Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to study how large data centers impact water resources. The study must examine short-term (3-year) and long-term (7-year) water use effects on drinking/wastewater systems, environmental impacts, operational efficiency, and costs to public infrastructure and ratepayers. It also mandates an analysis of potential water-saving strategies for data centers and future facility projections. The DEP must submit a written report with findings and potential recommendations within 15 months. This is a procedural study bill with no immediate regulatory changes, focusing solely on gathering data to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5784) allows New Jersey county clerks to require businesses employing 10 or more people to submit certain documents electronically to their office, rather than in paper form. County clerks would determine the specific electronic format and method for submission. The requirement applies to documents submitted to county clerk offices by qualifying businesses, replacing any existing paper-based submission rules. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the five-megawatt size limit for individual community solar energy projects in New Jersey. Previously, each project could not exceed five megawatts, but the new law allows projects of any size to participate in the Community Solar Energy Program. The change applies to all projects registered after the bill's enactment, affecting solar developers and utility customers who use community solar. Other program requirements, such as low-income customer access and land use rules, remain unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to add social media development services to its existing Small Business E-commerce Support Program. The program currently offers digital marketing and e-commerce consulting to eligible small businesses (like restaurants, retail stores, and personal care businesses in commercial locations). The bill mandates that EDA include social media platform development assistance alongside current services such as website creation and digital marketing planning. This change applies only to the current pilot program under the Main Street Recovery Finance Program, not future initiatives. The policy directly affects small businesses seeking digital support through this state-funded program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to display a person's full legal name - including Roman numerals - on specific driver's licenses, identification cards, and permits. It directly affects residents whose legal names (as recorded on birth certificates) include Roman numerals (e.g., "John Smith III"), ensuring their name appears exactly as documented without omitting the numeral. The MVC must display the full legal name if applicants provide standard verification documents proving identity, age, and residence. This change applies to all standard licenses, permits, and REAL ID documents without altering existing name-change procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a five-year pilot program to inventory, assess, and improve safety for all bridges under New Jersey state, county, or municipal jurisdiction. It requires the Department of Transportation to create a digital bridge inventory, develop risk scoring models (including climate vulnerability assessments), and build a public dashboard. The $9.5 million appropriation allocates $4.5 million for the core pilot program and $5 million specifically for testing AI-powered sensor monitoring on high-risk bridges through a new "Bridge Infrastructure Innovation Module." The program mandates annual reports to the legislature on progress and a final report recommending statewide expansion of the model after five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create an "Interim Alternative ZEV Compliance Program" within one year of enactment. It applies to vehicle manufacturers selling passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks in New Jersey, specifically for model years 2027 through 2031. The key provision allows manufacturers to opt into this program instead of meeting strict zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales quotas, enabling them to offer dealers a portfolio of ZEVs based on actual consumer demand rather than mandatory sales targets. This change provides manufacturers a compliance pathway while maintaining the state's emissions goals under the California Low Emission Vehicle program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create and update guidelines within 90 days for state and local agencies to use when purchasing goods made from recycled materials. The guidelines will recommend specific recycled content percentages for procurement contracts, potentially referencing existing U.S. EPA guidelines. State agencies and local governments must incorporate these guidelines into new product specifications for purchases, unless following them would increase contract costs. The bill applies to all state departments and local entities with procurement authority, but exempts local contracts where cost would rise.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and Environmental Department to conduct a study of wave and tidal energy potential after completing a pilot project. Within 15 months of the pilot's completion, they must submit a report with specific generation targets (in megawatts) for wave and tidal energy by 2030, 2040, and 2050. The report will guide updates to the state's Energy Master Plan to incorporate these goals, alongside exploring incentives like renewable energy credits. The legislation aims to position New Jersey as a national leader in ocean energy development while advancing the state's clean energy targets.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals, birthing centers, and healthcare providers in New Jersey to screen pregnant individuals and those who have given birth within six weeks for preeclampsia when symptoms are present. Providers must use screening tools based on industry best practices, provide information on preeclampsia symptoms, and obtain written consent or refusal using a standardized form. The Commissioner of Health must develop an educational program about preeclampsia and its warning signs, and providers must create a treatment plan if a screening result is positive. The bill directly affects pregnant people and postpartum individuals in New Jersey who show symptoms of preeclampsia.