Asm. Will Sampson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to hire additional staff to reduce delays in processing professional license applications and renewals. It appropriates $10 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2028 specifically for this purpose, directly affecting professionals in regulated fields (like healthcare, law, and trades) facing application backlogs. The bill mandates the division to report yearly on staffing changes, initial and current backlog levels, and how funds were used. This provides targeted funding to address a documented processing delay, with transparency through annual reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey news media outlets to label all AI-generated content with a clear "generative AI" label, credit original sources, and include a disclaimer that the content may not reflect source accuracy. It prohibits news organizations from using artificial intelligence to replace human journalists in reporting, research, or investigative work. The bill establishes the "Artificial Intelligence In Communications Oversight Committee" to study AI's impact on journalism jobs, wages, and content accuracy, and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. Violations carry civil penalties of $10,000 for the first offense, increasing to $30,000 for repeat violations, enforceable by the Attorney General.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies specifically to members who have been retired and receiving benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those hired after the bill's effective date, those in deferred retirement, and those with 20-24 years of service. The COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners, with benefits up to $75,000 receiving full adjustment, while higher benefits are capped at a 1% annual increase. The $75,000 threshold will adjust annually based on inflation, and the bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds to cover both state and local costs for these adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to provide current non-retired members and those applying for retirement after the bill's effective date with the same benefits as members enrolled before July 1, 2007. It eliminates tiered membership by moving all current TPAF members to Tier 1, requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) in TPAF, and allows Defined Contribution Retirement Program participants to transfer service credit to TPAF without transferring contributions. Participants in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program have six months to opt out of the transfer after receiving notice. These changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Target Zero Commission" within the Department of Transportation, consisting of 13 state agency representatives (including Transportation, Health, and Public Safety officials). The commission’s primary duty is to develop a statewide action plan by 2040 aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries through engineering, education, and enforcement strategies focused on equitable road safety for all users. Key mechanisms include creating a public data portal for crash statistics, requiring annual public hearings and reports to the Governor and Legislature, and advising on policy changes to support safer transportation infrastructure. The commission must adopt its action plan within 12 months of the bill’s effective date and host public feedback sessions before finalizing it. This is a procedural bill creating a study body, not a direct policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets specific working hour limits for minors (ages 14-15) employed as professional athletes by national sports associations, leagues, or teams in New Jersey. It permits such minors to work after 11 p.m. only if the shift continues a workday starting before 11 p.m., with a written parental or guardian permission letter specifying allowed hours. The bill prohibits employment after 3 a.m. or before 6 a.m. on days preceding a regular school day. These rules apply only to professional athletic employment, not other minor work types covered under existing labor laws. The changes take immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryAJR 101 designates the second Friday in December each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to honor paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). This resolution directly recognizes PSRPs - including instructional aides, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodians, and maintenance workers - who support students through tutoring, classroom assistance, translation, meal service, and facility upkeep. The key mechanism is an annual observance calling on the Governor, Legislature, and citizens to acknowledge these workers' contributions. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but establishes a recurring day of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $60 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues - funds already set aside by voter-approved constitutional amendment - to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for specific improvements at state parks, forests, and conservation lands. The funds will directly support projects like repairing bridges and buildings, developing camping facilities, enhancing habitat access, and maintaining historic structures across state-managed recreation areas. It uses existing tax revenues (not new taxes) that were constitutionally earmarked for open space preservation under the Preserve New Jersey Act. The DEP can implement these projects without requiring separate budget committee approvals, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telecom, cable, and internet providers in New Jersey to let customers cancel service contracts without early fees when moving to a long-term care facility for at least 90 days. It applies to individuals receiving a physician's referral or care plan for relocation to licensed facilities like nursing homes, assisted living, or dementia care homes. Customers must typically provide 45 days' notice (or 48 hours if a physician orders immediate relocation), and providers may request a physician's letter as proof. The bill does not relieve customers of equipment return fees or payments for equipment they already purchased.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A2941 requires large sports/entertainment venues, movie theaters (over 1,000 seats), and places of worship (over 300 seats) to submit annual emergency plans to local law enforcement. The bill updates current law by mandating these plans include detailed digital "emergency mapping data" (like aerial building images, floor plans, hazardous material locations) in an electronic format compatible with public safety software. It lowers the required seating capacity for places of worship from 500 to 300 people and clarifies these plans are not public records. The goal is to improve law enforcement's preparedness for incidents at these venues.