Asm. Claire Swift

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A5559), the "Political Donation Transparency Act," prohibits candidates, political committees, and parties from automatically enrolling donors in recurring political contributions without explicit consent. It requires that recurring donations only be set up after a donor actively agrees ("affirmative consent") and that clear details about the donation's amount, frequency, and nature are provided upfront. The law applies to all political entities and their agents, making violations a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The Election Law Enforcement Commission can create rules to enforce these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to launch a 90-day pilot program in the state's 10 municipalities with the highest violent crime rates (based on the latest Uniform Crime Report). Participating police departments would receive ballistics scanning devices to analyze firearm evidence at crime scenes, instantly uploading data to help investigators identify patterns and connect cases more quickly. After the pilot, each department must submit a report to the Attorney General detailing device usage and recommending continued use, with the Attorney General then advising the Governor and Legislature on whether to make the program permanent with annual funding. The initiative directly affects law enforcement agencies in high-crime areas by introducing new investigative tools and requiring data-driven evaluations of their effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's process for resolving disputes between public employers (like municipalities) and police/fire department unions through interest arbitration. It requires both parties to exchange information including expert reports before arbitration begins, and mandates that public employers provide detailed salary and cost information to arbitrators. The bill changes arbitrator selection (allowing mutual selection within 3 business days or random selection after that), extends the timeframe for arbitrators to issue decisions from 90 to 150 days (with possible 30-day extension), and increases arbitration fees from $1,000 to $1,500 per day. These changes directly affect municipalities, police and fire departments, and their union representatives during collective bargaining disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1825) establishes guidelines for health insurance plans regarding "step therapy" protocols, which require patients to try lower-cost medications before coverage is provided for a preferred medication selected by their doctor. It requires insurers to base these protocols on clinical guidelines developed by expert panels with conflict-of-interest safeguards, and creates a clear process for patients to request exceptions when step therapy would be harmful or ineffective. Insurers must grant or deny exception requests within 72 hours (24 hours in emergencies), and must report on exception requests and outcomes to the state insurance commissioner. This affects all health insurance carriers in New Jersey, including those offering SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid plans, as well as the patients and healthcare providers who use these plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health services in New Jersey to be provided in a culturally affirming and linguistically appropriate manner for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It mandates that services be delivered in the client's primary method of communication, as determined by the client's preference or a communication assessment, and that mental health professionals be certified as fluent in that method. The bill establishes a deaf services coordinator position within the Department of Human Services to oversee implementation, develop certification standards for professionals, and ensure access to services statewide, including through telemedicine in underserved areas. It also requires the development of a statewide system of care with specific standards for communication accessibility and cultural competence in mental health services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A919 establishes standards for public service privatization contracts, requiring state and local agencies to demonstrate actual cost savings for taxpayers before outsourcing services. The bill mandates competitive bidding, ensures services maintain current quality and pricing for the public, and requires contractors to pay wages and benefits equal to those of displaced public employees. Agencies must provide detailed cost analyses, allow union input on cost estimates, and submit quarterly reports on contractor compliance. The Office of the State Comptroller reviews contracts for compliance, and the State Auditor conducts annual post-audits to verify savings and prevent service degradation or underpayment of workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals New Jersey's existing ban on single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws. It directly affects retail stores, restaurants, and food service businesses that previously could not sell or distribute these items. The repeal removes all prohibitions on these products, allowing their sale and distribution to resume. The bill also eliminates a $500,000 annual appropriation from the Clean Communities Program Fund that previously supported public education about reusable bag alternatives. This change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds electronic sports events (competitive video gaming competitions) to the list of sports events eligible for wagering in New Jersey. It authorizes casinos, racetracks, and licensed operators to accept wagers on electronic sports events that meet specific integrity requirements, with approval from the Division of Gaming Enforcement. The bill requires third-party certification (such as from game publishers) to verify event integrity before wagers can be accepted. Sports wagering licensees may offer up to two additional websites or mobile applications dedicated solely to electronic sports betting. The bill maintains existing rules, including the 21+ age requirement for bettors, and clarifies that electronic sports wagering is distinct from traditional sports wagering.

Maddy summaryThe "Welcome Home Veterans Act" (A4733) requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide veteran benefit information packets to veterans when issuing certain documents. It directly affects veterans who receive an initial license, renewal license, probationary license, or ID card displaying a veteran designation under existing state law. The MVC must distribute both hardcopy packets at agency locations and digital versions online, including the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Benefits Guide, the VA's "Federal Benefits for Veterans" booklet, and resources for finding additional benefits. This policy change ensures veterans accessing MVC services receive standardized, accessible information about available state and federal support programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to prioritize principal forgiveness for environmental infrastructure loans to municipalities in coastal areas. It specifically targets wastewater and drinking water projects in regions defined as "coastal areas" under existing law. The legislation amends current law to ensure coastal municipalities receive preferential treatment for loan forgiveness when accessing financing through the state's Water Bank program. This change would make it easier for coastal communities to secure funding for critical infrastructure improvements without full repayment of the loan principal.