Asm. Garnet Hall

Maddy summaryThis bill (A861) makes it illegal for crisis pregnancy centers to use deceptive advertising about pregnancy-related services under New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act. It targets nonprofit centers that provide non-medical counseling (like adoption referrals or parenting resources) but do not offer abortion or medical care, prohibiting them from making untrue or misleading claims about their services - such as falsely implying they provide medical exams or pregnancy testing. Violations could lead to penalties under the Consumer Fraud Act, and the Attorney General can seek court orders to stop deceptive ads or require corrective actions. The law directly affects crisis pregnancy centers and aims to ensure transparency for people seeking pregnancy-related information.

Maddy summaryS 3466 extends the special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation programs in the Highlands Region through 2029, requiring landowners to be provided with two appraisal values when selling property for preservation. The bill allocates $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenue to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council for land preservation, with $5 million for recreation and conservation and $2.5 million for farmland preservation. It creates a new "Preserve New Jersey Highlands Preservation Fund" to support land acquisition and conservation efforts in the Highlands Region, including matching federal funding for watershed protection. The bill also requires distributing state aid to municipalities hosting watershed lands that don't receive existing watershed moratorium offset aid.

Maddy summaryAJR 159 designates November 14 of each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging schools and communities to observe the day with educational activities. It commemorates Ruby Bridges' 1960 integration of William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, highlighting her courage during school desegregation. The bill has no binding requirements beyond the annual proclamation request.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Children's System of Care (DCSOC) to change how family support and respite care services are provided to individuals under 21 with developmental disabilities. It establishes a 12-month authorization period for services (replacing the current 90-day renewal), ensures families receive a dedicated "bank" of respite care hours separate from other support hours, and replaces annual reapplications with an annual reevaluation of service needs. The bill specifically covers three respite care types: agency-hired (worker employed by contracted agency), agency-weekend (weekend services outside home), and self-hired (family hires and pays for care). It prohibits reducing existing respite care hours during the 12-month period.

Maddy summaryACR 157 is a symbolic resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, directly affirming support for Hindu Americans in New Jersey. It formally declares the state's stance against prejudice toward Hinduism ("Sanatana Dharma") and Hindus, citing documented hate crimes and Hindu contributions to U.S. society. The resolution requires transmission to the Governor, New Jersey’s congressional delegation, and the Hindu American Foundation in Washington, DC. As a concurrent resolution, it does not create legal obligations but serves as a public statement of the state’s position. It recognizes Hinduism’s global significance and the community’s economic and cultural contributions to New Jersey and the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Jersey Strong Public Service Scholarship Program, providing scholarships to New Jersey residents employed full-time in public service sectors facing critical workforce shortages (such as hospitals, public schools, or first responder roles). Students who complete one year of qualifying employment receive up to $25,000 for two years of college at a public NJ institution, while those completing two years receive up to $50,000 for four years. To qualify, applicants must be NJ residents and citizens, have graduated from a NJ high school within the past year (or soon), and apply for other financial aid before receiving the scholarship. The program requires repayment if students are dismissed from school or withdraw without approval, but exempts repayment for approved withdrawals due to medical or family emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a mandatory low-carbon transportation fuel standard program under New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It requires fuel refiners, importers, and alternative fuel producers to ensure their fuels meet annual carbon intensity limits - aiming for a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from gasoline and diesel by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. The program creates a credit-trading system where entities exceeding standards earn tradable credits to offset deficits from fuels that fall short of requirements. It also mandates that 40% of credits generated by utilities and state agencies must fund electric vehicle programs in overburdened communities, such as school bus electrification and charging infrastructure. The DEP must implement the program within one year of the bill’s effective date.

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 allows licensed New Jersey audiologists to select, prescribe, and order hearing aids - expanding their current authority to only fit and sell them - if they complete approved training. It directly affects audiologists who must now meet specific educational requirements and New Jersey residents needing hearing aids, particularly for prescription-grade devices under new FDA classifications. The key change aligns state law with updated federal rules that distinguish between over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids. This amendment modifies existing licensing standards under P.L.1983, c.420, requiring audiologists to complete coursework in the full scope of hearing aid services.

Maddy summaryThe bill would authorize certified medication aides to administer medications to residents in New Jersey's nursing homes, expanding their current scope of practice (which is limited to assisted living facilities and similar settings). To qualify, medication aides would need to be certified as nurse aides, homemaker-home health aides, or personal care assistants, complete a specialized medication administration training course, and pass a standardized exam. Certification would be valid for two years with a requirement for 10 hours of continuing education every two years, including specific training on medication administration for elderly residents. The bill also updates background check requirements to include medication aides and establishes a registry for certified medication aides.