Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summarySJR 103 is a symbolic resolution declaring New Jersey a "Purple Heart State" to honor veterans and active-duty service members from New Jersey who have received the Purple Heart Medal. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded by the President to those wounded or killed in combat, and this resolution recognizes their sacrifices without creating new benefits or programs. It builds on New Jersey's existing connections to the national "Purple Heart Trail" (a network of roads and monuments honoring recipients), which includes locations in the state and stems from a 1992 convention held in Cherry Hill. The resolution takes effect immediately and serves as a formal state acknowledgment of these veterans' service.

Maddy summarySJR 29 designates August each year as "Professional Engineers Month" in New Jersey and the first Wednesday in August as "Professional Engineering Day." The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of these designations. It directly affects professional engineers in New Jersey, recognizing their contributions to public safety, infrastructure, and the state's economic growth. The resolution has no binding requirements beyond the annual proclamation request and took effect immediately upon approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create a public online portal displaying how state school funding is calculated for all districts. The portal will show the data inputs (like enrollment and property values), allow users to estimate how changes would affect funding, and explain key formulas in plain language. It will include searchable district data for the past three years, showing total aid received, categorical aid types, and funding methodology details for special education, transportation, and other categories. The portal will also link to relevant laws, district budgets, and the state's annual Educational Adequacy Report.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand eligibility for New Jersey veterans' benefits by removing specific time periods and locations that veterans must have served in to qualify for certain civil service and pension benefits. Instead of requiring service during particular wars or in specific conflict zones, the bill would allow veterans who have served in federal active duty in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve component to qualify. This change would impact civil service preferences, retirement benefits through the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund and Public Employees' Retirement System, and the ability to purchase military service credit for retirement. It would make it easier for veterans of more recent conflicts to access these benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill delays New Jersey's implementation of Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations until January 1, 2027 - pushing back the current 2025 deadline. It directly affects vehicle manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, requiring them to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles (capping at 40-75% of annual sales by 2035). The bill modifies New Jersey’s adoption of California’s 2021 ACT regulations, which mandate phased EV sales targets, by prohibiting the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from enforcing these rules before 2027. The delay gives manufacturers more time to adapt to the requirements while maintaining the state’s alignment with California’s emissions program.

Maddy summary# Summary of New Jersey Hemp-Derived Consumable Products Legislation This New Jersey bill (P.L. 2024, c.73) establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for hemp-derived consumable products, replacing previous legislation on intoxicating hemp products. ## Key Provisions **Licensing:** - Requires businesses to obtain a license from the Department of Agriculture - Existing alcohol beverage license holders (10 specific types including plenary retail consumption, brewery, winery, and wholesale licenses) can sell hemp products by paying an annual fee and maintaining registration with the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) - Prohibits businesses from operating within 1,000 feet of schools or playgrounds (with exceptions for existing businesses) **Regulatory Requirements:** - Mandates product testing for compliance with THC limits (max 0.3% delta-9 THC on dry weight basis) - Requires child-resistant packaging meeting 16 C.F.R. standards - Establishes labeling requirements including ingredient lists, allergen warnings, THC content, and expiration dates - Limits product formats: non-liquid ingestibles max 25mg per serving, liquid ingestibles max 10mg per serving, inhalables max 3ml per container **Sales Restrictions:** - Prohibits sales to anyone under 21 - Bans distribution of samples in public spaces - Requires products to be behind physical counter/barrier - Prohibits sale of products without proper certification **Penalties:** - Civil penalties up to $2,000 for violations (increasing for repeat offenses) - License suspension/revocation for serious violations - Criminal penalties for repeat violations (disorderly persons offense for second violation, 4th degree crime for third+) - $3,000 payment-in-lieu of license revocation for some violations - $8,000 payment-in-lieu of license suspension/revocation for others **Taxes:** - 6% retail sales tax (1% designated for social equity programs) - Revenue split 50/50 between Department of Treasury and Department of Agriculture - Municipalities may impose up to 2% local excise tax **Exemptions:** - "Safe harbor" products (manufactured for export but not sale within NJ) and facilities - School policy requiring bans on product use in school buildings, facilities, and on school transportation (with exception for supervised instructional activities) The bill repeals previous sections related to intoxicating hemp products and establishes a regulatory framework that balances consumer safety with industry regulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's invasion of privacy law to clarify that consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in a sexual manner does not automatically cover consent for disclosing the image. It requires that any consent for sharing such images must be explicit, specific to the purpose given, and not implied by prior consent for taking the image. The law treats the act of capturing the image and the act of disclosing it as separate offenses, each needing distinct permission. This directly affects individuals whose intimate images are taken without consent and then shared without their explicit agreement for that sharing.

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.