annual $100,000 appropriation from the General Fund to fund advertising and promotion of these products, which must meet department-established quality standards. The Department must also create a specific quality grading system for aquaculture products, distinct from wild-caught seafood, to verify their quality under the program. This directly benefits New Jersey aquaculture businesses by expanding market access for their products through state marketing efforts.