Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council within New Jersey's Department of Health to address human trafficking risks associated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The council, composed of nine members including trafficking survivors and a law enforcement officer, will evaluate existing laws, review assistance programs, develop public awareness campaigns (including toll-free hotline signage), and submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 180 days. The bill appropriates $1 million from the state's General Fund to fund the council's operations, with the council's work ending upon report submission or one year after the World Cup, whichever occurs later. This directly affects New Jersey's state response to trafficking during the event, focusing on prevention, victim support, and coordination.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's "Safe Storage of Firearms Act" (Bill A 3560) requires all legal firearm owners to store unloaded firearms in locked containers (like gun safes) and keep ammunition separate at their homes or premises. It repeals older laws about minors accessing firearms and mandates a $500,000 public awareness campaign by the Attorney General. Retail dealers must provide written warnings about these storage rules to customers, and courts must inform convicted violators about firearm ownership restrictions. The law directly affects firearm owners, with exceptions for active law enforcement officers and certain retail displays.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3337) requires New Jersey municipalities bordering the Atlantic Ocean, tidal bays, or rivers to provide free beach access and recreational facility use to eligible veterans. It mandates that these municipalities cannot charge fees to veterans who served at least 90 days in active duty with an honorable discharge, or were discharged due to a service-connected injury or disability. The law changes current practice, which allowed municipalities to *optionally* offer free access, by making it mandatory for qualifying veterans. It applies specifically to veterans meeting these criteria, as verified by military ID, DD-214 forms, or state-issued veteran/Gold Star Family identification. The bill does not affect other fee exemptions currently permitted under the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow convenience stores to sell alcoholic beverages by revising licensing rules for plenary retail consumption licenses. It permits stores to sell alcohol only if they also offer snacks (like chips or nuts) and nonalcoholic beverages as accessories, while complying with state regulations from the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Municipalities would set annual license fees between $250 and $2,500. This directly affects convenience store owners seeking to expand sales to include alcohol under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3370) amends the state's motor vehicle law to clarify how drivers can restore a license after suspension or revocation and to establish specific circumstances under which penalties for driving with a suspended license may be waived. It does not change the rule that driving with a suspended license is illegal, but it provides clearer guidelines for when courts might avoid imposing fines or jail time for such violations. The bill directly affects drivers in New Jersey who have had their licenses suspended or revoked and are seeking to regain driving privileges. It focuses on procedural clarity for license restoration and defined conditions for penalty waivers, without altering the core prohibition against driving while suspended.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes penalties for underage gambling in New Jersey from criminal charges to civil fines. It affects minors who gamble at casinos (under age 21), casino employees/licensees who allow underage gambling, and guardians who permit minors under their care to gamble. The bill imposes tiered civil penalties: up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for third or subsequent offenses. All collected fines will fund gambling addiction prevention, education, and treatment programs through the Department of Human Services, specifically supporting the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to increase penalties for public servants who disclose domestic violence or sexual assault victims' personal information during official misconduct. Currently, such misconduct is a second-degree crime only if the benefit involved exceeds $200, otherwise it's a less severe third-degree crime. Under this bill, disclosing victims' personal information - defined as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, or other identifying details - automatically elevates the offense to a second-degree crime, regardless of the benefit's value. This change imposes stricter penalties: second-degree crimes carry 5-10 years in prison or fines up to $150,000, versus 3-5 years or $15,000 for third-degree offenses. It directly affects public servants like police, court staff, or social workers handling victim cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to establish a 15-year depreciation period specifically for municipal expenses related to purchasing, planting, or removing trees and shrubbery. It adds this provision to the existing list of infrastructure asset categories in N.J.S.40A:2-22 (section l), directly affecting New Jersey municipalities that manage public tree programs. The key mechanism is the standardized 15-year accounting period for these tree-related costs, aligning them with other public infrastructure like sidewalks (10 years) or street improvements (20 years). This change simplifies municipal financial reporting for tree management without altering tree care policies or public obligations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 1804) requires courts to refer certain defendants to mental health and substance abuse evaluations as part of pretrial release decisions. It directly affects eligible defendants who are being considered for release before trial but have potential mental health or substance use needs. The key provision mandates that courts must provide these referrals when determining release conditions, ensuring defendants have access to treatment as part of their pretrial supervision. The bill amends existing pretrial release laws (P.L.2014, c.31) to integrate these evaluations into the court's decision-making process. This policy change focuses on connecting defendants with treatment resources while maintaining court safety and appearance requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide all vehicle and licensing services - such as license renewals, registration, and address changes - in person at every MVC agency location, without requiring appointments for walk-in customers. It mandates emergency printing services for temporary licenses, creates an online scheduling system for commercial driver tests at all locations, and requires the MVC to distribute clear informational brochures (both online and in-person) listing all available services. The bill directly affects MVC customers seeking in-person transactions and MVC staff managing agency operations. These changes aim to improve accessibility and reduce wait times for everyday vehicle and driver services.