Asm. Clinton Calabrese

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5379) updates New Jersey's process for reporting lost or stolen vehicle registration plates. It requires owners to file a report with law enforcement (not just notify) within their jurisdiction, and mandates that police provide a trackable case number within 24 hours. Owners must then notify the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) with the case number and a completed status form, which the MVC will update to include the case number and mark plates as lost/stolen. The changes aim to streamline plate replacement and improve tracking to prevent misuse.

Maddy summaryThe "Climate Superfund Act" would hold fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and are responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and the bill's effective date. The bill establishes a program through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to collect these payments and distribute funds for climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would pay their proportional share of damages over nine years, with options for installment payments, and the collected funds would specifically support projects that help communities prepare for climate impacts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1445 requires public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who withdrew due to military service (including active duty, National Guard, or Reserve service). Schools must reinstate students with their exact academic standing from before their service interruption. Students must submit a written request for the next available semester, and institutions cannot charge application or processing fees for these requests. The law applies starting the first full academic year after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires human trafficking awareness signs to be displayed in four languages - English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean - instead of the current two (English and Spanish). It applies to businesses and facilities already mandated to display such signs, including strip clubs, massage businesses, airports, bars, hotels, and emergency rooms. The signs must meet specific size and font requirements (8.5x11 inches, 16-point font) and include the national human trafficking hotline information. The change follows a 2024 State Commission of Investigation report recommending expanded language accessibility for vulnerable communities. The law takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill reappropriates unspent funds from New Jersey's 1989 Bridge Rehabilitation Bond Act to the Department of Transportation. It directs these funds toward emergency repairs for bridges on state highways and county/municipal roads, with the Commissioner of Transportation deciding where and when to allocate them. Any unspent funds must be used within two years or redistributed to counties based on a formula for bridge maintenance. The bill does not create new funding but redirects existing leftover money from a decades-old bond program.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5007) amends New Jersey's alcoholic beverage licensing law to clarify and expand the ability of sporting facilities to sell alcohol. It removes previous restrictions that limited all-inclusive alcohol areas to one per event with a 500-person maximum capacity, now allowing unlimited number, size, and capacity of such areas within sporting venues. The bill also clarifies that "sporting facility" premises include all areas up to the security perimeter, not just the main venue. This affects stadiums, arenas, and training facilities that serve alcohol, with license fees varying based on venue capacity from $2,500 to $10,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health services in New Jersey to be provided in a culturally affirming and linguistically appropriate manner for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It mandates that services be delivered in the client's primary method of communication, as determined by the client's preference or a communication assessment, and that mental health professionals be certified as fluent in that method. The bill establishes a deaf services coordinator position within the Department of Human Services to oversee implementation, develop certification standards for professionals, and ensure access to services statewide, including through telemedicine in underserved areas. It also requires the development of a statewide system of care with specific standards for communication accessibility and cultural competence in mental health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for retail theft offenses based on the value of stolen goods, with shoplifting over $500 becoming a third-degree crime. It creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales) and upgrades penalties for "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime. The bill establishes a retail theft unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, and includes new requirements for gift card retailers to prevent fraud through packaging standards and third-party reseller record-keeping. It also creates extended prison terms for repeat retail theft offenders and increases penalties for tax evasion related to retail theft.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers and sellers to attach a red tag to the charging cords of specific electric products, including low-speed e-bikes, e-scooters, motorized bicycles, scooters, and skateboards, as well as their lithium-ion or storage batteries. The tag must clearly state "UNPLUG WHEN NOT IN USE" and include additional safety information about proper usage. The Division of Consumer Affairs must provide a model tag and develop guidelines for the required safety content. This applies to all products sold, leased, rented, or distributed in New Jersey, directly affecting retailers and manufacturers of these devices.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes safety requirements for low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, their storage batteries, and charging systems. It requires manufacturers, retailers, and rental businesses to ensure these products undergo testing by accredited laboratories to meet safety standards like ANSI/CAN/UL 2849 and EN 15194 before being sold or rented. The bill mandates that certified products display the testing laboratory's logo and standard, with sales compliance required by January 1, 2026, and rental compliance by January 1, 2028. The State Fire Marshal must also develop regulations to promote fire and electrical safety for these products. These requirements apply to businesses selling or renting these devices, directly affecting manufacturers, retailers, and rental companies operating in New Jersey.