Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey foster care agencies, courts, and adoption agencies to place children in foster care, adoption, or resource family homes with families of the same religious faith as the child, whenever possible. Exceptions are permitted only with written consent from the child's birth parent or legal guardian, or if such placement is not feasible or not in the child's best interest (with a written explanation required). In cases where a different religious setting is used, the bill mandates that children must continue attending their own religious services, receiving religious instruction, and observing their faith unless the birth parent or guardian requests otherwise in writing. This policy aims to preserve a child's religious identity during placement transitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2958) would require New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to request federal authorization allowing SNAP (food stamp) benefits to cover delivery fees for online grocery orders. Currently, SNAP funds cannot pay for delivery charges, even though New Jersey participates in a USDA pilot program enabling online grocery purchases through retailers like Amazon and 17 participating stores. The bill directly affects SNAP recipients who use online grocery delivery services, as it seeks to expand their benefit usage to include delivery fees. The request would be made to the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, which administers the federal SNAP program.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that retail salesroom owners/operators - not wineries - are responsible for ensuring no one under 21 purchases or consumes wine at their location. It requires all staff selling wine to complete mandatory training before working and receive annual refresher training. The law specifies that only "authorized" staff (trained employees) may sell wine, and they must verify customers are of legal age. Violating these rules constitutes a disorderly persons offense, potentially leading to fines or court-ordered bans on alcohol service at the premises.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A1187) creates a safe haven program at fire stations to assist victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence. It requires firefighters to receive specific training on victim advocacy, legal resources, and emergency shelter referrals, while ensuring services are available regardless of citizenship status. The bill appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund to establish and implement this program, with the Attorney General overseeing coordination with relevant agencies. The program directly affects victims seeking immediate assistance and firefighters who will serve as first responders to connect them with support services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 15-member Task Force on Mercury Exposure in Schools and Child Care Centers within New Jersey's Department of Health. The task force will examine health risks from mercury in flooring, develop testing protocols for schools and licensed child care centers, create remediation standards, and provide implementation strategies. It requires the task force to submit a final report with recommendations within one year of its formation, after which it will dissolve. The bill directly affects public and nonpublic schools and licensed child care centers statewide by creating a structured process to address potential mercury hazards in their facilities.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firefighting foam containing PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) after two years, with limited exceptions for certain facilities. It allows oil refineries and petroleum terminals to continue using PFAS-containing foam for up to eight years, with potential extensions through a waiver process requiring proof of no available alternatives. The bill requires manufacturers to recall PFAS-containing foam within 27 months and directs the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a collection and disposal program for such foam, appropriating $250,000 for initial funding. Fire departments and facilities using PFAS-containing foam must report usage and implement containment measures to prevent environmental releases. The law aims to protect public health and the environment from PFAS contamination while providing a transition period for essential facilities.

Maddy summaryBill A579 codifies and expands privileges for limited and restricted brewery license holders in New Jersey. For limited breweries, the bill removes the requirement for tours to sell on-premise, allows serving beer in outdoor spaces with approved tap systems, and permits offering basic food items like crackers and chips along with non-alcoholic beverages. It also enables limited breweries to host unlimited on-premises events, off-premises events with permits, and private parties without needing special permits or notifications. For restricted breweries, the bill increases annual production limits from 10,000 to 300,000 barrels and allows direct sales to retailers rather than through wholesalers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "restricted distillery license" that would allow distilleries to operate in conjunction with restaurants in designated "Garden State Growth Zones" - specifically Atlantic City, Camden, Passaic, Paterson, and Trenton. The license would permit distilleries to produce up to 20,000 gallons of distilled alcoholic beverages annually, but only if the distillery is immediately adjoining a restaurant that holds a plenary retail consumption license and is regularly used for serving meals with adequate kitchen and dining facilities. Distilleries with this license would be allowed to sell their products to the restaurant and to wholesalers, but not to ship directly to consumers. The bill limits the number of such licenses to 10 per entity holding a plenary retail consumption license.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 17-member "Task Force for Community Based Juvenile Rehabilitation" in New Jersey. The task force will study and recommend age ranges for juvenile court cases based on child development science, and examine racial disparities in juvenile sentencing - addressing a noted issue where Black youth are over 20 times more likely to be incarcerated than white peers in the state. It requires three regional public hearings and a report to the Governor and Legislature within one year. The task force includes officials from courts, law enforcement, advocacy groups, and youth justice experts.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $1,000 tax credit to New Jersey owners of bars, restaurants, and alcohol manufacturers (like breweries or wineries) for pandemic-related health and safety costs incurred during the Governor’s emergency period starting March 2020. Eligible expenses include purchasing personal protective equipment (masks, gloves, etc.) and making facility modifications to comply with pandemic safety rules. The credit applies only once, in the first tax year after the bill’s enactment, and cannot reduce tax liability below zero. It directly supports these businesses by offsetting specific costs they faced during the pandemic.