Asm. Ellen Park

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of seasonal rental units (like vacation homes rented for up to 125 days through platforms such as Airbnb) to inform prospective renters before booking if a pet is regularly present or will be present within two weeks of the stay. It directly protects renters with pet allergies or sensitivities by preventing unexpected exposure to pet-dander environments. If owners fail to disclose, renters can cancel their booking, leave within 12 hours of arrival, and receive a full refund of deposits or payments. The law takes effect January 1, 2025, and applies to all seasonal rentals excluding those for migrant or seasonal workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's FY2025 Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP) to add three new hazard mitigation projects to the list eligible for funding: Brick Township's reservoir improvements, Rochelle Park's sewer pump station reconstruction and elevation work, and Highlands Borough's flood mitigation and green infrastructure. It increases the total authorized funding from $7.2 million to $13.8 million to cover these nine approved projects. The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank will provide low-interest loans to local governments for these resilience initiatives, which aim to protect communities from flooding and climate-related risks. These projects directly affect Bergen County municipalities and other local governments receiving CHAMP loans.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 3179 requires sports/entertainment facilities (over 5,000 seats), movie theaters (over 1,000 seats), and places of worship (now over 300 seats, down from 500) to submit annual electronic emergency plans to local law enforcement. The plans must include specific "emergency mapping data" like digital floor plans, aerial images, hazard locations, and access routes, formatted for public safety software systems. This replaces current requirements to submit paper copies of building layouts and explicitly excludes these plans from public record laws. The bill aims to improve law enforcement preparedness for mass casualty incidents at these venues by standardizing accessible emergency information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey telecom, cable, and internet providers to let customers pause or cancel service contracts without early termination fees when they move into a qualifying long-term care facility. It directly affects residents admitted to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, dementia care homes, or residential health care facilities for at least 90 days, as verified by a physician’s order or care plan. Providers must pause billing for a minimum 90 days upon admission, then cancel the contract if the resident remains in the facility beyond that period. The law mandates no fees for this pause/cancellation, though customers must provide physician documentation and typically give 45 days’ notice (or 48 hours in urgent cases).

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million in supplemental funding to New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights (DCR) for system upgrades to the New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System (NJ BIAS). The funds specifically support updating the NJ BIAS platform, which helps state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies consistently track and report bias crimes. The DCR, the state agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws, will use this funding to improve how bias crime data is collected and managed across law enforcement. The appropriation is for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, with unspent funds carrying forward for the same purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to explicitly include virtual currency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the definition of "gift" for public officials. It prohibits state and local government employees, elected representatives, and other defined public officials from accepting these digital assets as gifts. The change updates existing gift restrictions to cover new forms of digital value, ensuring virtual currency and NFTs are treated the same as traditional gifts under state ethics laws. This is a definitional update with no new penalties or enforcement mechanisms beyond current gift-prohibition rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1323) clarifies key definitions for New Jersey's Aspire Program, which provides tax credits to support economic development projects. It revises terms like "commercial project" (requiring 50,000+ square feet of office/retail space in most areas) and "collaborative workspace" (minimum 2,500 sq ft with specific community features) to determine eligibility for tax credits under the 2020 Economic Recovery Act. The changes directly affect developers seeking tax credits for qualifying projects, such as large-scale commercial redevelopments in designated areas. The bill does not create new incentives but refines how existing program rules apply. It was signed into law as P.L.2025, c.2.

Maddy summaryAssembly Bill A5193 declares contracts to conceal, alter, or destroy evidence for payment (to hinder law enforcement) unlawful and void. It directly affects crime victims whose evidence was hidden by individuals or private entities (like companies) in exchange for money or compensation. The bill creates a new civil lawsuit right for victims to sue those parties within five years of discovering the concealment. Key provisions make such agreements unenforceable and allow victims to pursue separate legal remedies without replacing existing rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4475) establishes mandatory standards for court-ordered domestic violence counseling programs in New Jersey. It directly affects domestic violence offenders required by courts to participate in counseling and the counseling programs themselves. The bill requires all such programs to include four key components: risk assessments identifying escalation factors, education on power/control tactics, clear attendance tracking protocols, and regular reviews by the Department of Children and Families for funded programs. These standards ensure consistent accountability and program effectiveness for offenders mandated to attend counseling.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes funding to protect the safety of cooperating witnesses - individuals who testify for the government to help prosecute crimes, including confidential informants. It expands New Jersey's Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to guarantee these witnesses assistance with psychological and practical challenges of testifying, protective measures before, during, and after trials, and court procedures ensuring their safety. The bill amends existing laws to allow the Victims of Crime Compensation Office to cover relocation and safety expenses, and authorizes the Victim and Witness Advocacy Fund to provide grants to organizations offering services like emergency shelter, medical advocacy, and safety planning for these witnesses and their families. These changes directly affect witnesses who cooperate with law enforcement in criminal cases, ensuring they receive concrete support and protection while navigating the justice system.