Asm. Ellen Park

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1203 "CJ's Law" would make it illegal to manufacture or distribute substances containing kratom under specific circumstances by amending the state's controlled substances laws. The bill defines "controlled dangerous substances" broadly to include substances that metabolize into controlled drugs, directly targeting kratom products. This would affect businesses and individuals involved in producing or selling kratom-based products, shifting them from current legal status to criminalized activity under new penalties. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a permanent unit within New Jersey's Office of Emergency Management to specifically support residents with access and functional needs during disasters. It directly affects people with disabilities, older adults, those with limited English proficiency, transportation barriers, or financial constraints - covering roughly a quarter of New Jersey's adult population based on CDC data. The unit's core duties include assessing needs before/during/after emergencies, tracking resource availability, ensuring access to assistance, and coordinating with local emergency offices across all three regions. The unit would consist of one full-time supervisor and three full-time planners to implement these responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs statewide. The 22-member commission - including state agency heads, legislative appointees, and representatives from child care organizations, schools, and advocacy groups - will assess current programs, develop statewide standards, examine funding sources, and evaluate program quality across urban, suburban, and rural districts. It must issue an interim report within one year and a final report within two years of forming, including recommendations for improving accountability and quality. The commission expires 30 days after submitting its final report, with no immediate funding or program changes enacted by this bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator within the Department of Human Services. The coordinator will develop a master plan to address dementia care, coordinate existing state services (like the Alzheimer's Advisory Commission), prevent service duplication, identify gaps in care, and improve access to quality treatment for people with dementia. State agencies must cooperate with the coordinator by providing data and assistance upon request. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to fund this position and its operations.

Maddy summaryThe Safe Communities Act requires New Jersey's Attorney General to develop model policies ensuring safety and accessibility at key community locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, shelters, and courthouses. These policies must be adopted by relevant state agencies (including education, health, and corrections departments) within 180 days of the law's enactment, with institutions required to post them visibly. The law aims to prevent residents from avoiding essential services or gatherings due to safety concerns, focusing on maintaining open access to public services and religious spaces. It applies directly to all covered facilities and their visitors across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies New Jersey's existing Attorney General directive to prevent state and local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration laws. It prohibits police from stopping, questioning, or detaining people solely based on immigration status, asking about immigration status unless relevant to a crime investigation, or sharing personal information (like addresses or social security numbers) with federal immigration authorities. Exceptions apply only for serious crimes (e.g., violent offenses or recent convictions) or when required by law for criminal investigations. The law directly affects all New Jersey state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officers, aiming to build trust between police and immigrant communities by clarifying that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Privacy Protection Act," prohibits New Jersey government entities (like state agencies, counties, and municipalities) and healthcare facilities from collecting or sharing specific personal information - such as immigration status, citizenship details, Social Security numbers, or place of birth - except when necessary to determine eligibility for public services, benefits, or professional licensing. It requires that any collected data be retained only as long as needed for those purposes and prevents such records from being disclosed under the state's open records law, except in limited cases like court orders, election requirements, or with explicit written consent. Written consent must clearly explain what data is shared, why, that refusal won't cause discrimination, and that consent can be revoked. The bill also restricts sharing of automated license plate data except to other government entities under legal authority or with a court order.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens penalties for firearms trafficking and regulatory violations in New Jersey. It increases criminal penalties for licensed dealers who knowingly sell firearms to prohibited persons (now a second-degree crime with an 18-month mandatory prison term), adds stricter requirements for dealers to verify buyer eligibility, and imposes a five-year mandatory prison term for selling firearms to anyone under 18. The law directly affects licensed firearm dealers, individuals disqualified from firearm possession under state or federal law, and minors under 18. Key mechanisms include mandatory minimum sentences, permanent license revocation for dealers selling to prohibited persons, and separate sentencing for related offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades penalties for cyber-harassment targeting public servants or their family members, making it a third-degree crime (up from fourth degree under current law). It establishes the Office of Cyber-Harassment Support within the Department of Law and Public Safety to provide victim assistance, develop educational programs, and coordinate with law enforcement and social media platforms. The office will create accessible reporting systems, offer counseling, promote cyber ethics in schools, and train law enforcement on investigating cyber-harassment cases. The bill appropriates state funds to implement these provisions, directly affecting public servants, their families, and victims of online harassment.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades cyber-harassment targeting public servants or their family members to a third-degree crime (up from fourth-degree), increasing penalties. It establishes the Office of Cyber-Harassment Support within New Jersey’s Department of Law and Public Safety to provide victim assistance, develop educational programs, and coordinate with law enforcement and social media platforms to prevent such harassment. The office will create accessible reporting systems, offer counseling and legal aid, promote cyber ethics education in schools, and train law enforcement on handling cyber-harassment cases. The bill appropriates necessary funds from the General Fund to implement these provisions.