Rep. Larry Wainstein

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies to assess substance and alcohol use disorder treatment providers for conflicts of interest before approving state funding, licensure, or certification. Providers must submit detailed financial information, board member details, and lists of stakeholders with financial ties. If a conflict is identified that could affect care quality, the provider has 90 days to resolve it or risk losing funding/approval. After resolution, providers must undergo two additional conflict assessments within the next year. The law applies to all licensed or certifying state entities and defines conflicts as situations where outside financial interests might influence treatment decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires county and municipal clerks in New Jersey to post an unofficial list of candidates who have submitted nominating petitions for primary elections. The clerks must publish this list on their official websites within five hours after the petition filing deadline expires. This change directly affects election officials and voters, ensuring that information about who is running is available shortly after the filing period closes. The law does not change the rules for who can run or how votes are counted, but it adds a specific timeline for making candidate names public online.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill creates a pilot program to test mobile voting in municipal elections, allowing voters to cast ballots electronically via a secure system. The program requires the Secretary of State to hire a vendor to build a platform that uses strong security measures like encryption and biometric verification while ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities. Participating municipalities must notify eligible voters about the option and have backup plans in place if the technology fails. The pilot will run for eight years, with officials required to submit detailed reports on its effectiveness to the Secretary of State, the Governor, and the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to extend their early voting period for May municipal elections from three days to ten days. It applies only to nonpartisan municipalities that have already adopted early voting and would require local governments to pass an ordinance to implement the change. The extension would shift the start date of early voting from four days before the election to eleven days before, while maintaining the same end date.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies New Jersey's Attorney General's "Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities" directive into law. It directly affects all New Jersey state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officers by prohibiting them from: (1) stopping or detaining people based solely on immigration status, (2) asking about immigration status except during specific criminal investigations, and (3) sharing personal information with federal immigration authorities for immigration enforcement purposes. The law clarifies that officers' primary duty is enforcing state criminal laws, not federal immigration law, and emphasizes that this does not prevent enforcing state criminal laws. The goal is to build trust in immigrant communities and ensure law enforcement resources focus on public safety rather than immigration enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes the "Privacy Protection Act" to limit how government agencies and healthcare facilities collect and share certain personal information. It prohibits them from requesting details like immigration status, citizenship, social security numbers, or tax IDs unless necessary for specific public services, benefits, or healthcare delivery (with healthcare exceptions for patient safety). The bill requires written consent in the person's preferred language for sharing any collected data, detailing exactly what will be shared, why, and confirming consent is voluntary without retaliation. It also bans selling or sharing vehicle license plate data except under court orders, subpoenas, or with explicit written consent, and mandates government entities to update privacy policies within one year.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3114, the "Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act," requires police officers and other law enforcement personnel to reveal their faces and show official identification before detaining or arresting someone during public interactions. Officers must wear non-concealing uniforms, display a photo ID card, show a numbered badge, or verbally state their name and agency. Exceptions include undercover work, medical masks (with physician approval), smoke protection during emergencies, or when safety or an investigation is at risk. The law applies to all state, county, and municipal officers and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to reveal their facial identity during public interactions (except during undercover operations, medical mask use with physician approval, or smoke exposure during emergencies) and to present valid identification before detaining or arresting someone. Officers must show a uniform with agency insignia, a photo ID card, a numbered badge, or verbally state their name and agency. It applies to all state, county, municipal, and federal officers performing public duties, with exemptions for safety risks, ongoing investigations, or stealth operations. The law aims to increase transparency during police encounters while allowing necessary operational flexibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the use of artificial intelligence-generated communications in New Jersey election campaigns by political committees and other groups. It prohibits AI-created political messages from being published within 90 days before an election, requires clear labeling when AI is used in any campaign communication, and bans deceptive AI media that falsely portrays an opposing candidate in a fraudulent or defamatory manner. Violations of these rules would be classified as a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison or a fine of up to $10,000. The Election Law Enforcement Commission is authorized to create implementing regulations for the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would stop hospitals in New Jersey from charging patients a facility fee for services provided at their outpatient facilities. It directly affects patients receiving care at hospital outpatient departments and hospitals themselves. The law defines a facility fee as a charge meant to cover hospital operational expenses that is separate from a doctor's professional fee, and prohibits hospitals from billing or seeking payment for this fee for outpatient services. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.