Asm. Dan Hutchison

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey retail food establishments (like restaurants and cafes) to clearly label beverages containing 150 milligrams or more of caffeine per serving with a "High caffeine" notice or approved symbol. The disclosure must appear directly next to the beverage name on all menus, including digital displays and drive-thru boards. Violations carry fines of $200-$500 for the first offense and $500-$1,000 for repeat offenses, enforced by the Department of Health or local health boards. The law preempts local regulations on caffeine disclosures and prohibits private lawsuits for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5422) allows businesses registered with New Jersey's Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services to opt into receiving updates about new regulations and economic incentives via email instead of paper mail. It directly affects businesses required to register with the Division (including corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships, but excluding nonprofits and government agencies). Key provisions include: businesses can provide an email address during registration or renewal to receive digital notifications, the Division shares these emails with the Department of Labor for communication, and businesses can later switch back to paper mail by requesting it. The bill replaces mandatory paper notices with an electronic option while maintaining the ability to revert to traditional mail.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires water suppliers to immediately notify specific entities when drinking water quality standards are violated. Affected groups include municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools within the affected area. Suppliers must provide detailed information via phone and email, including contaminant names, test dates, locations, exceedance levels, and suggested remedies. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates tiered retirement benefits in New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), moving all current non-retired members to the "Tier 1" benefit level previously available to members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) into PERS within 60 days, and automatically transfers service credit from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to PERS for DCRP participants - without transferring their contributions - unless they opt out within six months. Disability recipients under long-term insurance become eligible for disability retirement benefits if they apply within two years. Changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes municipalities and school districts to install school bus monitoring systems with cameras to capture vehicles illegally passing school buses. If a violation is recorded by such a system, the violator would face a $250 civil penalty instead of criminal penalties, with collected funds going to the municipality or school district for safety programs. The monitoring systems must capture specific evidence including the bus's flashing lights, the violating vehicle's license plate, and the date/time/location of the violation. Recorded images are not public records and must be purged within 95 days of recording. The registered owner of the vehicle would be liable for the penalty unless they can prove the vehicle was used without consent or was stolen.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that home improvement and home elevation contractors in New Jersey must be licensed by the State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevations Contractors, or work under a licensed supervisor. It directly affects individuals performing these specific services, such as roof repairs, basement installations, or structural modifications to homes. The key provision requires all such workers to either hold a personal license or operate under the direct supervision of a licensed contractor. The law takes immediate effect but will not become active until a specified date in existing law. This update ensures only properly vetted professionals can perform these services, enhancing consumer protection.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires drivers to either change lanes or slow down when approaching stationary vehicles displaying warning lights, including public utility vehicles (and vehicles owned/leased by their employees or family members), emergency vehicles, tow trucks, highway maintenance vehicles, sanitation vehicles, and disabled vehicles. Drivers must move over if safe, or reduce speed below the limit and be prepared to stop if lane changes aren't possible. Violations carry fines of $100-$500, with two additional penalty points for three offenses within 12 months. The bill also mandates a public awareness campaign to inform drivers about these rules, the risks of non-compliance, and associated penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pet shops in New Jersey from selling cats, dogs, or rabbits, repealing the previous "Pet Purchase Protection Act." It establishes a $500 fine for violations and allows pet shops to sell other animals or pet supplies, while enabling collaboration with shelters to showcase adoptable animals without exchanging payment. The bill defines "unfit for purchase" for animals and specifies that an animal's death within 14 days of sale (except by accident) would be considered evidence of being unfit. It also prohibits animal rescue organizations, shelters, and pounds from obtaining animals from breeders or brokers in exchange for compensation. The law does not affect pet dealers (not pet shops) or consumer rights for animals purchased from them.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to create a statewide policy for K-12 schools within 90 days, addressing student cell phone and social media use during school hours, on buses, and at school events. The policy must include age-appropriate rules (like banning non-academic phone use in class), emergency exceptions, accommodations for students with special needs, and options for device storage. School districts must adopt a policy consistent with the DOE's framework by the start of the next full school year, though they may apply for exemptions. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools, students, and staff across New Jersey, focusing on standardizing device use rules while allowing districts to implement stricter policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting kidnapping and human trafficking crimes in New Jersey, meaning prosecutors can file charges at any time regardless of when the offense occurred. For civil cases, it extends the deadline for victims to sue perpetrators from 5 to 10 years, with options to file within 10 years of turning 18 (if a minor at the time), within two years of discovering the injury, or after a trafficking pattern ends. The bill also pauses the clock during periods of victim disability (e.g., mental illness or intellectual disability) and blocks defendants from using the statute as a defense if they caused delays through threats or fraud. These changes aim to provide victims more time to pursue justice in both criminal and civil courts.