Asm. Mike Inganamort

Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 862, now P.L.2025, c.11) requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to include significantly more detailed information in its annual report on road conditions. Specifically, the report must now list numerical rankings of roads needing repair, detail completed maintenance projects (including pothole repairs), provide cost estimates for each project, track material usage (tonnage), and include data on pothole damage claims and associated costs from the Treasury Department. The report must be made publicly available on the DOT's website. This affects the DOT directly by expanding its reporting duties and provides the public with more transparency about road maintenance spending and road conditions.

Maddy summaryWeston's Law (A5961) amends New Jersey's human trafficking statute to explicitly include recruiting or coercing juveniles to join criminal street gangs or participate in drug trafficking schemes. The bill expands the definition of human trafficking for minors to specifically cover cases where juveniles are used in gang activities or drug distribution, which were not fully addressed under previous trafficking laws. It also allows prosecutors to seek waiver of juvenile jurisdiction for these cases, potentially sending them to adult court for prosecution. The law is named after Weston Fundner, who died at age 15 from a fentanyl overdose after being coerced into taking a fentanyl pill by someone involved in the illegal drug trade.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a first-degree crime to market fentanyl to minors in ways that appeal to them, such as packaging it to resemble candy, food, or popular characters, or advertising it directly to minors. It imposes a mandatory 30-year prison sentence without parole for violations, or a sentence between 30 years and life. Minors (or their guardians) can also sue those who engaged in this "predatory marketing" for damages covering medical costs, emotional harm, and other losses. The law specifically targets fentanyl manufacturers, distributors, and advertisers who use child-attractive designs or marketing tactics.

Maddy summaryBill A5939 transfers authority for inspecting on-farm dairy processing activities from the New Jersey Department of Health to the Department of Agriculture. It requires the Agriculture Department to collaborate with the Department of Health and local health boards when conducting these inspections. The bill also allows the Agriculture Secretary to create necessary rules under state administrative law. This change directly affects dairy farmers who process milk on their farms, as their inspections will now be managed by the Agriculture Department instead of Health. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "born alive" as a fetus showing signs of life (breathing, heartbeat, movement) after an abortion attempt, regardless of gestational age or delivery method. It requires healthcare professionals to provide the same medical care to such infants as they would to any newborn, including immediate hospital transport, with violations punishable by up to 5 years in prison or $15,000 fines. It also prohibits intentionally killing such infants (carrying 30-year-to-life sentences) and mandates that healthcare workers report non-compliance to law enforcement. Mothers are protected from conspiracy charges and may sue violators for damages.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to submit monthly data on handgun permit and firearm purchaser ID card applications to the Attorney General. The data must include applicant demographics (race, ethnicity, gender identity), application status (approved/denied), denial reasons, and location details. The Attorney General must compile this information and publish initial and monthly reports online starting from June 2022. This affects all local law enforcement agencies handling firearm permits and provides the public with transparency about licensing outcomes.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3558 bill establishes the state's official definition of antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) standard, including specific examples of antisemitic conduct. State agencies and institutions must use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding on cases involving discriminatory acts motivated by antisemitism. The bill appropriates $100,000 for a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office to educate residents on identifying and reporting bias crimes through community outreach and the existing bias crimes hotline. This campaign aims to improve reporting of antisemitic incidents without affecting First Amendment rights or conflicting with existing anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the filing deadline for members and retirees of New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to qualify for accidental disability retirement benefits related to 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. It allows for a two-year filing period after the bill's effective date (with potential two-year extensions) and replaces the requirement for a pre-employment physical examination with evidence of medical examinations that failed to disclose qualifying health conditions. The bill also permits retirees previously denied due to late filing to petition for reconsideration or resubmit their eligibility forms. Retirement systems must notify all affected members within 60 days of enactment about these provisions using clear language explaining filing requirements and time limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funds to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for fiscal year 2026 to provide zero-interest and principal-forgiveness loans to local governments and public water utilities for environmental infrastructure projects. It directly affects municipalities and water utilities that need financing for clean water projects (like combined sewer overflow reduction and water quality restoration) and drinking water projects, with specific funding limits based on project type and affordability criteria. The bill includes detailed lists of 151 qualifying clean water projects totaling $1.7 billion and 59 drinking water projects totaling $652 million, all intended to meet federal requirements under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. The loans may offer full principal forgiveness for eligible projects or a blended interest rate based on project costs and borrower affordability.