Asm. Jim Kennedy

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 prohibits the sale of consumer cleaning products containing triclosan for sanitizing or hand/body cleansing in New Jersey, directly affecting manufacturers and retailers. It excludes products with specific FDA approval for consumer use. Violators face civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, with each day of continuing violation counted separately. The ban takes effect one year after enactment, aligning with federal FDA restrictions but extending them to all such consumer products, not just rinse-off items.

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 requires owners and operators of certain sanitary landfills (those authorized to accept waste or closed after the law's effective date) to install and maintain landfill gas collection systems to control methane emissions. It mandates quarterly surface methane monitoring, limits emissions to 500 ppm at any single point or 25 ppm averaged across the site, and requires annual methane generation reports to the state environmental agency. Landfill gas systems must meet specific technical standards, including 99% methane destruction efficiency when flared. The law takes effect 24 months after enactment, with violations treated as breaches of New Jersey's Solid Waste Management Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's rules for disposing of certain batteries by clarifying which types require special handling. It affects retailers selling batteries, distributors, large facilities (like hospitals or labs) that use many batteries, and consumers. The key change defines "covered batteries" to include most portable and medium-sized rechargeable batteries while excluding vehicle batteries, medical devices, and recalled batteries. These updated definitions will determine who must follow proper disposal and recycling requirements under the law.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits most food service businesses (like restaurants, food trucks, and cafeterias) from automatically giving customers single-use utensils or condiments (like ketchup packets). Instead, businesses must provide these items only if a customer specifically requests them. Larger dine-in establishments (with 50+ seats) must offer reusable utensils for on-site use and require customers to return them after meals. Exemptions include schools (for 5 years), healthcare facilities during outbreaks, and food courts (for 2 years). Violations incur fines starting at $2,500 for repeat offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities (including electricity, gas, water, sewer, and telecom providers) to notify municipalities 24 hours before work on poles or underground facilities in a single municipality, and to restore streets to their original condition after repairs using hot patch asphalt and repaving. It mandates paying prevailing wages for restoration work and imposes daily fines of up to $1,000 for failure to restore streets within 90 days, with exceptions for winter months (November-April) and emergencies. The law applies to all utilities operating in New Jersey, directly affecting how they coordinate with local governments during street repairs. Key provisions include mandatory municipal consent for pole placement in gas-lit areas and emergency exemptions for immediate safety threats.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers a state income tax deduction equal to the capital gain realized from selling certain real property interests to qualified conservation organizations. It directly affects landowners who sell property (either at full market value or for less than full value in a "bargain sale") to groups preserving land through programs like Green Acres, farmland preservation, or wildlife conservation. The deduction covers the profit from the sale portion, with specific rules for allocating costs in bargain sales where part is treated as a charitable donation. The policy aligns with federal tax treatment for conservation donations and applies to sales benefiting conservation programs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires state entities (like state agencies and departments) to submit a reforestation plan to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for any tree removal project, eliminating the previous half-acre size limit. The plan must ensure "no net loss" of forested area by planting trees according to a specific Tree Replacement Factor (TRF), which calculates the required number based on the area cleared and tree size (e.g., 204 trees per acre for mature trees). Planting must follow a strict priority order: first on-site, then within the municipality, then within five miles, and finally off-site if needed, with requirements for native species, proper spacing, and diversity to reduce disease risk. If on-site reforestation isn't feasible, the state entity must pay into a fund managed by the DEP for reforestation.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "New Jersey Motorcycle Awareness and Safety Act" (A-2476), requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) to create and annually update a public awareness campaign focused on motorcycle safety. The campaign must include educational materials on motorcycle safety, information about distracted driving risks, and variable message signs promoting safe road sharing between motorists and motorcyclists. It directly affects all drivers and motorcyclists in New Jersey by aiming to reduce motorcycle-related accidents through improved road awareness. The bill mandates these specific provisions to encourage vigilant driving and safer interactions on New Jersey roads.