Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Family Leave Act and Temporary Disability Benefits Law to provide protected bereavement leave for employees experiencing the death of a child, miscarriage, stillbirth, unsuccessful adoption, or failed fertility treatments. It allows up to 21 days of leave for circumstances where employees wouldn't otherwise qualify for leave or benefits, or up to 7 days for circumstances where they would qualify for other leave. The leave is available to employees who are biological parents, adoptive parents, or parents through a gestational carrier agreement, as well as to their spouses, domestic partners, or civil union partners. Employers with 30 or more employees must provide this leave under the amended laws, which applies to all eligible employees in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the third Sunday of November each year as "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims" in New Jersey. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes an existing international observance to honor victims of traffic incidents and acknowledge emergency responders. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance through appropriate activities. It directly affects all New Jersey residents by establishing a state-level observance date, aligning with the United Nations and U.S. Department of Transportation's recognition of this day. The bill passed unanimously in the Assembly and was approved as P.L.2024, JR-3.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure within New Jersey's Executive Branch to develop and enforce state cybersecurity policies, secure technology systems for interactions between state agencies, nonprofits, and residents, and create guidelines for safe artificial intelligence (AI) integration in public and private institutions. The office, led by a Governor-appointed Chief Officer who reports directly to the Governor, will coordinate cybersecurity operations across state departments, establish service-level agreements with agencies, and enter agreements with external entities to strengthen infrastructure security. It must publish an annual report detailing its activities and maintain a public website with operational information. The office operates independently of the Department of the Treasury while being located within it, focusing on concrete policy implementation rather than speculative outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities, counties, and school districts in New Jersey to report cybersecurity incidents that compromise billing systems, communications, data management, or critical infrastructure (like industrial control systems). Designated employees must submit incidents via an online form developed by the Attorney General and NJ Cybersecurity Integration Cell within a prompt timeframe. Within 30 days of receiving a report, the NJCCIC must contract an independent cybersecurity firm to audit the entity’s security program and response, identifying threats, vulnerabilities, and improvement strategies. All incident reports and audit details are exempt from public disclosure under New Jersey’s open records law. The Department of Law and Public Safety covers audit costs and allows reimbursement for related expenses incurred by affected entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new retail facilities or warehouses larger than 75,000 square feet to be designed with roofs capable of supporting solar panels covering at least 40% of the roof area (minus certain features like skylights). It mandates that the roof's load-bearing structure must safely accommodate the weight of operational solar systems, including environmental factors like snow and rain. The Department of Community Affairs must establish rules to implement these requirements, applying to developments where construction permits were not finalized before the bill's effective date. The law aims to facilitate future solar installations on large commercial buildings without requiring immediate solar deployment.

Maddy summaryAJR 46 designates January of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey to recognize the state's significant Hindu community. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with activities honoring Hindu cultural contributions. It acknowledges New Jersey has the highest percentage of Hindus in the U.S. (about 3% of the population) and home to the world's largest Hindu temple in Robbinsville. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the community's heritage.

Maddy summaryAJR 60 is a joint resolution declaring New Jersey a "Purple Heart State" to honor veterans and active duty military members from the state who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal. The Purple Heart is a military decoration given to service members wounded or killed in action while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. This resolution joins three existing "Purple Heart States" (West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington) and takes effect immediately, recognizing New Jersey's existing connections to the "Purple Heart Trail" - a network of roads, bridges, and monuments honoring recipients. It serves as a symbolic tribute without creating new programs, funding, or legal obligations.

Maddy summaryAJR 50 designates August each year as "Professional Engineers Month" in New Jersey and the first Wednesday in August as "Professional Engineering Day." It affects approximately 10,000 licensed professional engineers across the state who contribute to public safety, infrastructure, and economic growth through work in fields like construction, engineering services, and government. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public recognition of engineers' roles in protecting public health, safety, and welfare. This is a ceremonial designation with no new legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Taiwan Relations Act (passed in 1979) and the 35th anniversary of New Jersey’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan. It symbolically recognizes the longstanding diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between New Jersey and Taiwan, including $723 million in annual trade and over 200 Taiwanese companies operating in New Jersey. The resolution has no binding effect - it is purely ceremonial, expressing support through formal acknowledgment without creating new laws or policies. It does not alter U.S. or New Jersey government actions toward Taiwan.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation to mandate that electric vehicle charging stations be accessible to drivers with disabilities. New charging stations must meet specific accessibility standards within 18 months, including a minimum 11-foot-wide charging space with a 5-foot-wide access aisle, clear floor space meeting ADA requirements, and features like one-handed operation for connectors requiring minimal force. Existing charging stations must comply with accessibility standards to the maximum extent feasible. The bill directly affects charging station operators and the DOT, requiring them to implement these accessibility features for drivers with mobility and communication disabilities.