Asm. Ellen Park

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues to the State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation grants. The funds will directly support Oldmans Township in Salem County through a $500,000 base grant for municipal planning, as specified in the bill. The township is also eligible to compete for an additional up to $1 million in competitive grants from existing funds, totaling potential funding of $1.5 million. These grants are designed to incentivize local planning efforts that preserve agricultural land, using revenue dedicated to open space and farmland preservation under New Jersey's constitution.

Maddy summaryAJR 150 designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution encourages community organizations, medical institutions, and advocacy groups to raise public awareness about cleft lip and palate birth defects - conditions affecting about 1 in 1,700 babies in the U.S. - and promote collaboration on outreach and research. It does not create new laws or funding but requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to support this awareness effort. The resolution directly affects New Jersey residents and families impacted by these birth defects by fostering community engagement and education.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an affirmative defense for individuals who commit crimes as a direct result of being victims of human trafficking. Under the bill, a victim of human trafficking cannot be prosecuted for any crime under New Jersey's criminal code (Title 2C) if two conditions are met: (1) they were a trafficking victim at the time of the alleged crime, and (2) the crime was committed as a direct result of the trafficking. The defense remains available even if there was no conviction for the underlying trafficking offense. This policy change applies to all criminal offenses covered under New Jersey law, including human trafficking, prostitution, and related offenses, aiming to prevent victims from facing criminal charges for acts committed under duress.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to clarify that municipalities and municipal corporations can be held liable for legal costs and attorney fees if a judge deems their lawsuit frivolous. It specifies that "nonprevailing party" includes local governments when their complaint, counterclaim, or defense is found to have been filed in bad faith, solely to harass or delay, or without a reasonable legal basis. The law requires judges to make this determination during proceedings or at judgment, allowing the winning party to recover expenses. This change follows a recent New Jersey Supreme Court ruling confirming municipalities are subject to such sanctions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A6050) prohibits health care providers, mobile app developers, and third parties from collecting or sharing New Jersey residents' biometric data (like heart rate or fingerprints), health records, or protected health information without explicit consent. It requires consent before initial collection and within three days before each disclosure (with one consent covering multiple collections if authorized), but excludes sharing between health care providers for treatment. The bill does not override federal HIPAA protections, and violations could result in $1,000 per violation in damages plus legal fees. It directly affects entities handling health data from New Jersey residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Addiction Services within the Department of the Treasury (though not subject to its supervision). The Governor will appoint a qualified ombudsman to help New Jersey residents with mental illness or addiction access treatment, ensure proper care in facilities, provide confidential counseling and job support, and educate the public about substance use disorders. The ombudsman must keep communications confidential and submit annual reports to the Governor, the Commissioner of Human Services, and the Legislature. This office directly supports individuals seeking mental health and addiction services by improving access to care and advocating for their needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the ARRIVE Together Program to provide mental health and substance use crisis response as an alternative to standard law enforcement interactions. It requires law enforcement agencies (including state police, county departments, and municipal forces) to partner with mental health providers available 24/7 for crisis calls, with designated coordinators in each agency and county prosecutor's office. The program ensures confidentiality for all personal information shared during responses and shields mental health providers from civil liability when acting in good faith. It codifies a temporary pilot program into permanent law, creating structured coordination between law enforcement and mental health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC) to establish and implement minimum cell size standards for all state prison housing units. It mandates that single-occupancy cells provide at least 35 square feet of usable space (excluding fixtures) with an 8-foot ceiling, while shared cells must provide 25 square feet per person with the same ceiling height. The DOC must meet or exceed standards set by the American Correctional Association, addressing the current lack of minimum size requirements for state prison cells - unlike existing rules for county jails. The policy directly affects incarcerated individuals in New Jersey state prisons by setting concrete habitability standards for their living conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the Work First New Jersey Child Care subsidy program appropriation by $28 million in the FY2026 budget, raising the total from $565.8 million to $593.8 million. It directly affects lower-income families who rely on the child care subsidy program to cover part of their child care costs. The bill reverses a pause on new applications and a recent increase in family copayments (from 1-5% to 2-6% of income) by requiring the Department of Human Services to resume accepting applications and return to pre-August 1, 2025 eligibility standards and copayment rates. This addresses a projected $25-30 million funding shortfall that had forced the program to limit enrollment and raise costs for families.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the use of regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in all menstrual products sold in New Jersey. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of products like tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and underwear (both disposable and reusable). The law requires products to be tested for PFAS at or above 10 parts per million, with results shared with the Department of Health, and violations would be enforced under the Consumer Fraud Act with fines up to $20,000. The ban takes effect 18 months after enactment.