Asm. Barbara McCann Stamato

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for time spent in military service academies (such as West Point or the Naval Academy), in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or as a class two special law enforcement officer before joining the police force. It amends existing law to permit purchasing credit for these specific service periods by paying into the retirement system's annuity savings fund, with options for installment payments over up to 10 years. The bill specifies that credit purchased for military academy enrollment, police academy training, or special law enforcement officer employment will be treated the same as actual police service for retirement benefit calculations. This applies to current and future SPRS members who want to count these pre-service periods toward their retirement eligibility and benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health to update warning notices about alcohol's health risks, which must be displayed by businesses holding certain alcohol licenses (like bars and restaurants) in service areas and restrooms. The notice must be updated within six months of the bill's effective date and every five years thereafter to reflect current medical findings, including links between alcohol consumption and cancer, as well as risks during pregnancy. The Department must develop the updated notice with input from medical experts, professional organizations, and advocacy groups. Currently, these warnings have not been revised in over a decade, despite significant advances in medical understanding.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a shared decision-making tool for maternity care hospitals and birthing centers. The tool, which facilities may use voluntarily, includes patient questionnaires, educational fact sheets on topics like labor support and procedure risks, and multimedia resources to help patients understand care options and create birth plans. A three-year pilot program will test the tool at selected facilities (with at least one per state region), collecting data on outcomes like induction rates, C-section procedures, and birth plan usage. Participating facilities must submit evaluation reports to the DOH, Governor, and Legislature within a year after the pilot ends, including recommendations for potential statewide use. The bill directly affects maternity care providers and patients receiving inpatient maternity services in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success, a new 25-member body within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (though independent of it), to develop a statewide initiative focused on preventing family crises and promoting well-being for infants, children, youth, and families. The Council will identify gaps in current services, recommend policies to shift focus from crisis response to prevention, and coordinate with state departments and community organizations across New Jersey. It will create county-level councils to assess local needs and develop preventive services, and will receive $4 million in state funding to implement these efforts over three years. The initiative aims to improve outcomes through four pillars: positive family relationships, financial security, quality education, and health. The Council must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations for improving family support services.

Maddy summaryThis bill would automatically qualify certain child care workers for state-subsidized child care services, regardless of their family income. It defines a "qualifying child care worker" as an educator or staff member employed at least 20 hours weekly by a licensed child care center or registered family child care provider. The state must verify employment through a new process and seek federal approvals to maintain funding under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. This policy directly affects child care workers in New Jersey’s licensed facilities, making child care more affordable for them without changing income requirements for other program participants.

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 summaryThis bill extends the period during which New Jersey public bodies (like municipalities and school districts) can use newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements. It allows these entities to continue publishing in either print or digital formats until December 31, 2025, instead of ending on March 1, 2025 as previously scheduled. The bill ensures that newspapers used for compliance with notice requirements from 2024 remain eligible for 2025, with no additional fees for viewing digital notices. It does not change how notices are published, only extends the deadline for newspaper-based publication.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the period during which New Jersey public bodies (like municipalities and school districts) can legally use newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements. It allows them to continue using qualifying newspapers in either print or electronic format until December 31, 2025 - expanding the prior extension that ended March 1, 2025. The law specifies that fees for electronic notices cannot exceed established rates, and no fee or registration is required for viewing digital notices online. This directly affects public bodies that publish meeting notices, bid solicitations, or ordinances in newspapers. The change provides flexibility for local governments to maintain existing notice practices while transitioning to digital formats.