Asm. Clinton Calabrese

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey motor vehicle inspection facilities and the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to notify vehicle owners about active safety recalls during inspections and registration. Owners would receive written notices describing each recall and confirming repairs can be done at no cost by authorized dealers. The requirement applies only to recalls needing physical fixes (excluding buybacks or manual labeling issues). The bill does not change manufacturers' liability for recalls but protects MVC staff from liability for notices (except in cases of gross negligence).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies (like Uber and Lyft) to provide paratransit services for a two-year period. Currently, paratransit services - transportation for people with disabilities that are not fixed-route bus services - are legally excluded from being provided by these companies, but the bill removes that exclusion. The change modifies the definition of "paratransit service" in state law to include these providers, expanding potential service options. This directly affects transportation companies and people with disabilities who rely on paratransit services, without altering the core requirements for such services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to administer professional license examinations in English and the four most commonly spoken languages in the state (other than English), instead of only English with optional Spanish for practicing licensees. It directly affects cosmetology applicants and license holders seeking to take or renew their licenses. The key provision mandates the Division of Consumers Affairs to post these four languages on its website and verify them every five years. The bill does not change current requirements for Spanish or translator assistance but expands language options based on statewide demographics.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public water systems in New Jersey to provide specific notices about boil water advisories and drinking water violations. It mandates that water systems notify affected municipalities within one hour (via phone/email) and customers within 24 hours of an advisory or violation, using preferred contact methods like email or text. Systems must also post notices on their websites and social media, and include contact preference requests in water bills within 60 days. Additionally, systems must immediately inform schools, municipalities, and school districts of water quality violations, including contaminant details and remediation steps. These changes directly affect public water providers, residents, and educational institutions served by affected systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Health (DOH) to create and update annual guidelines for school districts and colleges on implementing student vaping awareness campaigns. The guidelines must include research-backed materials about vaping's health effects (lung damage, mental health, pregnancy risks), peer pressure strategies, and age-appropriate anti-vaping resources like pamphlets. Schools and colleges would use these guidelines to develop multi-level campaigns targeting adolescents and young adults, focusing on healthy decision-making. The DOE and DOH must post the guidelines online and link to additional anti-vaping resources for schools and families.

Maddy summaryThis bill 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 delivered, picked up, or ordered curbside, for a three-year period. Customers must be offered a choice among these packaging options, and stores may also let customers use their own containers for perishable items. Grocery stores must establish a program for returning reusable bags - either reusing them, recycling them, or donating them to food banks - within 90 days of the bill’s effective date. After three years, paper bags and cardboard boxes can no longer be provided for these orders. The bill directly affects grocery retailers, delivery services, and food banks, which gain extended time to use certain bags.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4830 bill authorizes the Division of Gaming Enforcement to join a national self-exclusion program, allowing individuals who wish to voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling to register once for exclusion across multiple states. The bill requires the Division to create forms enabling self-excluders to select which states they want to join and prohibits sharing their information without explicit consent. This directly affects gamblers seeking to avoid casino access and requires casinos to verify exclusion status and deny services to self-excluded individuals. The policy change streamlines the process for multi-state self-exclusion while maintaining privacy protections for participants.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2319 directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a rebate program for residents and businesses purchasing electric or battery-powered leaf blowers. The program, funded through the state's societal benefits charge, will cover eligible equipment types and establish application processes similar to existing clean energy incentives. It aims to reduce reliance on gas-powered leaf blowers, which emit pollutants like carbon monoxide and particulate matter. The bill requires the BPU to consider environmental benefits when designing the program, without banning gas models. This policy change directly affects homeowners and commercial landscapers seeking to replace traditional equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for manufacturers of equipment for advanced nuclear facilities and establishes a program to provide incentive tax credits to developers building advanced nuclear energy facilities in New Jersey. Manufacturers of nuclear equipment can receive a 15% credit (up to 25% for minority/women/veteran-owned businesses) for equipment and facility improvements. Developers must demonstrate their project is economically feasible at a current or decommissioned nuclear site, meet environmental standards, pay prevailing wages, and contribute 20% of project costs to qualify for credits. The bill also creates a $50 per megawatt-hour grant for the first 25 years of operation for the state's first advanced nuclear facility, funded through a fee on electric utilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Transit (NJT) Office of Customer Advocate and a Rider Advocacy Commission to independently represent NJT riders. The Commission, with three appointed members (Governor, Senate President, Assembly Speaker), establishes the Office and appoints a Rider Advocate who reports directly to it. The Office must review and analyze NJT proposals for fare increases, service cuts, or expansions before implementation, then report findings to NJT's board, the Governor, and Legislature. It also conducts monthly public meetings with riders, accepts online/voicemail feedback, and provides customer input on NJT decisions. The Office operates with separate funding, independent of NJT's budget, and replaces a prior requirement for NJT to employ a customer advocate.