Asm. Gary Schaer

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most businesses (including corporations, nonprofits, and partnerships, but not government agencies) to establish and annually report a valid email address to New Jersey's Division of Revenue. The Division must then share these emails with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to supplement, not replace, existing paper-based communications for business notices. Businesses failing to comply face annual civil penalties of up to $250 per year. The law takes effect January 1 following enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-594) requires anyone responsible for waste tire accumulation at a site to remove and properly dispose of tires to comply with environmental laws. It directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to establish a recurring process for identifying illegal tire sites, including annual inspections of junkyards and previously remediated areas, plus public and local government input. The department must issue annual reports on program progress, cleanup efforts, and costs, and may impose liens on properties with unremediated sites to recover cleanup expenses. The bill directly affects property owners and businesses accumulating waste tires, with enforcement focused on preventing environmental hazards like water contamination and mosquito breeding.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly resolution (AR 35) expresses support for the federal Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which became law in March 2022 making lynching a federal hate crime. It has no legal effect on state or federal law but formally urges continued legislative action to address racial violence, referencing the historical context of over 200 failed anti-lynching bills. The resolution directs copies to federal leaders, including the President, Congress, and New Jersey's congressional delegation. As a symbolic gesture, it does not directly affect any individuals or create new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's pension fund managers to prioritize investing state pension funds in New Jersey infrastructure projects (like roads, utilities, or energy systems) over comparable projects in other states. It applies to all pension funds managed by the state's Division of Investment. The law mandates this preference only when the in-state project meets the same investment standards as out-of-state options, ensuring fiduciary duty is maintained. The goal is to direct pension investments toward improving New Jersey's infrastructure while seeking comparable financial returns.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 626) requires New Jersey Medicaid to cover substance use disorder treatment services provided by community-based organizations. It mandates opioid treatment programs to offer harm reduction services and individualized counseling schedules, while prohibiting discharges for refusing counseling or missing doses (unless overdose risk is imminent). The bill also establishes new licensing standards for community organizations seeking Medicaid reimbursement and defines key terms like "medication units" for opioid treatment delivery. These changes directly affect Medicaid recipients, opioid treatment programs, and community-based service providers across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 619) creates a new criminal offense for "doxxing," defined as knowingly sharing someone's personal details (like address or phone number) online without consent to cause fear of harm, violence, or stalking. It specifically targets disclosures that create a serious risk of bodily injury, stalking, or severe emotional distress (mental anguish) to the person or their close relations - such as family, household members, or close associates. Exceptions apply for good-faith disclosures to the public about suspected unlawful conduct, to law enforcement, or during official investigations. Violations are a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine), escalating to a third-degree crime if serious harm occurs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 602) eliminates a 15% fee cemetery companies currently charge when transferring ownership of graves, crypts, or niches. It directly affects cemetery companies in New Jersey and individuals or families transferring burial spaces. The key provision removes the 15% transfer fee (previously required under Section 13(c)(5) and (6) of the Cemetery Act) from the law, deleting it from the existing fee structure. The bill does not change the 15% fee on initial sales or other existing charges. It is pending before the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Lead Education, Accountability, and Disclosure Act," requires New Jersey public community water systems (serving 15+ connections or 25+ year-round residents) to provide specific lead-related information to customers. Water systems must include details on lead sources, health risks, and reduction steps in annual Consumer Confidence Reports and send written notices to new customers within 90 days of service. Before any lead pipe work, systems must notify affected customers about temporary water quality risks and provide exposure-reduction measures. The law takes effect immediately, focusing on transparency rather than mandating pipe replacement.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill expands the crime of bias intimidation to cover more protected characteristics like gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability, and increases penalties for such offenses. It raises the severity of bias intimidation to one degree higher than the underlying crime (e.g., making a fourth-degree offense a third-degree crime), adds mandatory sentencing for first-degree cases, and requires courts to impose separate sentences for bias intimidation and the underlying offense. Perpetrators convicted of bias intimidation must also complete sensitivity training, counseling, or pay compensation to victim support programs. Victims of bias-motivated crimes benefit from new financial penalties ($250-$2,000 per offense) collected by the state and directed to community services. The law applies to anyone committing crimes like assault or harassment with bias motivation, directly affecting both offenders and victims in hate crime cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a new corporate status called "Garden State Corporation" for manufacturing businesses operating primarily in New Jersey. It requires these corporations to include half of their board members elected by employees working in New Jersey facilities, giving workers equal voting rights and access to company records. The bill also offers significant tax credits: up to 60% of certain taxes for the first five years if the company qualifies as both a Garden State Corporation and a benefit corporation, decreasing over time. This would directly affect eligible New Jersey manufacturing companies that choose to adopt this corporate structure, with the tax benefits applying over nine years. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Commerce Committee.