Asm. Ellen Park

Maddy summaryThis bill (A861) makes it illegal for crisis pregnancy centers to use deceptive advertising about pregnancy-related services under New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act. It targets nonprofit centers that provide non-medical counseling (like adoption referrals or parenting resources) but do not offer abortion or medical care, prohibiting them from making untrue or misleading claims about their services - such as falsely implying they provide medical exams or pregnancy testing. Violations could lead to penalties under the Consumer Fraud Act, and the Attorney General can seek court orders to stop deceptive ads or require corrective actions. The law directly affects crisis pregnancy centers and aims to ensure transparency for people seeking pregnancy-related information.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5357) establishes a voluntary program for New Jersey commercial farms to safely collect, transport, and dispose of unused pesticides, fertilizers containing pesticides, and pesticide containers. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must create collection sites across the state (with at least one in each major region), host at least two collection events yearly per site, and contract with qualified entities for safe disposal and recycling. The Department of Agriculture will run a public education campaign to inform farmers about collection locations, accepted materials, program benefits, and environmental advantages, with all information posted online. Participation is optional for farms, and the program requires compliance with existing pesticide disposal laws.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A3667 (A3667) amends the Dental Service Corporation Act of 1968 to explicitly permit dental service corporations to operate as subsidiaries of nonprofit parent companies. This change directly affects dental service corporations and nonprofit parent organizations that wish to structure their operations this way, while maintaining all existing regulatory requirements for the dental service corporations themselves. The key provision removes a current barrier that prevented such nonprofit subsidiary structures, though the dental service corporations must still comply with all statutory limits on investments and operations under the 1968 Act. The bill does not alter the core regulatory framework but allows greater organizational flexibility for nonprofit entities seeking to provide dental services.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the requirement that health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) must have been continuously operating since December 31, 1999, allowing new HCSMs to be created without this historical barrier. It exempts HCSM members from New Jersey's minimum essential coverage mandate, meaning they no longer need health insurance or pay a tax for coverage. The bill establishes new transparency rules requiring HCSMs operating in New Jersey to post detailed annual reports on their websites, including participant numbers, financial data, and operational information. Non-compliance may result in penalties or legal action from the state's Consumer Affairs Director.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric transmission facility owners in New Jersey (including utility companies) to join FERC-approved transmission entities and transfer control of their facilities to them. Transmission entities must meet specific standards, including separating transmission control from power generation, minimizing duplicate transmission charges ("rate pancaking"), ensuring fair grid access, and maintaining system reliability. The law applies immediately to all transmission owners operating in the state and mandates compliance through membership in entities meeting all nine specified operational criteria. It directly affects utility companies managing New Jersey's electricity transmission infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year pilot program for Integrated Domestic Violence Courts in Camden, Essex, Hudson, and Middlesex counties. It combines domestic violence cases, divorce, child custody, and related criminal matters under a single judge to streamline proceedings, reduce court appearances, and improve victim safety. The courts will include on-site resource coordinators, victim advocates, and social workers, and judges must have specialized knowledge in domestic violence law. The program requires the court administration to monitor effectiveness and report to the legislature after 12 months and at the program’s conclusion.

Maddy summaryThe "Climate Superfund Act" would hold fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and are responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and the bill's effective date. The bill establishes a program through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to collect these payments and distribute funds for climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would pay their proportional share of damages over nine years, with options for installment payments, and the collected funds would specifically support projects that help communities prepare for climate impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires crisis pregnancy centers in New Jersey to clearly state in English and Spanish that they are not licensed health care facilities and whether they employ a physician to supervise pregnancy-related services. Centers must display this information in waiting areas, examination rooms, and all rooms used for client discussions, as well as in every advertisement (online, print, radio, or other media). Violations could result in penalties under the Consumer Fraud Act, and the Attorney General can seek court orders to stop deceptive practices. The law specifically targets centers offering non-medical counseling (like adoption referrals) but not abortion or prenatal care services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey firearm retailers to provide customers with a written disclosure at the point of sale. The disclosure informs buyers they must report lost or stolen firearms within 36 hours to local law enforcement or the State Police, and warns that purchasing firearms with intent to resell to disqualified individuals is illegal. Retailers must have customers sign and receive a copy of this disclosure, keep signed copies for 15 years, and prominently post the notice at all sales counters. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat offenses, with collected fines directed to gun violence prevention efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a legal barrier preventing victims of sexual offenses from recovering pain and suffering damages against public entities (like government agencies or employees) in New Jersey. Currently, public entities are generally barred from paying such damages for any injury, except in cases of permanent disfigurement with high medical costs ($3,600+). The bill specifically adds sexual assault, prohibited sexual acts (N.J.S.A. 2A:30B-2), sexual abuse (N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1), or other sexual crimes to the list of exceptions. Victims of these offenses can now seek compensation for pain and suffering through lawsuits against public entities. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.