Asm. Garnet Hall

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3974 prohibits substance use disorder treatment providers from using deceptive marketing practices. The bill requires all advertising to include accurate, plain-language details about services, locations, and contact information (including phone numbers and addresses), and bans false claims about network status, geographic location, or affiliations with other providers without written consent. Violations carry civil penalties up to $20,000 per incident, and affected individuals may sue for triple damages plus attorney fees. This directly affects licensed treatment facilities, certified providers, and recovery residences offering substance use disorder services within the state.

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 reorganizes New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program governance by expanding the State Health Benefits Commission to 11 members and eliminating the previous Plan Design Committee. It requires the program to offer exactly five health plans for employees and non-Medicare-eligible retirees, including a new "NJ Gold" plan that doesn't require salary-based employee contributions. The bill establishes an escalator system to adjust employee contribution rates based on premium cost trends, increasing rates if premiums rise significantly above inflation and decreasing them if premiums fall. Additionally, it mandates that local government employers must decide within one year whether to join the SHBP, with a two-year commitment if they choose to participate.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a permanent annual $500,000 allocation from New Jersey's Clean Communities Program Fund to fund public outreach for the state's single-use plastics reduction program. The funding supports the Department of Environmental Protection's outreach efforts, including educational campaigns and a bag redistribution program that repurposes reusable bags for food banks and pantries. The bill changes current law, which limited this funding to the first three years after the 2020 single-use plastics ban law, making it permanent. This directly affects the DEP's outreach activities and the public receiving information about reducing plastic use.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacies in New Jersey to display a notice and provide a pamphlet about insulin manufacturer assistance programs at all points of sale. The materials must be created by the Department of Banking and Insurance and will be available to anyone purchasing insulin or requesting them. Insulin manufacturers offering assistance programs may request to be included in these materials. The bill directly affects pharmacies (by mandating the notices/pamphlets) and insulin users (by providing access to cost-saving program information). It does not create new programs but ensures existing manufacturer assistance options are clearly communicated to patients.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits how consumer service contracts can be written. It prohibits companies from including clauses that let a contract for one service (like streaming or gym access) control unrelated purchases from the same company or its affiliates (such as groceries or insurance). The rule applies to written agreements for personal, family, or household services, excluding financial transactions like stocks or commodities. It takes effect 180 days after enactment for new or renewed contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 2.5% annual limit on rent increases for tenants living in modular or manufactured homes used as their primary residence. It directly affects renters in these specific housing types, excluding owner-occupied properties with three or fewer units and affordable housing units with income restrictions. Landlords cannot raise rents more than 2.5% over any 12-month period for covered units, and violations require reverting to the previous rent amount. The law supplements existing rent protections but does not override stricter local rent control ordinances.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers and contractors working on projects for New Jersey public bodies (such as state agencies, local governments, schools, or publicly funded projects) to register with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) and submit certified payroll records. It expands current requirements by applying to all work for public bodies - not just projects subject to prevailing wage laws - covering construction, maintenance, repairs, and other work paid for with public funds or financial assistance. Employers must provide these records within 10 days of a request; failure to comply allows DOLWD to direct public bodies to withhold up to 25% of payment (capped at $100,000) until records are submitted. The bill directly affects contractors and employers performing work for public entities, ensuring transparency in wage reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent an annual $500,000 allocation from the Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach about New Jersey's single-use plastics reduction program. The fund is financed by fees from businesses that produce litter-generating products, penalties, and voluntary donations. The funds will continue to support public education campaigns and the distribution of reusable bags, as established under current law. This change removes the temporary three-year limit that previously applied to this specific allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires secondhand dealers (like pawn shops or phone buyback stores) to verify the identity and ownership of sellers when purchasing used cell phones or wireless devices. Dealers must document device identifiers (such as serial numbers), collect two forms of ID (including photo ID), and confirm sellers are legally authorized owners. They must maintain records for one year, make them available to law enforcement, and cannot alter device markings. Violations carry civil penalties up to $1,000 per offense. The law directly affects secondhand dealers and sellers of used wireless devices in New Jersey.