Asm. Clinton Calabrese

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1408) amends New Jersey law to require human trafficking awareness signs at specific establishments - including massage businesses, hotels, airports, hospitals, and transportation hubs - to include Chinese and Korean translations, in addition to English and Spanish. The signs must be at least 8.5x11 inches, printed in 16-point font, and displayed in visible locations like restrooms and dressing rooms. Businesses failing to comply face civil penalties of $300 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations. The change responds directly to a 2024 Commission of Investigation report on human trafficking in New Jersey’s massage industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a one-time $100,000 grant to a New Jersey four-year public university to study ways to increase youth involvement in government. The university must submit a detailed proposal and budget, then produce a report within one year identifying existing best practices and recommending the most effective methods for engaging young people. The report will be shared with state education officials and distributed to all school districts within 60 days. The bill directly affects public universities selected for the grant and aims to inform future youth engagement efforts in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds competitive video gaming events (esports) to New Jersey's legal sports wagering options. It allows licensed casinos and racetracks to offer bets on esports tournaments held at physical locations or online, while explicitly banning wagers on events where most participants are under 18 or tied to schools/high schools. The law defines "electronic sports event" and creates new rules for operators, ensuring esports betting operates under the same framework as traditional sports wagering. It directly affects casinos, racetracks, and esports organizers by expanding legal betting venues and clarifying prohibited events.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the governance of New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), which provides health coverage to state employees. It creates a new 11-member State Health Benefits Commission (replacing the previous structure) and a separate 12-member Plan Design Committee. The Commission includes the Treasurer, agency heads, and members appointed by labor unions representing state employees, while the Plan Design Committee focuses specifically on designing health plan benefits like medical, dental, and prescription coverage. These changes affect all state employees enrolled in the SHBP by altering who oversees their health plan offerings and administration. The bill does not change the actual benefits provided, only the decision-making bodies managing the program.

Maddy summaryBill A 2385 eliminates a five-year New Jersey residency requirement for employees of the New Jersey Racing Commission. This change directly affects positions including the executive director, chief inspector, and other staff members appointed by the Commission. The bill amends Section 4 of P.L.1940, c.17, removing the specific language requiring employees to have resided in the state for five years prior to hire. The Commission may now appoint employees without this residency restriction, though other existing requirements (like prohibitions on ties to horse racing interests) remain unchanged. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "Sikhism" to New Jersey's list of protected classes under the state's bias intimidation law (N.J.S.2C:16-1), explicitly including Sikhs in legal protections against hate crimes motivated by religious bias. It directly affects Sikh residents and community members who face discrimination or violence due to their religious identity, such as attacks targeting turbans, beards, or gurdwaras. The key mechanism amends the statute to cover offenses committed "because of their membership within a protected class," including Sikhism, and creates a legal presumption that bias was a motivating factor in such crimes. The bill also appropriates $100,000, likely for educational or support programs related to Sikh community awareness, though specific funding details aren't outlined in the text.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's law governing employment programs for people with disabilities, renaming it the "Extended Employment Act" and updating terminology (e.g., replacing "sheltered workshop" with "extended employment"). It directly affects individuals with significant disabilities who choose these programs, as well as nonprofit providers offering vocational services. Key provisions include defining "extended employment" as community-based work opportunities with flexible service models (like retail or restaurants), requiring nonprofit providers to be nationally accredited, and tying state funding to inflation (CPI-W) rather than fixed amounts. The law also expands program goals to include competitive integrated employment and requires providers to submit annual expense analyses for funding adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to promote New Jersey-made craft alcohol (beer, cider, mead, liquor) and the retailers who sell it. It establishes a "Certified Jersey Craft Alcohol Beverage Retailer" program requiring retailers to derive at least 10% of annual sales from NJ craft beverages to earn certification and use special signage. The program includes grants of up to $2,500 annually for certified retailers to support capital improvements or marketing, funded by 50% of tax revenue from craft beverage sales. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will manage the program, develop application guidelines, and track grant usage. The bill directly affects craft beverage producers (with specific licenses) and eligible retail businesses selling their products.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Blockchain Promotion and Integration Program under New Jersey's Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology, in partnership with the Economic Development Authority. It directly supports New Jersey businesses - especially small businesses - by increasing public awareness of blockchain technology, providing technical and financial assistance for adoption, and connecting firms with resources through partnerships with the New Jersey Blockchain Council and small business groups. Key provisions include analyzing the state's blockchain sector, recruiting capital investment, and requiring annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on progress and recommendations. The program is designed to foster growth in blockchain and decentralized digital technology industries within New Jersey. The bill was introduced on January 13, 2026, and is pending before the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1 million grant program administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support business accelerators and incubators. It provides funding for facilities offering low-cost space and technical assistance to early-stage companies in specific tech sectors, including clean energy, life sciences, advanced materials, big data, and food/agriculture. Eligible accelerators/incubators must demonstrate they support businesses in these priority fields, with grants covering operational costs for both the accelerator and the incubating businesses. The program uses $1 million in societal benefits charge revenues transferred to the EDA, as specified in the bill's provisions.