Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts how certain constitutionally dedicated cigarette tax revenues are allocated for Fiscal Year 2026 and future years, directing five percent of those funds to a new Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Fund. It also authorizes the Garden State Preservation Trust and local governments to purchase land in urban areas specifically for agricultural or horticultural use. Additionally, the bill establishes a process where the Garden State Preservation Trust will annually review funding needs for conservation, farmland preservation, and historic preservation programs and can recommend changes to funding allocations to legislative committees. These changes aim to support urban agriculture initiatives while maintaining oversight over how state preservation funds are distributed.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March as "Blood Clot Awareness Month" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about the risks, signs, and symptoms of blood clots. It directly affects all New Jersey residents by encouraging them to learn about prevention measures and seek medical attention when symptoms appear. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation and promotes educational activities to help people recognize conditions like deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This symbolic measure aims to support the National Blood Clot Alliance's efforts without changing any laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to reveal their facial identity during public interactions (except during undercover operations, medical mask use with physician approval, or smoke exposure during emergencies) and to present valid identification before detaining or arresting someone. Officers must show a uniform with agency insignia, a photo ID card, a numbered badge, or verbally state their name and agency. It applies to all state, county, municipal, and federal officers performing public duties, with exemptions for safety risks, ongoing investigations, or stealth operations. The law aims to increase transparency during police encounters while allowing necessary operational flexibility.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires operators of artificial intelligence companion systems to clearly notify users that they are not communicating with a human. The notification must be provided verbally or in writing at the start of each interaction and repeated at least every three hours. The law defines AI companions as systems that simulate human relationships through personalized conversations, emotional engagement, and sustained dialogue. Operators who fail to provide these notifications face a $15,000 civil penalty for each violation. The bill applies to any business or individual offering AI companions for personal use within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Emergency Responder Survivor Support and Navigation within the New Jersey Department of Treasury to help families of emergency responders who die in the line of duty. The office will be staffed by individuals who have personally experienced the loss of a first responder and will assist beneficiaries with applying for government and private benefits, provide summaries of eligible benefits, and offer ongoing support during the application process. The legislation appropriates $1,000,000 annually from the General Fund to support these operations and is named in honor of three emergency responders who died in the line of duty.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill expands protected bereavement leave under the Family Leave Act to cover specific personal losses: death of a child (including stillbirth), miscarriage (including chemical pregnancy), termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, and failed fertility treatments. It directly affects employees who experience these events, granting them up to 21 days of job-protected leave for situations not covered by other leave types, or 7 days if other leave applies. The bill amends existing laws (P.L.1989, c.261 and P.L.1948, c.110) to define "bereavement" broadly, including losses related to adoption plans, gestational carriers, and fertility treatments. It ensures eligible employees can take time off without losing their jobs or benefits during these difficult circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual cigarette and tobacco tax revenue allocated to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research from $1 million to $10 million and creates a dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund within the state treasury. The fund will be managed by the State Treasurer and used exclusively for grants and contracts supporting general cancer research and pediatric cancer research, with at least $5 million each year designated for each category. By establishing a revolving fund, the bill ensures that money and any earned interest remain available for future research projects rather than being transferred to the general budget each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows schools, colleges, and youth camps in New Jersey to use pre-filled auto-injectors to administer epinephrine to students experiencing anaphylaxis, expanding who can give the medication and how it is stored. It requires schools to keep epinephrine in secure but unlocked locations accessible to nurses and trained staff, and permits nurses or designated volunteers to administer the drug even if a student has no known allergy history or if parents have not completed standard authorization forms. The legislation also clarifies that athletic trainers can administer epinephrine without violating licensing laws and mandates that students be transported to the hospital after treatment, regardless of whether symptoms appear to have resolved.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for expunging criminal records in New Jersey by allowing individuals with multiple convictions to apply for relief under specific conditions. It permits expungement for people convicted of one crime and up to three minor offenses, or for multiple crimes that were interdependent and committed in a short time frame, provided there are no subsequent unrelated convictions. The legislation also clarifies that certain marijuana-related charges, including those involving school zones or public housing, may be included in expungement applications if they meet the established criteria. These changes directly affect individuals seeking to clear their criminal records while maintaining restrictions on those with unrelated later convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public employers in New Jersey to share the cost of health benefits for retirees who worked for multiple government entities, dividing the expense proportionally based on how long each employer employed the retiree. It applies to retirees who qualify for employer-paid health coverage and were employed by more than one state or local government agency or higher education institution. The law allows employers to choose whether to contribute to these costs and does not change existing collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, the bill updates rules for how certain state employees contribute to their own health coverage in retirement.