Asm. Cody Miller

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's bill A-1324 requires social media companies with at least 5 million global users to implement specific safety measures for minors under 18. Key provisions include developing algorithms to detect inappropriate adult-minor interactions, real-time monitoring for abuse with automatic reporting to authorities, and blocking minor accounts from appearing in search results unless the searcher is a pre-approved contact. The bill also mandates geo-fencing to restrict minors' access to inappropriate content, verification processes for accounts using minors' names/likeliness in over 25% of paid promotional posts (requiring parental ID), and public banners identifying verified adult accounts. Enforcement falls to the Division of Consumer Affairs, with fines up to $2,500 per violation for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Community Affairs about affordable housing, senior citizen housing, and veteran housing units within their borders. The reports must include building addresses, management contacts, application status (including waitlists), and online application links. The state will compile this information into a public online directory on official housing websites (including the Department of Community Affairs, Housing Finance Agency, and Housing Resource Center) and mandate that municipalities link to these sites from their own websites. Municipalities will receive state reimbursement for costs related to gathering and submitting the data.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the minimum cost threshold for public works projects that may include project labor agreements from $5 million to $3 million. It affects state and local government entities (such as counties, municipalities, and school districts) managing construction, renovation, or demolition projects over $3 million. The key change expands the scope of projects where project labor agreements - pre-hire contracts between employers and unions - can be required. This adjustment lowers the financial barrier for applying such agreements to smaller public construction projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to reward employees who report tax law violations by employers in New Jersey's construction industry. Whistleblowers who provide specific, credible information leading to an administrative or judicial action against an employer can receive 15% to 30% of recovered taxes, penalties, and interest, or up to 10% if the tip came from media or government sources. It excludes employees who obtained information through their official duties or planned the violations themselves, and includes protections against retaliation under New Jersey's Conscientious Employee Protection Act. The program applies specifically to employers engaged in building, construction, repair, or maintenance work as defined in the bill.

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 expands New Jersey's school restraint and seclusion rules to apply to **all students** (previously limited to students with disabilities). It requires schools to: 1) Use physical restraint or seclusion **only in emergencies** posing immediate danger, 2) **Notify parents immediately** (by phone/electronic message) and provide a written report within 48 hours, 3) **Collect and report annual data** to the Department of Education (DOE) on usage, including student demographics like race, gender, and disability type. The DOE must publish this data publicly while protecting student privacy, and schools must hold meetings with parents for repeated incidents.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2511) requires courts to presume pretrial detention for certain repeat offenders or those facing serious charges, rather than allowing release on bail. It directly affects defendants with prior convictions for specific crimes - including murder, life-sentence offenses, two or more violent crimes, or domestic violence - when prosecutors file a motion. Key provisions include a rebuttable presumption of detention (meaning defendants can challenge it with evidence), mandatory hearings within three days of a motion, and a lower burden of proof ("preponderance of evidence") to overturn the presumption. The law aims to ensure defendants appear in court and do not pose community safety risks, while still allowing courts to consider release conditions if justified.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the default assumption that defendants charged with specific serious offenses can be released before trial. It directly affects individuals accused of sex offenses (as defined by law), violent crimes involving a deadly weapon (like aggravated assault or robbery), or repeat vehicle theft/receiving stolen property. Courts must now actively assess each case for safety risks and flight risk before granting pretrial release, rather than presuming release is appropriate. The bill does not eliminate pretrial release entirely but requires judges to justify release decisions for these offenses based on individual circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a training program for municipal police departments to manage large gatherings (over 500 people) and "flash mobs" (50+ people organized via social media without advance notice, impacting safety). The training covers crowd control techniques, juvenile-specific approaches, social media response strategies, and inter-agency coordination. It also establishes protocols allowing local police to request state resources like mobile command units, social media monitoring tools, and additional personnel during such events. The bill, now effective as part of P.L.2025, c.246, directly affects municipal police departments across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students receiving Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) grants to use a portion of their award for summer courses that count toward graduation or their major. Students must notify the Higher Education Secretary before the academic year starts, which reduces their regular academic year disbursement by a specific amount. The Secretary must annually report how many students used the summer option and their graduation rates within standard timeframes. It directly affects EOF grant recipients at participating New Jersey institutions, implementing a 2016 commission recommendation to improve college affordability.