Asm. Al Barlas

Maddy summaryAJR 43 is a ceremonial resolution designating The Growing Stage Children’s Theatre of New Jersey as the "New Jersey State children’s theatre." It does not create new laws, funding, or programs - it simply grants an official title to an existing theater. The resolution recognizes the theater’s 40+ years of work in arts education, community engagement, and producing family-focused performances for over 250,000 people. This designation affects no one beyond formally honoring the theater’s role in New Jersey’s cultural landscape. The resolution takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds Bergen County to the list of pilot counties allowed to participate in New Jersey's "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program." It directly affects municipalities in Bergen County and tenured local employees in specific roles (municipal clerks, chief financial officers, assessors, tax collectors, municipal treasurers, or public works managers). The key mechanism allows these municipalities to enter shared services agreements under existing law, where tenured employees in these roles may be dismissed if not selected to provide services across multiple municipalities, but they retain the right to return to their original positions if the agreement ends within two years. The program aims to evaluate whether sharing these services can reduce local costs for taxpayers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that defendants charged with specific child-related offenses must be held in pretrial detention unless they prove otherwise. It directly affects individuals accused of child sexual abuse (sexual assault or criminal sexual contact with a minor) or endangering a child's welfare when the victim is a minor. Under the bill, courts must presume pretrial detention is necessary for these cases without requiring the prosecutor to prove it, shifting the burden to the defendant to demonstrate why release would be safe. The presumption applies only to the exact offenses listed in the bill text, such as N.J.S.2C:14-2 (sexual assault with minor victim) and N.J.S.2C:24-4 (endangering welfare of a child). Defendants may challenge this presumption at a hearing but remain detained pending appeal.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges New Jersey's state and federal agencies to pause sonar testing and wind turbine mapping near offshore wind projects. It cites NOAA data showing 12 whale deaths (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphin deaths in February 2023 off New Jersey's coast - deaths occurring near active wind development sites. The resolution requests an immediate moratorium to allow scientific study of whether these activities interfere with marine mammals' navigation and communication. It specifically targets the Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The resolution does not create new law but calls for a pause while investigations continue.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to provide onboard Wi-Fi service on all passenger trains it owns or operates within six months of the law taking effect. It directly affects NJT as the implementing entity and all passengers traveling on NJT rail services. The key provision mandates that every rail passenger vehicle must have Wi-Fi, expanding beyond NJT’s current station-based Wi-Fi hotspots. The law takes effect immediately upon approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement to join a national or multi-state self-exclusion program for casino gambling. It enables individuals who want to voluntarily ban themselves from casinos to use a single form to exclude themselves across multiple states, rather than submitting separate requests to each state. The bill requires the division to create forms and procedures ensuring people can select which states they want excluded from, and explicitly prohibits sharing their personal information without their direct consent. This directly affects gamblers seeking to self-exclude from casinos in multiple jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires juveniles accused of delinquency to appear in court in the county where the alleged incident occurred, rather than their county of residence. It directly affects juveniles facing delinquency charges in New Jersey. The key provision changes the court venue requirement, mandating that hearings occur where the incident happened, while also requiring courts to provide reasonable transportation to ensure juvenile attendance. This update modifies existing court rules to align with the location of the alleged offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's assault statute to elevate certain assaults against specific healthcare workers to aggravated assault. It directly affects direct care workers at State or county psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, or veterans' homes who are clearly performing their duties. The key provision (added as subsection b(5)(k)) makes it aggravated assault to intentionally cause bodily injury to these workers while they're identifiable in their roles, increasing penalties. The law does not cover disabled individuals as victims but protects the workers who support them. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the information required on New Jersey marriage or civil union license applications. It prohibits the Department of Health from asking applicants to provide either (1) the number of times they've been married or entered a civil union, or (2) the name of their most recent spouse or civil union partner. The bill also clarifies that Social Security numbers collected for these forms must remain confidential and can only be used for child support enforcement, not released as public records. This change directly affects anyone applying for a marriage or civil union license in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to install and maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on every train set used for passenger service. It mandates that each AED be kept accessible at all times during operation, marked with a clear sign, and regularly tested. NJT must also ensure at least one employee trained in CPR and AED use is present on every operating train, and notify emergency services about AED locations. The bill applies directly to NJT’s rail operations and passengers using its trains, aiming to improve emergency medical response during cardiac incidents.