Asm. Chris Tully

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to study whether to ban paraquat, a toxic herbicide used in agriculture and consumer products like weed killers. The DEP must evaluate paraquat's environmental and health impacts, review how other states regulate it, and determine if a ban on both consumer and commercial use is appropriate. The DEP must submit a written report to the governor and legislature within two years. The bill itself does not ban paraquat but mandates a study to inform future decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Department of Transportation to partner with private companies to collect and share de-identified traffic data. Private entities would manage projects using data like precise location information to provide real-time updates on road closures, driving conditions, and rainfall to motorists and the department. All data must be de-identified (meaning it cannot be linked to specific individuals or devices) and private partners must follow state data privacy laws. The Transportation Commissioner must review and approve all projects before they begin.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5991) requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a public online dashboard tracking real-time flood-related data. The dashboard must display rainfall, river levels, sewer capacity, flood damage reports, and other flood indicators for municipalities. Local counties and municipalities must report relevant data to the DEP to populate the dashboard, which must be updated weekly during active storm warnings. The DEP must annually review the system to streamline reporting requirements and improve data sharing across government agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires developers seeking approval for planned development site plans to submit a stormwater impact study as part of their application. The study, conducted by an independent consultant agreed upon by both the developer and local planning board, must evaluate pre- and post-development stormwater runoff, downstream flood risks, and potential mitigation strategies. It applies specifically to planned developments - including residential, commercial, or industrial projects - under New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law. The change ensures developers assess environmental impacts early in the approval process, without altering existing timelines for site plan reviews.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A5993 (introduced by Assemblyman Chris Tully) requires the State Office of Emergency Management to create a voluntary text alert system for flood and severe weather. The system would allow residents to register mobile devices to receive real-time, location-specific alerts about hazards like rising river levels, storm surge, flood damage, and evacuation instructions. Alerts would integrate data from flood sensors, river monitors, National Weather Service reports, and other sources to provide details on rainfall, water levels, threat timing, and safety protocols. This bill directly affects New Jersey residents in flood-prone areas who choose to opt into the service, aiming to improve emergency communication during weather events.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A6036) directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop and implement an artificial intelligence-based tool that predicts and maps flood risk at the neighborhood level. The tool will use satellite imagery, historical and projected rainfall data, climate models, river sensors, and federal flood maps to identify high-risk areas. Municipalities, emergency officials, and the public will have access to the tool, which the DEP must continuously update with new data. The bill requires the DEP to work with universities and tech companies through competitive contracts to build the system and make all agreements publicly available.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year "Smart Stormwater Sensor Pilot Program" administered by New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), appropriating $1 million from the General Fund. It authorizes the DEP to issue grants to counties and municipalities for installing smart sensors in storm drains and flood-prone infrastructure. These sensors must monitor real-time water levels and send flood alerts to residents and agencies, with applicants required to demonstrate flood risk through specific criteria like historical flooding data and flood zone location. The DEP must publish transparent grant criteria, distribute funds equitably, and report annually on the program's effectiveness, challenges, and potential for expansion.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors and subcontractors working on public projects to submit payroll records to New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). It applies to any business performing work for public bodies (like state/local governments or projects funded by public money), including construction, maintenance, or repair work. The key mechanism mandates that these contractors must register with DOLWD and provide payroll details to verify compliance with prevailing wage laws and apprenticeship program requirements. This affects all employers engaged in public work contracts, ensuring transparency in worker compensation and program participation.

Maddy summary# Summary of New Jersey Legislative Bill on Child Pornography and Sexual Offenses This comprehensive bill amends various New Jersey statutes related to child pornography, sexual offenses, DNA collection, and other criminal justice matters. The key changes include: ## Major Child Pornography Law Amendments 1. **Separation of Child Pornography Statute**: The bill separates child pornography from the broader child endangerment statute, creating a distinct crime for clarity in law enforcement and crime statistics tracking. 2. **Expanded Definition of Child Pornography**: The definition is updated to include "deepfakes" - manipulated depictions that appear to show an identifiable child (or purported child) engaging in prohibited sexual acts through image manipulation, creation, or modification. 3. **Alignment with Possession Thresholds**: The statute concerning "leaders of child pornography networks" is amended to match the possession thresholds: - First-degree crime: 1,000+ items (previously 100,000+) - Second-degree crime: Less than 1,000 items (previously 1,000-100,000) - Third-degree crime: Not specified (previously less than 1,000) 4. **Penalties**: - First-degree: 10-20 years imprisonment, up to $200,000 fine - Second-degree: 5-10 years imprisonment, up to $150,000 fine - Third-degree: 3-5 years imprisonment, up to $15,000 fine ## Additional Significant Amendments - **DNA Collection Requirements**: Expands DNA collection requirements for various offenses including child pornography, sexual assault, murder, kidnapping, and other violent crimes (Section 54) - **Invasion of Privacy Statute**: - Includes manipulated depictions ("deepfakes") appearing to show intimate or sexually explicit images of a person without consent - Clarifies that consent to being photographed doesn't imply consent to distribution - **Housing Provider Restrictions**: Limits housing providers' ability to consider criminal records in tenant screening (Section 52) - **Transportation Network Company Requirements**: Prohibits individuals convicted of certain crimes (including child pornography offenses) from being drivers for transportation network companies (Section 51) - **Criminal Background Checks**: Strengthens requirements for criminal history background checks for employment in child care settings, community agencies, and other positions involving vulnerable populations The bill represents a significant update to New Jersey's approach to addressing child exploitation, including modernizing the legal framework to address emerging technologies like deepfake pornography.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey state agencies to extend the 60-day cure period for certain business violations by an additional 30 days, if the agency determines denial would be contrary to equity and good conscience. It applies to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees (or equivalent) facing first-time violations that don’t endanger public safety, harm the environment, or affect employee income. The extension applies only to violations not related to criminal activity, intentional acts, labor laws, or federal program requirements. Agencies must provide written notice of the violation to trigger the cure period, and must report waived infractions annually on their public websites. The bill amends existing law (P.L.2023, c.28) to add this extension provision.