Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThis bill removes an exemption in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that previously allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, these venues could permit smoking in areas used for gambling (like slot machine rooms or table games), but the bill would eliminate that exception. After passage, all indoor areas of casinos and simulcasting facilities open to the public for gambling would be required to be smoke-free. This change aligns these venues with the state's general indoor smoking ban, which applies to most public workplaces and spaces.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey solid waste management districts (including counties and the Hackensack Meadowlands District) to create a strategy reducing food waste by 50% by 2035 compared to 2022 levels. Districts must submit these strategies as amendments to their waste management plans, counting food donations, composting, and anaerobic digestion toward the goal. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must publish a list of actionable measures for districts (like donation programs, composting infrastructure, and public campaigns) and establish tiered regulations for composting facilities. The policy directly affects local waste management systems and aims to divert food waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to reimburse volunteer firefighters for covered cancer screenings - such as for colon, lung, skin, and prostate cancers - every three years after five years of service, with no out-of-pocket costs. It treats volunteer firefighting service as a pre-existing condition for coverage, capping reimbursement at $1,250 per three-year period (adjusted for inflation). The program is funded by a 0.1% increase in the tax on fire insurance premiums, with dedicated revenue flowing into a non-lapsing state fund. It directly affects all volunteer firefighters in New Jersey who meet the service duration requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey high school students to complete a one-semester financial literacy course as part of their curriculum. The course must cover budgeting, savings, credit, debt, taxes, college financial planning, and other personal finance topics, while excluding primarily business or economic instruction. Teachers must hold specific endorsements (e.g., in Finance, Social Studies, or Business) to teach the course, and school districts must integrate it into graduation requirements for state-endorsed diplomas. The requirement applies to students entering 12th grade in the 2027-2028 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to install historical markers at all its rail stations and bus/rail terminals. The markers must describe local history, including people, places, and events tied to the surrounding area, using inclusive content representing all eras and cultural aspects of New Jersey. NJT must identify relevant historic sites, design the markers, and maintain them, while ensuring geographic representation across the state. The requirement applies immediately to all NJT facilities with no exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3902) prohibits New Jersey homeowners insurance companies from including "anti-concurrent causation" clauses in policies. These clauses currently allow insurers to deny coverage for damage caused by a mix of covered (e.g., wind) and uncovered (e.g., flood) perils, such as during hurricanes. The law makes any such clause void and unenforceable, requiring insurers to cover damage even if multiple causes are involved. It directly affects homeowners in New Jersey by preventing claim denials tied to these clauses, particularly for weather-related damage. The bill applies to all policies delivered, renewed, or approved after its effective date (90 days post-enactment).

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-2540, "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act") requires health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover specific cancer treatments without cost-sharing for patients with Stage III, IV, or terminal cancer. It mandates coverage for parenteral treatments (like IV medications), survivorship care plans, and other services determined by regulators. The bill also adds protections: mortgage lenders must pause foreclosure during active treatment, creditors cannot initiate collections, and tenants facing eviction can request a 45-day stay with physician certification. These provisions directly affect cancer patients and their families by removing financial barriers to care and preventing housing/financial instability during treatment. The bill is pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's bill A-3338 requires municipalities, public utilities, and state agencies to install or replace street lights with LED technology during routine maintenance or new installations. Exceptions apply for temporary lighting (e.g., emergencies, special events), safety concerns, or historic properties. The law mandates compliance with minimum lighting standards while prioritizing energy conservation, reduced glare, and minimized light pollution. This policy directly affects all entities managing street lighting across the state, applying to lights funded by municipal budgets, utility rates, or state/federal sources.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) for the Huntington's Disease Grant Program, increasing its total funding for fiscal year 2025 to $701,000 (from an estimated $201,000). The funds will support grants to New Jersey-based institutions of higher education, non-profits, and research organizations to provide pre-symptomatic testing, neurology/psychiatry services, treatment, disease management, and counseling. It directly affects approximately 900-1,200 New Jersey residents living with Huntington's disease and about 7,000 at-risk individuals. Huntington's disease is a fatal, inherited condition causing progressive neurological decline without a cure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey adoption agencies, courts, and child welfare placements to prioritize placing children in homes matching their religious faith "to the maximum extent practicable," unless the child's birth parent or legal guardian provides written consent to a different placement. If a child is placed in a home of a different faith, the agency or court must document the reasons for the placement and ensure the child can attend religious services, receive faith-based instruction, and observe their faith - unless the birth parent or guardian explicitly requests otherwise in writing. It directly affects children in foster care or adoption, adoption agencies, courts making placement decisions, and birth parents/guardians. The bill amends existing statutes to formalize these religious consideration requirements across adoption, foster care, and resource family home placements.