Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state buildings (including government offices, state universities, and agencies) to separate and recycle specific materials like aluminum, cardboard, glass, paper, and plastic waste. It mandates that state entities provide recycling bins, clear signage, and educational resources for both employees and the public, along with establishing collection procedures. The rule does not apply to state parks or forests using a "carry-in, carry-out" trash program. The Department of Treasury, with the Environmental Protection Department, must create compliance guidance and ensure all state branches follow the requirements within 180 days of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill would raise the minimum age to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card (required for purchasing rifles and shotguns) from 18 to 21 years old. It would not affect the existing requirement that handgun purchasers must be at least 21 years old. Under the bill, people under 21 could still possess firearms for specific purposes like hunting with a valid license and safety certification, military training, or target practice under supervision. Active duty military members, reservists, and National Guard members would remain eligible for the card before age 21. Those who already had the card before the bill's effective date could continue to use it.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority to install at least one hydrogen refueling station at every service area on their respective toll roads (Garden State Parkway, Turnpike, and Atlantic City Expressway) within two years. It defines hydrogen refueling stations as facilities providing hydrogen fuel for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which produce only water vapor as emissions. Authorities must recover installation and operational costs from users based on their usage, not from general taxpayers. The policy directly affects drivers of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by expanding refueling access along major state toll routes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Community Affairs (with input from the Board of Public Utilities) to create safety standards for indoor storage of specific energy storage batteries in buildings or facilities. The standards must cover lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, nickel metal hydride, flow/redox flow, and lead-acid batteries, including specific storage safety rules, coordination with local fire officials, and disposal procedures developed with the Department of Environmental Protection. Once adopted, these standards will be added to the State Uniform Construction Code. The bill directly affects building owners, facility managers, and fire officials who handle or oversee these battery systems.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1883 bill prohibits social media platforms from using features or practices known to cause addiction in users under 18, such as infinite scroll or autoplay that leads to obsessive use causing harm. Platforms must conduct annual third-party audits to prove they don’t use addictive features, and if audits reveal risks, they must fix them within 30 days. Small platforms (under $100 million annual revenue) and those primarily for gaming are exempt from these requirements. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $250,000 per offense, but the bill explicitly excludes liability for user-generated content or conduct protected by federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A542) requires New Jersey's State Board of Medical Examiners to process physician license applications so that the average time to grant or deny a license does not exceed 51 days after receiving all required documents. It directly affects physicians applying for licenses and the State Board of Medical Examiners, which must meet this deadline. The bill mandates the Board to submit annual reports to the legislature tracking progress toward this 51-day target. The requirement takes effect 90 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to businesses and individuals who purchase hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for business use. It offers tiered credits: 25% of the vehicle cost (up to $15,000) for 2023 purchases, 15% (up to $9,000) for 2024, and 8% (up to $5,000) for 2025. To qualify, purchasers must obtain certification from the Environmental Protection Commissioner confirming the vehicle meets hydrogen fuel cell standards. The credits apply against corporation business tax or gross income tax, but cannot exceed 50% of the tax liability for the year.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadways, or storage of wastewater, sludge, drill cuttings, or other byproducts from hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas exploration or production within New Jersey. It applies to all such materials regardless of where the fracking occurred, targeting contaminants like heavy metals, radioactive materials, and chemicals that risk contaminating water supplies and overwhelming wastewater treatment systems. The law bans these activities immediately upon enactment, aiming to prevent environmental harm and health risks associated with fracking waste. It directly affects natural gas companies and waste handlers operating in New Jersey who manage fracking byproducts.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases financial aid to New Jersey municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years, restoring approximately $331 million in reduced aid payments that municipalities received during fiscal years 2009-2011. In fiscal year 2023, municipalities will receive 50% of the difference between their 2008 and 2012 aid distributions, with full restoration beginning in 2024. Municipalities must subtract any additional aid received from their property tax levy calculations and cannot anticipate this aid when creating annual budgets. The bill requires municipalities to amend their budgets to properly reflect the total aid amount, ensuring the aid directly reduces the amount they need to raise through property taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program designating solar energy systems connected to "critical renewable microgrids" as community solar projects under the existing Community Solar Energy Program. These solar systems must supply at least 75% of their energy to low- or moderate-income customers at prices 20% below standard community solar rates, with a maximum annual capacity of 100 megawatts. The BPU must also establish eligibility rules, a 25-year program term, and allow systems over 5 megawatts to qualify - unlike standard community solar projects. Additionally, the Office of Homeland Security must designate qualifying microgrids as "assets of importance," exempting their solar incentives from a statewide cost cap on renewable energy programs.