Asm. Clinton Calabrese

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State Treasurer to sell the Lodi Armory property (4.01 acres in Lodi, Bergen County) to Bergen County for $4.1 million. The state has declared this property surplus to its needs, and the sale must follow terms approved by the State House Commission. As a condition, Bergen County must lease back approximately 6,000 square feet of the Motor Vehicle Storage Building and up to 45 parking spaces to the state. The sale takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act to add clear enforcement tools. It directly affects licensed tree care professionals by establishing specific penalties for violations, including $1,000 civil administrative fines per violation (or $2,500 for repeat offenses), with each day of violation counting as a separate offense. The law gives the Board of Tree Experts or the Department of Environmental Protection authority to issue compliance orders, pursue civil actions for damages or site restoration, or levy fines after providing violators with 20 days to request a hearing. The bill repeals the previous section that handled fines, creating a unified enforcement framework. These changes aim to strengthen oversight of licensed tree care operations without altering the core licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes several railroad safety requirements. It mandates a minimum of two crew members for trains transporting hazardous materials (with exceptions for certain operations like tourist trains or yard movements), prohibits trains longer than 8,500 feet on main and branch lines, and requires privately owned railroads to submit federally required bridge inspection reports. The bill also requires railroads to maintain proper wayside detector systems for defect detection and permits non-profit labor organizations to inspect for safety hazards. Violations face civil penalties of $500-$1,000 per foot exceeding the maximum train length, with potential maximum penalties of $250,000 for gross negligence or repeated violations causing safety hazards.

Maddy summaryS 4835 allows New Jersey voters to correct mail-in ballots with certain envelope issues instead of having them rejected. The bill expands the current process (which only permitted curing for signature issues) to include cases where voters failed to insert ballots in inner envelopes, didn't sign certificates, or had missing/unsealed envelopes. If a ballot is rejected for these reasons, county election offices must send a "cure letter" within 24 hours, giving voters 48 hours before non-general election results are certified (or 11 days after general elections) to either submit a corrected ballot or vote in-person using a provisional ballot. This change aims to prevent legitimate votes from being lost due to minor technical errors.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator. The coordinator will develop a master plan for dementia care, coordinate existing state programs, prevent service duplication, identify gaps in care, and improve access to quality treatment for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The position is authorized to request data from state agencies and consult with experts, with all departments required to cooperate. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to implement these changes. It directly affects individuals with dementia, their families, and the state agencies providing related services.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that New Jersey real estate salespersons and broker-salespersons may form limited liability companies (LLCs) or other legal entities to receive their commissions, without changing their business relationship with their employing broker. It explicitly permits salespersons to accept commissions directly from their own LLC or entity, provided this arrangement aligns with their written agreement with the broker. The New Jersey Real Estate Commission will establish a registration process for these entities to ensure compliance. The law takes immediate effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey voters to correct mail-in ballots with certain envelope or certificate issues instead of having them automatically disqualified. It specifically covers situations where the ballot wasn't properly enclosed in the inner envelope, the certificate wasn't signed, the envelope was missing or unsealed, or the seal appeared tampered with. Voters who receive a "cure letter" about these issues can either submit a corrected ballot or vote in-person using a provisional ballot during early voting or on election day. This expands current law that only permitted curing for signature-related issues. The bill requires county election officials to send cure letters with clear instructions on how to fix the problem or vote provisionally.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows adults, emancipated minors, and their authorized representatives (like parents or legal guardians) to create a formal written directive preventing healthcare providers from prescribing or administering opioids. The directive must be created using a form developed by the New Jersey Department of Health and entered into the patient's electronic health record. Healthcare providers are protected from liability or disciplinary action for following the directive in good faith, though opioids may still be prescribed if medically necessary. Individuals can revoke the directive at any time, either orally or in writing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's solid waste management districts (including counties and the Hackensack Meadowlands District) to develop and implement a strategy to reduce food waste by at least 50% by 2030, compared to waste levels in the year the law takes effect. Districts must adopt this strategy as an amendment to their existing solid waste management plans, subject to DEP approval. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must also publish a public list of specific methods districts can use, including food donation programs, composting facilities, source separation, and public awareness campaigns. These measures aim to divert food waste from landfills and reduce methane emissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires water suppliers to immediately notify specific entities when drinking water quality standards are violated. Affected groups include municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools within the affected area. Suppliers must provide detailed information via phone and email, including contaminant names, test dates, locations, exceedance levels, and suggested remedies. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.