Asm. Sean Kean

Maddy summaryThis bill (A408, "Stop Social Media Censorship Act") allows users aged 18+ in New Jersey to sue social media platforms with over 75 million subscribers if the platform intentionally deletes or suppresses their political or religious speech. It requires platforms to pay a minimum of $75,000 per violation, plus actual damages and attorney fees, if they delete or algorithmically suppress such speech. The law explicitly prohibits platforms from defending their actions by claiming the user posted "hate speech," and excludes content involving violence, obscenity, or court orders from the scope of the lawsuit. The Attorney General may also step in to sue on behalf of affected users under specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A668) requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a water safety fact sheet for schools. The fact sheet must include practical tips for parents to prevent child drowning, highlight the importance of swimming lessons, and list free/reduced-cost water safety courses by county. Public school districts must distribute this fact sheet to parents when a child is first enrolled, while nonpublic schools are encouraged but not required to do the same. It directly affects parents of newly enrolled students in New Jersey schools and aims to improve access to water safety resources.

Maddy summaryACR 36 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $500 annually, phased in over five years (reaching $500 by 2027). It directly affects honorably discharged veterans and surviving spouses who meet residency requirements. The amendment would adjust the deduction amount incrementally: $300 in 2023, $350 in 2024, $400 in 2025, $450 in 2026, and $500 starting in 2027. This change would replace the current $250 deduction, which has not been raised since 1999. The proposal requires voter approval via referendum after legislative passage.

Maddy summaryACR 87 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit annual property tax increases for primary residences (homestead property) in New Jersey. If approved by voters, it would require the Legislature to pass a law capping annual assessment increases at the lower of 3% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI) change. This limit would apply to homes used as owners' principal residences, including properties held via life estates, 99-year leases, or as the residential portion of mixed-use properties. The cap would reset to current market value upon a change of ownership, with reassessment occurring annually after the initial valuation. The amendment does not change current tax rates but restricts how much a home's assessed value can rise each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes lease terms for municipal properties in New Jersey. It allows local governments to lease non-waterfront public parks and recreation areas for up to 25 years instead of the current 10-year limit. Waterfront properties (those bordering oceans, rivers, or bays) remain subject to the 10-year lease cap. The policy directly affects municipalities owning inland recreational spaces, extending their lease flexibility for non-waterfront properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey police officers to immediately impound a vehicle during a traffic stop if they determine the driver is operating it without required liability insurance. Owners can reclaim the vehicle by providing proof of insurance and paying storage costs and a $100 administrative fee within 30 days. If unclaimed after 30 days, the municipality may sell the vehicle at auction after public notice, returning any excess proceeds to the owner. The bill directly affects drivers without insurance coverage and replaces the current 24-hour impoundment window with immediate action upon verification of no insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year pilot program allowing eligible mental health facilities in New Jersey to treat additional juvenile patients (ages 14-17) in vacant adult inpatient beds. To participate, facilities must employ specialized child psychiatrists, trained juvenile nurses, age-appropriate treatment programs, and hold licenses for both adult and juvenile care. During the pilot, facilities may place juvenile patients in vacant adult beds (when clinically appropriate) and move adult patients to voluntary beds under the same conditions. The state health and human services departments will study the program’s impact on care quality and submit a report within 90 days after the pilot ends. The initiative aims to address juvenile mental health bed shortages by maximizing existing facility capacity.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the week containing Earth Day (April 22) each year as "Litter Law Enforcement Week" in New Jersey. During this week, the Department of Environmental Protection and State Police must prioritize enforcing specific littering laws (including fines for illegal dumping and littering), while encouraging local law enforcement to participate. Fines collected from these enforcement efforts during the designated week must be split equally into three state funds: Clean Communities Program (for public litter removal), Coastal Protection Trust Fund (for beach cleanups), and Municipal Stormwater Management Fund (for litter control at stormwater sites). Municipalities and counties may also choose to donate their collected fines to these funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes unemployment benefit eligibility for seasonal workers in New Jersey. It states that workers in seasonal industries (defined as those operating less than 36 weeks per year, excluding construction) won't be eligible for benefits during gaps between seasons if they have a reasonable assurance of returning to work. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development has the authority to designate which industries qualify as seasonal. However, workers denied benefits under this rule who weren't offered a job for the next season can receive retroactive payments for weeks they filed claims. The bill amends existing unemployment insurance law to clarify eligibility for seasonal workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A676) designates a specific 0.45-mile segment of State Highway Route 71 in Spring Lake Heights (from milepost 3.25 to 3.70) as the "John Tarantino Highway" to honor Angelo John Tarantino, a WWII veteran who served in the European Theater and participated in key battles including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. The bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to erect signs bearing this designation but explicitly prohibits using state or public funds for the signs. Instead, it authorizes the Department of Transportation to accept private funding - such as gifts, grants, or donations - from non-governmental organizations to cover the costs of producing, installing, and maintaining the signs. The designation takes immediate effect upon enactment.