Asm. Cody Miller

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4652) creates a new offense for "inciting a public brawl" when someone purposefully organizes or promotes a group of four or more people to engage in disorderly conduct. It upgrades penalties for disrupting public gatherings or events, making such conduct a "disorderly persons offense" (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine) instead of a lesser "petty disorderly persons offense." The bill also adds a provision penalizing people who conceal their identity during disorderly conduct to avoid arrest. These changes directly affect individuals organizing group disturbances or attempting to hide their identity at public events. The law amends New Jersey statutes N.J.S.2C:33-1 and N.J.S.2C:33-2.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear standards for New Jersey courts to determine if a rent increase is "unconscionable" (extremely unfair) when challenged by tenants. Courts must consider factors like the rent amount, landlord expenses (including maintenance and insurance), local market rates, tenant bargaining power, and property condition. Landlords must prove increases are fair, and court records from tenant victories in eviction cases are kept private unless landlords win at trial. The bill excludes rent-controlled properties and affordable housing programs from these rules and takes effect immediately, except for the record confidentiality provision which starts six months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey hospitals with inpatient maternity services and licensed birthing centers to provide lactation counseling to people who have given birth before their discharge. Specifically, facilities must offer either an in-person one-on-one consultation with a certified lactation specialist or a remote consultation via live voice if requested. The counseling must include breastfeeding education, support, care planning, instruction on breastfeeding techniques, recommendations for assistive devices, and health benefit information. The bill ensures lactation specialists cannot be reassigned to non-lactation duties during their shifts and defines "lactation consultant" and "lactation counselor" by specific certification standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses to follow local zoning, fire, health, and building regulations - previously exempt from such oversight. It specifically adds a requirement for cooperative sober living residences to submit written approvals from local authorities (zoning, fire, health, and building) when applying for a state Class F license. The bill amends existing law to explicitly subject these facilities to municipal land use regulations, removing an exemption that previously prevented such oversight. These changes directly affect property owners and operators of these housing types in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to collect and publish annual statistics on consumer debt lawsuits statewide and by county. It mandates tracking specific data points including new filings (broken down by court division), pending cases over three months, attorney representation for defendants, judgment types (including defaults), and other dispositions. The statistics aim to fill a current gap, as the AOC currently reports general civil case data but not debt-specific details. This transparency targets courts, lawmakers, and advocates seeking to understand and address issues in consumer debt litigation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires health insurance plans to cover additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances when a physician determines they're necessary for physical and recreational activities like running, biking, swimming, and sports. It expands current coverage requirements, which already mandate coverage for basic orthotic and prosthetic appliances that are medically necessary, to include additional devices needed for recreational activities. The bill applies to all health insurance contracts in New Jersey, including hospital, medical, and health service corporations, and requires reimbursement at the same rate as federal Medicare. It would take effect 90 days after enactment for policies issued or renewed after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey pharmacies to display a notice and provide a pamphlet about insulin manufacturer assistance programs at checkout. Pharmacies must give these materials to anyone purchasing insulin or requesting them, with the Department of Banking and Insurance creating the content. The information helps insulin users access manufacturer programs that may reduce their out-of-pocket costs. It directly affects pharmacies (by requiring new disclosures) and insulin patients (by improving access to cost-saving resources).

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3363) creates a centralized online directory for affordable housing and senior citizen housing units across New Jersey. It requires each county to submit monthly data to the Department of Community Affairs, including building addresses, management contacts, application status, and online application links for all qualifying housing units. The information must be published on the websites of the Department of Community Affairs, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, and New Jersey Housing Resource Center. This system aims to make it easier for residents to find available housing options by consolidating location-specific details in one public online resource.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to complete specialized training on electric vehicle (EV) fire safety. The training, to be developed by state agencies including the Division of Fire Safety and the Commissioner of Health, covers risks like lithium-ion battery fires that burn hotter and longer than gasoline fires. Firefighters must finish the training within 36 months of the law's effective date, and EMTs must complete it before certification or within the same timeframe if already certified. The law aims to ensure first responders are prepared for the growing number of electric vehicles on New Jersey roads.

Maddy summaryBill A5241 prohibits local governments (counties, municipalities, or other approving authorities) from approving site plans for large warehouses within 1,000 feet of a historic district. It defines a "large warehouse" as any storage facility of 100,000 square feet or more used for goods intended for sale or distribution, and a "historic district" as areas listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places (excluding waterway-designated districts). The law applies immediately to all pending construction permit applications that haven't yet been declared complete by the enforcing agency. This prevents new large warehouse developments near designated historic areas without requiring additional approvals.