Asm. Clinton Calabrese

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide program within New Jersey's Department of Transportation to address safety hazards from abandoned mines. It requires the DOT to create a reclamation plan mapping all abandoned mines, identifying the most dangerous sites (like those threatening infrastructure or causing subsidence), and prioritizing projects to stabilize or reclaim them. The program will use a dedicated fund (funded by federal grants, state appropriations, and donations) to finance reclamation work, which may include contracting with private firms or providing grants. Property owners near affected mines will be notified before DOT enters their land for reclamation, but the state cannot require them to pay for these projects. The bill directly affects DOT operations and property owners in areas with abandoned mining sites.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Gaming Cybersecurity Intelligence and Response Council within New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement to improve cybersecurity coordination in the state's gaming industry. The council, composed of seven members including gaming operators, state regulators, and cybersecurity experts from universities, will develop confidential training, threat alerts, and incident response protocols for casino and sportsbook operators. It must submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature summarizing cybersecurity trends and recommendations without disclosing sensitive details that could compromise security systems. The council will meet at least twice yearly and may collaborate with federal agencies like CISA as non-voting advisors to strengthen industry-wide cybersecurity resilience.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-426) requires all operators and riders of low-speed electric bicycles and scooters in New Jersey to wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet meeting state safety standards. It directly affects anyone using these vehicles for transportation, including those riding in attached seats. The law imposes fines of up to $25 for a first violation and $100 for repeat offenses. The bill aims to reduce head injuries, citing increased crash risks compared to traditional bicycles. It is pending before the Assembly Public Safety Committee after being introduced on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1204) requires New Jersey building inspectors to complete construction inspections within three business days of a property owner's written request. It directly affects property owners, contractors, and building inspectors by mandating a specific 3-day timeline for inspections and restricting inspections to 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on business days unless an immediate safety hazard exists. Key provisions include requiring inspectors to notify owners in writing if they cannot meet the 3-day window and allowing owners to hire authorized private inspectors if delays persist. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was incorporated into an existing law (P.L.2025, c.173).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to install and maintain standardized highway exit signs directing drivers to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. It specifically applies to drivers using EVs on Interstates and limited-access highways, as defined in the law. The signs must follow federal and state design standards outlined in the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices." The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects a portion of wine tax revenue to support New Jersey's agricultural branding program. Specifically, it requires the State Treasurer to deposit $0.21875 per gallon from taxes on wine, vermouth, and sparkling wine sales (paid by wineries) into the "Jersey Fresh Program Fund." The fund, established in 2017, will be fully appropriated annually to the Department of Agriculture to fund advertising, promotions, and quality grading for "Jersey Fresh" and related programs promoting locally grown food and products. This expands the fund beyond voluntary tax contributions to include dedicated wine tax revenue, directly supporting New Jersey farmers and consumers.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Senate Bill A 1534 allows grocery stores and third-party delivery services to provide single-use paper bags (with at least 40% recycled content), cardboard boxes, or reusable bags for grocery orders for delivery, pickup, or curbside service for three years. It directly affects grocery stores (2,500+ sq ft) and delivery services by replacing the existing plastic bag ban with these paper-based or reusable options during the three-year period. The bill also requires a program for disposing of reusable bags and extends the deadline for food banks and pantries to use certain bags beyond the original timeline. This policy change modifies existing bag regulations without banning reusable options, focusing on reducing plastic waste through temporary paper bag allowances.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3031) requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a program encouraging owners or operators of closed landfills to transform these sites into habitats supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and bats using native plants. The DEP must develop guidelines for establishing and maintaining these habitats within six months of the bill taking effect, and actively seek corporate or nonprofit partnerships to fund and support the program. It directly affects owners of legacy or closed sanitary landfills statewide, with the goal of repurposing underutilized landfill sites for ecological benefit. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes for habitat creation, not on outcomes or political arguments.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and specific state facilities (like psychiatric hospitals and developmental centers) in New Jersey. It requires facilities to maintain specific ratios, such as 1 nurse for every 5 patients on medical/surgical units and 1 nurse for every 2 patients in critical care units. The law aims to improve patient safety and reduce errors by ensuring adequate nursing coverage based on patient acuity, while requiring facilities to use acuity-based staffing systems to adjust for changing patient needs. These requirements apply to all direct-care registered nurses providing patient services, not administrative staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a public awareness campaign about social media's risks to minors, targeting parents and guardians of children aged 13-17. It appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund for the New Jersey Department of Education to develop and implement the campaign within 180 days of enactment. The campaign will use statewide media channels - including newspapers, radio, TV ads, and social media - to share research on social media's mental health impacts, based on the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory. The Commissioner of Education must report on the campaign’s progress to the Governor and Legislature within 24 months of the bill’s effective date.