Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThe "Climate Superfund Act" would hold fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and are responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and the bill's effective date. The bill establishes a program through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to collect these payments and distribute funds for climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would pay their proportional share of damages over nine years, with options for installment payments, and the collected funds would specifically support projects that help communities prepare for climate impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits self-service storage facilities in New Jersey from charging late fees, pre-foreclosure fees, or unlock fees to customers paying with government-issued vouchers (like those from Work First New Jersey) when payment delays are caused by the issuing government agency. It directly affects low-income residents using state or federal income assistance programs for storage payments. The law imposes a $1,000 civil penalty for first violations and treats subsequent violations as consumer fraud under state law. Storage facilities must comply with these rules to avoid fines or legal action.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all teaching certification candidates who complete an approved educator preparation program to complete a youth mental health education course or online module starting with the 2027-2028 school year. It also mandates that out-of-state teaching certificate holders or those with a certificate of eligibility complete a state-developed online module within one year of the bill's effective date. The Department of Education must create an online module covering youth mental health dangers, safe classroom strategies, and cultural competence considerations. Educator preparation programs must update their curricula to include this training and submit revisions for approval. Candidates who completed comparable mental health training within the past five years may apply for an exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to establish statewide standards for public colleges and universities to assess and award college credit for prior learning experiences, such as job training, military service, or industry certifications. The standards must cover assessment methods (including exams, portfolios, and industry credentials), minimum credit acceptance requirements, credit transfer between institutions, dispute resolution processes, and annual data collection to track student success. Public institutions must adopt policies meeting these standards - potentially through partnerships with Thomas Edison State University or approved third parties - and may charge a small fee for assessment (not full tuition). The bill also mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on compliance and the system's impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill reappropriates unspent funds from New Jersey's 1989 Bridge Rehabilitation Bond Act to the Department of Transportation. It directs these funds toward emergency repairs for bridges on state highways and county/municipal roads, with the Commissioner of Transportation deciding where and when to allocate them. Any unspent funds must be used within two years or redistributed to counties based on a formula for bridge maintenance. The bill does not create new funding but redirects existing leftover money from a decades-old bond program.

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 summaryThis bill increases the threshold for local public contracts requiring competitive bidding from $17,500 to $22,000. Local governments (such as towns, cities, and counties) can now award contracts under $22,000 without public advertising, using a designated employee or purchasing agent. The Governor will adjust this threshold every five years for inflation to maintain its real value. This change simplifies procurement for smaller contracts while keeping oversight for larger purchases.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A5341 (introduced February 2025) requires all health insurance plans sold in the state - including hospital service corporations, HMOs, individual/group policies, and state/school employee health plans - to cover screening for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders for members aged 65 or older. The bill mandates that this coverage must be provided "to the same extent as for any other condition" under the plan, without additional cost to the patient. It defines "Alzheimer's disease and related disorders" as dementia causing significant impairment in social or occupational functioning. The requirement applies to all contracts delivered, issued, or renewed 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4979) requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to complete mandatory training on identifying machine gun conversion devices. It amends existing law to specify that all officers must receive periodic training covering these devices - components that convert semiautomatic firearms to shoot multiple rounds per trigger pull - as part of their required continuing education. The training must be approved by the Police Training Commission and documented by officers and their departments. This policy change directly affects all active law enforcement officers in New Jersey by adding a specific, practical skill requirement to their existing training obligations.

Maddy summaryACR 154 is a symbolic New Jersey legislative resolution condemning President Trump's 2025 decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. It does not create new law or affect any specific group; instead, it formally expresses the state legislature's disapproval and urges the President to rejoin the agreement. The resolution was introduced by New Jersey Assembly members and will be sent to the President, Vice President, and New Jersey's congressional delegation. As a concurrent resolution, it has no legal effect but serves as a formal statement of the state's position.