Asm. Sean Kean

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1685) reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retirement benefits paid to members of New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems, including teachers' pensions. It directly affects current and future retirees in these systems by ensuring their benefits automatically increase each year to match inflation, rather than requiring separate legislative action for each adjustment. The key mechanism is amending existing law to restore the automatic COLA provision that was previously removed, linking benefit increases directly to the Consumer Price Index. This change simplifies the process and provides predictable income growth for retirees without requiring new votes for each adjustment. The bill is sponsored by Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson and Speight and co-sponsored by multiple legislators.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to lift conservation restrictions imposed on land as a condition of a Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permit. These restrictions can only be lifted if the land is needed for expanding an existing school for special needs children. The DEP must also require a new conservation restriction of at least double the size to be placed on another parcel within 20 miles of the original property before lifting the restriction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a water safety fact sheet for schools. The fact sheet must cover reducing drowning risks, the importance of swim lessons, proper flotation device use, and monitoring water conditions. Public school districts must annually distribute this fact sheet to parents, while nonpublic schools are encouraged but not required to do so. Additionally, school districts must maintain and update an online list of local swim lesson locations, including free or low-cost options. The bill directly affects public schools, parents, and guardians by providing standardized water safety information and resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state program to permanently restrict development on qualifying privately-owned woodlands through easement acquisitions. Landowners with woodlands meeting specific criteria (minimum 20 acres, used for agriculture/forest products, or managed under approved stewardship plans) can participate. The State Agriculture Development Committee will administer the program using existing farmland preservation funds and seek federal programs like the Forest Legacy Program, with easements recorded similarly to property deeds. The goal is to preserve forested lands for agricultural, silvicultural, and conservation purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to lift conservation restrictions tied to CAFRA permits under specific conditions. It allows property owners to remove these restrictions if the land is needed for expanding an existing special needs school. As a condition, the DEP must require a new conservation restriction on a parcel at least twice as large, located within 20 miles of the original property. This policy change directly affects landowners seeking to expand special needs schools and requires compensatory conservation measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) program to acquire development easements on privately-owned woodlands, restricting permanent development. It directly affects landowners with at least five contiguous acres of woodlands managed under approved forest stewardship or woodland management plans. The program is funded through a new "Woodlands Protection Fund" using federal funds (including Forest Legacy Program money), private donations, state appropriations, and investment returns. Acquired easements must be recorded with local officials, and landowners are not required to provide public access to preserved woodlands.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes doxxing a crime in New Jersey by criminalizing the intentional disclosure of personal identifying information without consent, with the purpose of causing fear, violence, stalking, or mental anguish. The crime applies when such disclosure creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury, stalking, or inflicts mental anguish that places the person or their "close relation" in reasonable fear of physical harm. The bill broadly defines "close relation" to include family members, household members, and significant personal or professional relationships. Exceptions exist for good-faith disclosures to the public about unlawful conduct or to law enforcement, with penalties ranging from up to 18 months in prison (fourth degree) to 3-5 years (third degree) if serious harm occurs.

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies open water lifeguards employed in New Jersey as official "first responders and emergency response providers." It directly affects all paid open water lifeguards working at beaches, lakes, or other public water locations across the state. The key mechanism is a simple legal change in their official title, recognizing that their existing duties - such as rescuing people, providing emergency medical care, and protecting property during water-related incidents - already align with the state and federal definitions of first responders. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, without creating new duties or funding requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a proportional property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans who are honorably discharged and have a service-connected permanent disability rated at 10% or higher. It directly affects qualifying veterans (and their surviving spouses) by reducing their property taxes in line with their disability rating, with a $10,000 cap for exemptions below 100% disability. Veterans deemed unemployable due to service-connected disability receive a full 100% exemption, matching current benefits for those with 100% disability ratings. The bill also requires the state to reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax costs for these exemptions, including administrative expenses, through annual reporting by local tax authorities.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A6145) classifies 7-Hydroxymitragynine - a chemical compound found in some kratom products - as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning it is deemed to have high abuse potential with no accepted medical use. The law directly bans the sale, distribution, or manufacture of any product containing this substance within the state. Manufacturers or distributors must immediately recall products containing 7-Hydroxymitragynine if they suspect such products are being sold. This policy change specifically targets sellers and distributors of products with this chemical, not consumers.