Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state standard to protect New Jersey workers from heat-related illnesses and injuries by requiring employers to implement specific safety measures. It directly affects all employers and employees in New Jersey, including those in high-risk outdoor jobs (like construction and agriculture) and indoor settings without climate control. Key provisions mandate written prevention plans that include providing cool water (under 59°F), paid rest breaks in shaded or cooled areas, monitoring heat exposure, and activating a heat alert system during forecasted heat waves - requiring adjustments like shifting work schedules or increasing rest breaks. Employers must develop these plans within 30 days of the law's effective date, with the Department of Labor setting the heat stress standard by June 1, 2025.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all individuals under 17 years old to wear a properly fitted helmet meeting ANSI or Snell safety standards while operating a bicycle, scooter, motorized scooter, or roller skates on public property. It applies to both riders and operators, with exemptions for specific trails or closed roads. Businesses selling or renting these devices must post clear signage about the helmet law and provide helmets to minors who don’t have one. The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs enforces the requirement, including penalties for businesses that fail to comply.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the duties of New Jersey's Class Three special law enforcement officers to include providing security at places of religious worship (such as churches, mosques, and synagogues) in addition to their existing role in public and nonpublic schools. It requires school districts that hire these officers for security in public schools to also provide the same security services for nonpublic schools within the district, with the district responsible for covering the costs for both. Officers must meet specific training and certification standards, including being retired police officers with relevant experience, and cannot carry firearms off-duty without additional requirements. The bill does not mandate hiring these officers but establishes clear coverage requirements for school districts that choose to use them in public schools.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to research and develop proposals addressing generational harms from New Jersey's role in slavery and systemic racial discrimination. The task force will examine historical and current disparities affecting Black communities, including voter disenfranchisement, youth incarceration rates, housing discrimination, wealth gaps, and school segregation. It will produce a report with policy recommendations for state-based reparations based on documented harms. The bill directly affects Black residents of New Jersey who face these systemic inequities, as outlined in the legislative findings.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 1921 regulates credit card interchange fees by prohibiting payment networks like Visa and MasterCard from restricting merchants' flexibility. The bill directly affects merchants (businesses accepting credit cards) and payment networks, banning them from: forcing specific pricing displays, blocking discounts for cash/debit cards, limiting where cards are accepted, restricting minimum/maximum transaction values ($10+), or limiting which payment systems merchants can use. It requires payment networks to reimburse merchants for fees collected during violations. The law aims to increase transparency and competition in credit card fee pricing, which currently inflates consumer prices as merchants pass costs to all shoppers.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes renewable energy portfolio standards requiring electric power suppliers and basic generation service providers in New Jersey to source increasing percentages of electricity from renewable sources. Specifically, it mandates 2.5% from Class II renewables (like biomass) and requires Class I renewables (including solar, wind, and hydro) to reach 21% by 2020, 35% by 2025, and 50% by 2030. The bill also requires suppliers to disclose fuel mix and emissions data on customer bills and caps customer costs for Class I renewable requirements at 9% of electricity costs through 2021, then 7% annually after. These requirements apply directly to energy suppliers and indirectly affect all electricity customers in the state. (Note: The bill’s title references a "Neighborhood Solar Energy Investment Program," but the actual provisions focus on broader renewable portfolio standards and disclosure rules, not a specific solar program.)
Maddy summaryThis bill shortens the timeframe for declaring certain abandoned properties in New Jersey from six months to three months of non-occupancy. It directly affects municipalities (which can now declare abandonment faster) and property owners (who face a shorter window before rehabilitation efforts may be required). Key provisions include reducing the required period of non-occupancy, updating procedures for tax certificate holders to pursue foreclosure, and requiring municipalities to provide notice before seeking possession of such properties. The law aims to accelerate rehabilitation of blighted properties by streamlining the process for municipalities to take control and develop rehabilitation plans. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Housing Committee.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires producers of firefighting gear containing intentionally added PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to provide written notice to purchasers one year after the law takes effect. The notice must specify which PFAS chemicals are present, why they were added, and their chemical names. Beginning two years after the law takes effect, the bill prohibits selling, manufacturing, or distributing such firefighting gear in New Jersey, with exceptions for non-clothing items like breathing apparatuses until 2032. The law directly affects firefighting equipment manufacturers, sellers, and fire departments purchasing this gear, with violations subject to fines up to $20,000.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A-2593 requires the Commissioner of Education to create a sensitivity training program for high school athletic directors, coaches, and sports officials. The training covers topics like gender/sexual orientation, race, disabilities, religious tolerance, unconscious bias, and diversity. Coaches, athletic directors, and sports officials must complete the training every four years (with new hires doing it in their first year), and officials must certify completion when applying for certification. This bill, currently introduced but not yet enacted, directly affects all public and nonpublic high school sports staff in the state.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 3567 requires municipalities to adopt state-approved land use regulations that allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary homes on the same lot as a primary residence - within single-family and two-family zones. The bill mandates that local zoning rules must align with state model ordinances, ensuring property owners can develop ADUs without restrictive barriers. It directly affects homeowners seeking to add ADUs for rental income or family housing, as well as municipalities responsible for updating zoning codes. The bill, pending before the legislature, aims to expand housing supply by streamlining ADU development while maintaining neighborhood character.