Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summary# Summary This bill renames the Juvenile Justice Commission as the Youth Justice Commission and updates all statutory references from the "New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice" to the "New Jersey Code of Youth Justice." The sponsor's intent is to better reflect the commission's mission to assist and rehabilitate court-involved youth and provide programs, support, and opportunities designed to help youth grow, thrive, and become independent, productive, and law-abiding citizens. The bill also includes numerous amendments to the laws governing the commission, including provisions related to mental health screening in juvenile detention facilities, room restriction policies, data collection requirements, education programs, and staffing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who left school due to military service, including active duty in the Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve. Schools must reinstate these students with the same academic standing they held before their service interruption and grant readmission for the next available semester upon written request. The bill prohibits institutions from charging application or other fees for these readmission requests. It takes effect immediately, applying to the first full academic year after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 3308 requires New Jersey electric utilities to accept and process interconnection applications for grid supply solar facilities up to 20 megawatts. Utilities must approve applications unless incomplete (with specific feedback provided) or unsafe (with modification suggestions), and must compensate approved facilities for electricity supplied in real time. Facilities must pay interconnection costs and comply with utility tariffs. This applies to commercial solar projects selling power to the grid, excluding net metered, on-site, or community solar installations. The bill streamlines grid access for mid-sized solar developers seeking to connect to the state’s electric system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey telecom, cable, and internet providers to let customers pause or cancel service contracts without early termination fees when they move into a qualifying long-term care facility. It directly affects residents admitted to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, dementia care homes, or residential health care facilities for at least 90 days, as verified by a physician’s order or care plan. Providers must pause billing for a minimum 90 days upon admission, then cancel the contract if the resident remains in the facility beyond that period. The law mandates no fees for this pause/cancellation, though customers must provide physician documentation and typically give 45 days’ notice (or 48 hours in urgent cases).

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4754 prohibits businesses from selling, manufacturing, distributing, or offering for sale personal flotation devices (PFDs) like lifejackets, water wings, or puddle jumpers that are not approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. The bill directly affects retailers and manufacturers operating in New Jersey, specifically targeting PFDs designed for children under 12 years old. Violators face escalating civil penalties: $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and $500 for third or subsequent offenses, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law aims to ensure consumers can purchase Coast Guard-approved PFDs, reducing risks associated with unapproved devices that may deflate or slip off, as highlighted by drowning statistics.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to update the State Uniform Construction Code for parking structures to address the heavier weight of electric vehicles (EVs). It mandates new parking structures include requirements for EV weight capacity, EV charger installation, distributing EV spaces to reduce load, and a minimum of 10% EV parking spaces. For existing structures, it requires DCA to review load requirements, establish monitoring for EV occupancy, provide upgrade models, and compel owners of unsafe structures to create remediation plans within 90 days or face closure. The bill directly affects all new and existing parking structure owners and developers statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program, which will provide competitive grants to 501(c)(19) veterans' organizations for building rehabilitation or purchase to support veteran services. The program will be funded by a $2 million initial appropriation from the General Fund, plus voluntary taxpayer contributions through New Jersey income tax returns. Organizations must submit applications detailing how they'll use the buildings to assist veterans, and the Economic Development Authority will develop specific grant criteria. The program aims to help veterans' organizations maintain or improve facilities that serve veterans across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to explicitly include virtual currency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the definition of "gift" for public officials. It prohibits state and local government employees, elected representatives, and other defined public officials from accepting these digital assets as gifts. The change updates existing gift restrictions to cover new forms of digital value, ensuring virtual currency and NFTs are treated the same as traditional gifts under state ethics laws. This is a definitional update with no new penalties or enforcement mechanisms beyond current gift-prohibition rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create an internet-based tracking system for rape kits (also called sexual assault forensic evidence kits). The system will allow victims, law enforcement officers, healthcare providers, and labs to monitor a kit's journey from collection at a medical facility through testing and final disposal. It mandates the Attorney General to issue guidelines for this tracking system, ensuring transparency in the chain of custody. The law, which became effective in January 2025, directly affects victims of sexual assault, healthcare facilities, law enforcement, and forensic labs handling these kits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in New Jersey to be enrolled in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) instead of the current Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). ALJs currently enrolled in DCRP would be transferred to the Workers Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days of the bill's effective date, with their retirement accounts and service credit transferred as well. The State General Fund would cover the unfunded liability for benefits related to this transfer. This change would bring ALJs under the same retirement system as Workers Compensation Judges, who have been in this specific PERS part since 2001.