Asm. Lisa Swain

Maddy summaryThis bill requires facilities in New Jersey that produce, handle, package, or transport plastic pellets (small plastic particles used in manufacturing) to create and submit spill prevention and response plans to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) within one year. The plans must detail how facilities handle pellets, prevent spills into water or soil, and respond to incidents. Facilities must report spills within 48 hours, maintain spill records, and submit annual effectiveness reports after DEP approval. The DEP will establish rules for enforcement, including penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of older residential buildings (constructed before 1987 with three or more units), schools, and child care centers to test drinking water for lead every three years. Testing must be done by a certified lab, with results posted online and provided to tenants, parents, or staff. If lead levels exceed EPA standards, owners must notify local health agencies, municipal leaders, and affected individuals in writing. The law applies immediately and exempts properties already covered by prior testing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pet shops in New Jersey from selling cats, dogs, or rabbits, directly affecting pet shops, breeders, brokers, and animal shelters/rescues. It requires pet shops to collaborate with shelters for adoption showcases (without payment), bans shelters from paying breeders for animals, and fines violators $1,000 per violation - with license revocation for three or more offenses. The law aims to disrupt the "puppy-mill-to-pet-store pipeline" by prioritizing adoption over commercial breeding sales. It does not affect pet shop sales of other animals or pet supplies.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a voluntary "Pollinator Pathway" designation for New Jersey municipalities that meet specific habitat standards. To qualify, municipalities must establish pollinator habitats with native plants (including at least one milkweed species to support butterflies), provide seasonal nectar sources, water/shelter, and implement five conservation practices like removing invasive plants, avoiding pesticides, and using native species. The Department of Environmental Protection will develop a logo contest every decade for signage to identify designated pathways. The program aims to support declining pollinators (bees, butterflies, birds) while reducing municipal maintenance costs through eco-friendly land management.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State Capitol Joint Management Commission to create and implement an environmental sustainability plan for the New Jersey State House Complex. The plan must include specific measures like improving energy efficiency (using Energy Star products and alternative energy), water conservation, adopting green building standards, using sustainable food services (like locally sourced foods and compostable utensils), and reducing carbon emissions. The Commission must update the plan every four years, issue annual public progress reports online, and track performance metrics. This requirement directly affects all operations and management of the State House Complex, including maintenance, renovations, and contracting decisions.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 3472 requires all employers in the state to adopt written domestic violence policies and safety protocols developed by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). The DOLWD must create culturally competent policies covering employee training, response procedures for affected workers, bystander intervention education, and victim resources. Employers must implement these policies within one year of the bill's enactment and share them with all employees at least annually. This applies to every business and organization operating in New Jersey, mandating concrete policy changes to address domestic violence in the workplace.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3117) requires all health insurance plans sold in the state - including hospital service contracts, medical service plans, individual policies, group plans, and health maintenance organizations - to cover BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing at no additional cost to the patient. It directly affects individuals seeking testing for these breast cancer-related genes, as well as all health insurers operating in New Jersey. The law mandates coverage "to the same extent as for any other medical condition," meaning patients won’t face extra out-of-pocket costs for this specific testing. It applies to all plans issued or renewed in New Jersey after the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summaryAR 101 is a non-binding resolution urging major generative AI and social media platforms to voluntarily commit to preventing and removing deepfakes (manipulated videos/images falsely depicting people) and cheapfakes (AI-altered content). It targets companies that host or distribute such content, asking them to proactively address harms like disinformation, blackmail, and reputational damage. The resolution does not create new legal requirements but encourages industry action, aligning with similar efforts by the federal government and 12 other states. It was introduced to the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to track and publicly report natural disaster-related spending by state agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other local governments. It mandates organizing spending into four clear categories: preparedness (like training and planning), mitigation (reducing future damage), response (immediate actions after a disaster), and recovery (restoring communities). The department must publish simple, annual summaries online showing funding sources and whether reimbursements are expected, including data from local budget reports. This applies to all units of government that already submit budget summaries under existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3129) proposes a voluntary gluten-free certification program for restaurants in New Jersey. It requires the Division of Consumer Affairs, with input from the Health Commissioner, to create application guidelines, conduct annual reviews, charge reasonable fees, and maintain an online list of certified restaurants that are fully gluten-free or offer certified gluten-free options with cross-contamination prevention. Restaurants falsely claiming certification would receive a warning for a first violation and face a $1,000 penalty for repeat offenses. The program is voluntary, not mandatory for all restaurants, and would not apply to existing consumer fraud laws. The bill is pending before the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee as of its introduction date.